Science for Policy and the Public

Offered in collaboration with

This program is currently under development and is planned for a Summer 2027 launch.

The Science for Policy and the Public Certificate is an interdisciplinary certificate program designed to provide learners with foundational knowledge in philosophy of science and scientific reasoning, with a particular emphasis on how science informs public policy, public communication, and decision-making. The program is intended for professionals whose roles require them to understand how science works, how scientific knowledge is produced, and how scientific information can be evaluated in public and policy contexts, without requiring prior expertise in a specific scientific discipline

Who Should Enroll

The Science for Policy and the Public Certificate is designed for professionals and learners seeking a foundational understanding of how science functions within public, legal, policy, and communication contexts. The program is particularly relevant for journalists, policy analysts, legislative staffers, nonprofit professionals, legal professionals, science communicators, and individuals transitioning from technical or scientific careers into public-facing roles.

Program Benefits

Students who complete this program will learn how to:

• Describe basic aspects of evidential reasoning in science, including the logic of causal explanation and experimentation
• Describe how social beliefs and values influence the scientific process, and how to assess the reliability of value-laden science
• Describe the social structure of science and explain how scientific institutions contribute to its success
• Describe common strategies for outside (industrial and political) influence in science, and identify signs that policy-relevant science has been manipulated

Eligibility and Requirements

A candidate in the program is awarded a certificate upon the successful completion of three (3) required courses and one (1) elective course totaling 16 units, each with a letter grade of “C” or better. Find candidacy details for all certificate programs.

How to Enroll in Individual Courses

• Winter, Spring, and Fall Quarters: Students who are not matriculating students in a UC Irvine degree program may submit their enrollment request for individual courses through the Concurrent Enrollment program administered by UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education.
• Summer Quarters: Students should enroll in courses through UC Irvine Summer Session.

Fees & Expenses

• Winter, Spring, and Fall Quarters: See the Concurrent Enrollment fee schedule.
• Summer Quarters: See the prices listed on the UC Irvine Summer Session Fees page.
• Declaration of Candidacy fee: $125
• Additional costs may include parking and textbooks, which are not included in the course fees.

Dates & Deadlines

• Winter, Spring, and Fall Quarters: View the Concurrent Enrollment Academic Calendar.
• Summer Quarters: Visit the UC Irvine Summer Session Calendar.

Note to new students: Enrollment forms will only be accepted during the enrollment periods for each quarter..