Undergraduate Program

The Developing Child Summer Minor and Certificate

THE DECLARATION OF MINOR/CERTIFICATE FORM IS ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS!

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If not declared, please submit the Declaration Form

or email lvanegasgrimaud@berkeley.edu with any questions.

Program Overview

The Developing Child is an interdisciplinary, developmental science summer minor and certificate, focused on children from the prenatal period to age 8. Integrating research, practice, and policy with problem-solving and implementation skills for the real world, the innovative coursework and practicum will enrich your approach to working with or on behalf of young children.

The Developing Child is offered in-person, with required class meetings and a practicum placement. The program is offered as a minor to all UC Berkeley undergraduates, and as a certificate for non-UC Berkeley students. Individual courses are also open to all.

Required Coursework

To be awarded the minor or certificate, students must complete all five of the required courses in one or two summers. The required courses are:

EDUC 135: Early Development & Learning Science Core Seminar (3 units)
EDUC 134: Applied Early Developmental Psychology (3 units), or EDUC 114A: Early Development and Learning (3 units)
EDUC 135A: The Developing Child Practicum: Linking Research and Practice (3 units). This course also requires a 24-hour practicum placement
EDUC 135B: Contexts of Early Development (3 units)
EDUC 135D: Early Childhood Policy (3 units)

Courses have been scheduled to allow students the opportunity to complete the minor or certificate in one summer. Please see the Summer 2026 course schedule below.

Summer Program Dates *tentative dates

Session A: May 26- July 2, 2026
Session D: July 6- August 14, 2026

In-Person Schedule

All five courses will be offered in-person with required session meetings during the indicated times below.

2026 Session A Schedule (May 26- July 2, 2026)

EDUC 114A (M,W,F 12:00-2:30PM) (Class #16002)
EDUC 135 (M,W,F 9:00-11:30AM) (Class #13537)
*EDUC 135A-002 (LEC Class# 16180) and EDUC 135A -201 (FLD Class# 16181)

*Requires a practicum placement in an Early Childhood Education Program (ECEP) preschool classroom.

2026 Session D Schedule (July 6- August 15, 2026)

EDUC 135B (M,W,F 9:00-11:30AM) (Class #16182)
EDUC 135D (M,W,F 12:00-2:30PM) (Class #16185)

Summer 2026 Enrollment Dates *Tentative Dates

February 3: Enrollment for UC Berkeley Students
February 18: Enrollment for visiting and International Students

Summer 2026 University Holidays

Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
Juneteenth: Friday, June 19
Independence Day: Friday, July 3

No classes will be held on the above holidays.

Required Program Forms

Declaration of Minor/Certificate Form
Completion of Minor Form (UC Berkeley students only)
Completion of Certificate Form (non-UC Berkeley Students only)

Student Testimonials

"The Developing Child Summer Minor has been one of my favorite experiences at Cal. The way the program integrates research, policy, and practice really helped me decide what role I want to play in working with children and their families. Most importantly, the small cohort, comprising both students and faculty, actively created a supportive and safe environment that allowed all of us to learn and grow together." - PC, Summer 2020 Cohort Member

"This program is filled with passionate professors who encourage personal growth in all of us. The community, the content, and the new understanding we have on child development is something that will truly stay with each and everyone of the students for the rest of our lives. This program was impactful in so many ways beyond academic achievement." - MR, Summer 2020 Cohort Member

"Coming from a MCB background, I constantly felt like my classes limited my understanding of real world applications. The cells, amino acids, and molecules that I was learning about from my MCB classes were so small that it was often hard to broaden my perspective. The Developing Child minor, on the other hand, allowed me to look at child development from psychology, public health, and public policy perspectives. It took all my previous studies and connected it to long-term impacts and issues within our current healthcare system. This minor was truly a step forward for my education and is a program that I will always be grateful for." - VK, Summer 2021 Cohort Member

"The Developing Child allowed me to experience further knowledge on important and relevant topics in child development, and prepared me for future academic endeavors. Unlike regular classes, this program gives students a chance to personalize their learning experience through projects involving topics of their choosing. You also make wonderful connections through the program, and the academic discussions allow everyone to learn and grow. Definitely a wonderful way to spend a summer!" - RH, Summer 2021 Cohort Member

Additional Details

All coursework is taught in English and requires complex discussion and problem-solving. Please email us at edls@berkeley.edu with any questions.

Institute of Human Development