Degree PLUS PR

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UC Santa Barbara has introduced a new, high-impact career readiness initiative, Degree PLUS, designed to give current undergraduate students a competitive edge in the job market by integrating real-world experience and professional certification directly into their academic curriculum.

The Degree PLUS program is an exclusive opportunity for UCSB juniors and seniors that combines a hands-on internship with a skills-based professional certificate, all at no cost to the student. Thanks to a generous grant from the Lumina Foundation with additional support from the UC Office of the President, UCSB is one of only two campuses in the UC system offering this fully funded pathway, underscoring the university’s commitment to providing accessible, career-focused education.

Building an Intentional Bridge to the Workplace
The initiative is structured to equip students with "state-of-the-art" skills highly sought after by employers. Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Newman, who introduced the program at the University of California Board of Regents, Academic and Student Affairs Committee, spoke to the comprehensive goals of the initiative: "This experiment is about making sure that students leave our campuses with more than a degree. It's about ensuring that they graduate with a love of learning, a devotion to ideas... and demonstrable skills, meaningful experiences and the confidence to contribute to the workplace one day."

The integration of professional certificates addresses a critical need for career readiness. As Denis Couturier, Dean of Professional and Continuing Education, stated: "At PaCE, our mission is to ensure every graduate is equipped with the expertise to meet the demands of a dynamic workforce. Degree PLUS achieves this by fusing the academic rigor of a UC degree with market-driven professional certificates, creating an undeniable competitive edge for their careers."

EVC Elizabeth Simmons of UC San Diego emphasized that this approach is not an afterthought: "This is not an add-on. Rather, it's a structured, intentional bridge between what our students learn and what the labor market values." The mandatory, coordinated internship provides transferable skills, professional references, and, in some cases, paid or subsidized work, potentially replacing the need for a separate summer job. The program is especially valuable for students in the humanities and liberal arts, offering an additional layer of clarity to employers about their specific workplace readiness.

Ery Millan-Coffey, the Academic Coordinator for the initiative, highlighted the direct impact on students: "The true power of Degree PLUS is watching our students realize they don't have to wait until graduation to launch their career. We’re giving them both the high-demand skills and the critical workplace confidence they need to compete for—and win—their dream jobs right away."

(The quotes included above are excerpted from statements made by key leaders and stakeholders during the review of this initiative by the University of California Academic and Student Affairs Committee, reflecting the program's systemic importance and its alignment with future workforce needs.)

Specialized Certificates and Program Structure
Students can choose from certificates in high-demand fields:

• Applied AI and Innovation: Develops practical skills in artificial intelligence, business innovation, and emerging technologies. 
• Foundations of Agile Project Management: Builds expertise in project management, Agile methodologies (like Scrum/Kanban), business strategy, and leadership.
• Applied Business Essentials: Develops understanding of what makes a business successful while learning about the sales process, constructing and executing effective digital marketing campaigns.
• More certificates are under development and will be available in Winter 2026.

Students complete the coursework over 1-3 quarters concurrently with their degree, allowing for a flexible timetable. Upon completion, an internship coordinator assists them in securing a professional placement.

Supported by Key Partnerships
This pioneering initiative is supported by the Lumina Foundation, which is committed to making learning beyond high school accessible to all. The program also benefits from the guidance of advisory board members from the UC Santa Barbara Department of English and the Department of Film and Media Studies, with coordination and logistical resources provided by the UC Office of the President.

For more information on program eligibility, certificate options, and application details, students should visit UC Santa Barbara Professional and Continuing Education - Degree Plus.