Business Journalism
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Program Format
Overview
In today’s evolving media landscape, business journalism is more than numbers — it’s about telling compelling stories that reveal the complex economic forces shaping our world.
Berkeley Journalism and Berkeley Haas School of Business, with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, are collaborating on a new Certificate in Business Journalism program, which launched in 2024.
The certificate isn't just an academic credential: It's a practical training ground that prepares early career journalists to become sophisticated, nuanced business reporters.The Certificate in Business Journalism, established by UC Berkeley Journalism and effective January 1, 2025, is designed to equip graduate students with the skills to research, analyze, and communicate business and economic information through high-quality journalism. The program certifies students' proficiency in key business topics—such as financial markets, corporate earnings, IPOs, M&A activity, and economic growth—and offers both theoretical foundations and applied reporting experience. It is open to graduate students from any department at UC Berkeley.
The certificate will be issued physically by Berkeley Journalism and noted in the memo field of the UC Berkeley official transcript. All interpretations, exceptions, and adjudications are overseen by the Head Graduate Advisor with final decisions guided by the Graduate Division.
Areas of Specialization
Students will develop expertise in:
Business reporting and analysis
Economic trends and financial markets
Corporate activities and earnings
Translating complex financial data into accessible journalism
Capstone storytelling and publishable content development
Eligibility Requirements
Open only to currently enrolled UC Berkeley graduate students.
Students must have no more than two incompletes on record at time of graduation.
Must maintain good academic standing (minimum 3.0 GPA).
Application for Certificate
Must be submitted online (via DocuSign) before graduation: May 1 (Spring) Aug 1 (Summer) Dec 1 (Fall)