FAQs

CSU Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) provides CSU alumni with flexible learning opportunities to support career advancement, personal growth, and lifelong learning. Through self-support degree and certificate programs, professional development, and personal enrichment offered online, in-person, and hybrid, PaCE helps alumni gain new skills, meet workforce demands, and stay connected to the CSU.

This program is available exclusively to CSU alumni. To participate, you must have earned a degree from a California State University campus and submit the enrollment form with verification details. 

You will receive free access to Google Career Certificates, hosted on Coursera. This includes:

  • The AI Prompting Essentials Specialization (your starting point)
  • Additional Google specializations unlocked after completing your first course
  • Digital certificates upon course completion

There are no fees for enrollment, access, or completion. 

After completing the AI Prompting Essentials course, you’ll unlock other in-demand Google specializations, including:

  • Project Management
  • UX Design
  • IT Support
  • Data Analytics
  • Digital Marketing & E-Commerce
  • Cybersecurity
  • And more, as available through Coursera

Visit the How to Enroll page and complete the Smartsheet form. You’ll need to provide:

  • Your full name at graduation
  • Graduation year
  • Degree type
  • Academic major or concentration

After your CSU alumni status is verified, you’ll receive instructions to access your first course.

Our team uses a secure system maintained by the CSU Chancellor’s Office IT. Please ensure you provide accurate details from the time of your graduation to avoid delays.

This foundational course is designed to introduce you to artificial intelligence tools and prompt engineering, skills increasingly relevant across industries. Completion of this course unlocks access to a wider range of career certificates.

Courses are self-paced and can be completed based on your schedule. Many learners complete a specialization within 1 to 3 months, depending on time commitment and course content.

No prior experience is required. These courses are designed for learners of all backgrounds, including those changing fields or returning to learning after a break.

Yes! After completing your initial specialization, you may continue earning additional Google certificates at no cost, as long as you remain active in the program.

If you encounter any issues with enrollment or course access, contact us at: PaCEwithGoogle@calstate.edu. 

Visit www.calstate.edu/pace  to explore program details, news, and additional learning pathways available to CSU alumni. 

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