Online Certificate in Implementation Science

Courses offered by the UCSF Implementation Science Training Program (ImS) are open to learners from within and outside the UCSF community. Participants include trainees, clinicians, researchers, faculty, staff, and health system leaders from around the world.

The program is particularly valuable for individuals who are designing, implementing, or evaluating health interventions, policies, or quality improvement initiatives. Courses focus on the theories and methods used to support the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based practices in clinical, public health, and community settings.

While prior training in qualitative or quantitative research methods is helpful, it is not required. Courses may be taken individually or as part of the Online Certificate in Implementation Science.

UCSF graduate students should first discuss enrolling in ImS courses with their program manager. To connect with the ImS Program Coordinator, email [email protected]. 

Other learners within and outside the UCSF community should follow these steps to enroll:

• Complete and submit the new ImS enrollment form.* 
• Provide payment. An invoice will be sent, including payment options.
• Because funding circumstances vary, learners have the option to pay upfront for all courses or one academic term at a time. At the time of payment, current enrollment fees will be due. 

*Important Update (July 2026): Our new enrollment platform is now live! Whether you're new to the Implementation Science Training Program or have taken courses with us previously, please use the new ImS enrollment form to register for all future courses. If you previously received an enrollment confirmation through our former system, your enrollment remains unchanged. The new enrollment form will be used only for new and future course registrations. If you would like to confirm your enrollment, please feel free to contact us.

Accepted forms of payment:

• Credit Card:
  Provide credit card information as directed on the invoice.
• UCSF Fund:
  Enter funding information as directed on the invoice.
• Wire Transfer:
  Enter the date of wire transfer and attach your wire confirmation as directed on the invoice. Please remit payment to:

Bank of America
100 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
ABA/Routing # 0260-0959-3
Bank Account Name - Regents of the University of California, San Francisco
Account #12335-23601

• For ACH:

Please remit payment to:

Bank of America
2000 Clayton Road
Concord, CA 94520
ABA/Routing No. 121000358
Bank Account Name - Regents of the University of California, San Francisco
Account #12335-23601

As long as space is available in your selected course(s), payment of course fees must be received by August 15 for Fall courses, December 1 for Winter courses, or March 1 for Spring courses. Seats in a course are granted on a first-come-first-serve basis, according to the date payment is received. Once payment is received, you will receive enrollment confirmation and access information. Note: Courses often fill before the registration deadline. Due to limited course capacity, once the course fills additional learners will be placed on the waitlist and notified.

We understand that schedules can change. If you need to cancel your enrollment, please notify us as soon as possible. A portion of the enrollment fee may be refunded depending on when the request is made relative to the start of the term. For details, please see the Cancellation and Change Requests section of the ImS Enrollment & Payment Policies.

Faculty and staff in the Implementation Science Training Program are committed to creating welcoming and accessible learning environments. For introductory questions, please contact [email protected]. Additional resources include your course faculty and UCSF Student Disability Services. All discussions are confidential.

Most courses run for 11 weeks. Week 1 is a Course Orientation, and the first instructional module begins in Week 2.

The 2026–2027 course schedule is:

• Fall 2026: September 14 (Orientation Week) – December 11
• Winter 2027: January 4 (Orientation Week) – March 19
• Spring 2027: March 29 (Orientation Week) – June 11

Future academic years are expected to follow a similar schedule.

Most courses run for 11 weeks. The first week is dedicated to Course Orientation, when learners introduce themselves, become familiar with the course site and weekly activities, and begin thinking about how a real-world project might inform their final assignment.

Formal instruction begins in Week 2, with most courses offering 10 instructional modules delivered over 10 weeks. One course—ImS 248: Community-Engaged Research—includes 8 modules delivered over 9 weeks.

Most courses present content packaged into weekly modules. A typical module includes recorded lectures and slide presentations, readings, and written assignments. A final project is due near the end of the term. Most courses include optional meetings via Zoom. Faculty strive to accommodate busy schedules and many time zones. One course, IMS 243 Human-Centered Design, requires teams of learners to meet weekly in an online design space. 

The answer depends on your schedule. Most learners take one course per term. Those with more time dedicated to training may take two or three courses per term. 

Expect to dedicate 4-8 hours to each weekly module. A lighter module may require closer to 4 hours, whereas the final module may require closer to 8 hours to prepare and submit the final project. If you are considering enrolling in multiple courses in the same term, please keep the total workload in mind. 

Students move through a course as part of a small group of 7 - 10 peers guided by a faculty leader. Online forums and Zoom meetings present opportunities to engage with the larger class.

Most course activities are asynchronous, meaning you can engage with lectures, readings, and assignments at times that fit your schedule. Most instructors also offer optional live Zoom sessions to discuss course content and answer questions. These sessions are scheduled to accommodate working professionals across multiple time zones.

One course—ImS 243: Human-Centered Design—includes weekly team meetings in an online design space. Attendance is required, and the meeting time is established near the start of the term.

Each course has minimum requirements, which typically include weekly written assignments, providing peer feedback, and completing a final project. Learners who meet these requirements will receive a formal letter of course completion within four weeks after the course ends.

If you are unable to meet the minimum requirements, you may continue in the course as an auditor. Auditors retain access to course materials but do not receive instructor feedback and are not eligible for a letter of course completion. If you anticipate difficulty keeping up with coursework, we encourage you to reach out to the course faculty to discuss your situation.

All course materials are available through the ImS course site in UCSF Canvas. It is important that you are able to access the course site by the first day of the term.

About two weeks before the course begins, enrolled learners receive a Course Welcome Email with instructions for accessing the site. Starting in Fall 2025, a UCSF Canvas account is required to access all ImS courses. If you are new to Canvas, please refer to the Student Getting Started Resources.

For UCSF faculty, staff, and graduate students:

Go to UCSF Canvas LMS and select “UCSF access: Log into Canvas.” Sign in using your UCSF MyAccess credentials (DUO authentication may also be required). Your course tile will appear on your Canvas dashboard and will open to students on or before the first day of the term.

If you experience login issues:

• When prompted for Okta login, use your full UCSF email address as the login name.
• Use the password associated with your UCSF MyAccess account.
• If problems persist, contact the UCSF IT Help Desk.

For learners outside UCSF:

If you are joining us from another institution, welcome! Before your first course begins, you will need to register your UCSF Canvas account and accept the course invitation.

About 1–2 weeks before the term begins, you will receive an email from UCSF Canvas with a registration link. To complete setup:

1. Click the registration link in the Canvas email.
2. Log in using the email address that received the invitation.
3. Create a password.
4. Accept the course invitation and select the course tile to enter the course.

Once your account is active, bookmark UCSF Canvas LMS. Select “Guest access: Log into Canvas” and sign in using the email and password you created.

If you need assistance with your Canvas account, please contact  [email protected].