New Summer Minor in Global Digital Infrastructure
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Global Digital Infrastructure (GDI) Summer Minor at UC Berkeley — a first-of-its-kind program for students who want to understand the infrastructures that support the internet, artificial intelligence, and all digital life. The new minor will be available starting this Summer 2026, and open to all UC Berkeley students.
The GDI summer minor is the first university program in the world where students can learn about the data centers where computation occurs; the subsea cable networks that transmit 99% of data traffic between continents; as well as the wireless systems that connect to users, such as satellites and cellular networks. The program is interdisciplinary and can be taken by students from all backgrounds, from engineering to business to the arts, and has a focus on sustainability, global equity, and resilience. No prior experience in digital infrastructure, computer science, or engineering is needed. There are no prerequisites for any of the courses.
Taking infrastructure out of the “black box,” the GDI summer minor offers a holistic approach including: business models, design/build of systems, operations, maintenance, and communications/public representation, in addition to the impacts of digital infrastructure on economies, geopolitics, artificial intelligence, and the environment. Graduates will be equipped not only to enter the digital infrastructure industries, but wider fields of technology policy, sustainable development, telecommunications, and research.
For any questions, please contact Faculty Director, Nicole Starosielski, at globaldigitalinfra [at] berkeley.edu.