The fully online, asynchronous course is the first in the new certificate program designed to prepare students for the cannabis industry.
Following the legalization of recreational cannabis in Illinois in January 2020, there has been tremendous growth in the state’s cannabis industry.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is leading the way in educating the industry’s rapidly expanding workforce.
Crop Sciences, in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), now offers Introduction to Cannabis, the first course in its new Cannabis Mini Certificate Program. The course is available online via an asynchronous format, allowing participants to work independently. And like the certificate program, it’s open to undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree-seeking students.
In the introductory course, students will develop a foundation of cannabis production skills from classification to biology/physiology to production management. The modules are designed to provide students with an understanding of the cannabis classification system, including subspecies and varieties, cannabis biology, and life cycle phases.
The program is designed for professionals who:
- Desire knowledge and insights on Cannabis production and management practices
- Want to develop skills that can be readily applied on the job to solve real-world challenges and contribute effectively to this dynamic field
- Aspire to be experts in the growing Hemp industry, such as agronomists, cultivators, growers, field technicians, etc.
Students can look forward to a sneak-peek of upcoming courses in this Mini Certificate Series, including:
- Pest & Disease Management
- Nutrient Management
- Light, HVAC, & Water
- …and more!
Enroll in the Introduction to Cannabis course today.
According to D.K. Lee – Crop Sciences professor and Director of Online Programs, who developed the certificate program – understanding cannabis biology and taxonomic classification is critical for proper management practices for the production of essential oils, psychoactive compounds, fiber, and seed oil and protein, and applications of those products. Discrepancies between scientific and vernacular names of cannabis and the inconsistency of vernacular names are misleading to producers and consumers.
Crop Sciences, in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), also offers an Online Cannabis Production and Management Certificate based on academic credits. The 11-credit-hour Cannabis Production and Management Certificate Program will equip students with the knowledge for cannabis indoor, outdoor, and large-scale field production, classification of subspecies and varieties, biology, propagation, planting, pest management, and harvesting of target compounds and products.
The courses include:
Students need to complete four courses, including CPSC480 from the list, and all course credits from the certificate program are transferable academic credits.
Learn more about the Cannabis Certificate Program and be on the frontier of this fast-paced, emerging opportunity!