Program Requirements

Undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree seeking students wanting to learn more about cannabis production and seeking jobs in these emerging industries.

​All course credits from the Certificate Program are transferable academic credits from the Certificate Program.

Tuition

For estimated tuition and fees for students seeking academic credit, see Illinois Online.

The Cannabis Production and Management Certificate is not eligible for tuition waivers.

The Certificate Programs are not eligible for federal VA benefit use. However, Illinois State Benefits such as the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) or Illinois National Guard (ING) are eligible when applicable.

Certificate Requirements

• Complete a minimum of 11 credit hours within the courses listed below
• CPSC 480 Cannabis Classification and Management is required for all students.
• If you opt to take HORT 100 or HORT 106, only one course (3 credit hours) will count towards the requirement.
• Earn a grade of C or better in 11 credit hours of classwork
• Coursework cannot be used to qualify for multiple certificates.

Course Descriptions

Introduction to Horticulture

HORT 100, 3 credits, online asynchronous in Spring

Basic principles of plant growth and development as they apply to the production, marketing, and utilization of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.

The Sustainable Home Garden

HORT 106, 3 credits, online asynchronous in Fall

Create inviting and sustainable indoor and outdoor living spaces with plants, whether your landscape is several acres or a few containers on an urban balcony. Learn the fundamentals of environmentally sound resource use when designing with and maintaining flowering, fruit and vegetable plants, lawns, trees and shrubs around your home. Become a savvy horticultural consumer and develop a healthy lifestyle that supports positive physical and mental well-being by including greenspace activities in your daily life.

Medical Plants and Herbology

CPSC 180, 3 hrs., in-person in Spring/online asynchronous in Fall

The use of cultivated and wild plants in medicines and health products according to Eastern and Western medical traditions. Consideration of herbal medicine use from ancient times to the present, important medicinal chemicals produced by plants, and the evaluation of plant chemical products as potential human medicines.

Cannabis Classification and Management

CPSC 480, 3 hrs., in-person in Spring/online synchronous in Fall

Designed to provide students with an understanding of the cannabis classification system and proper management practices for target compounds and products. 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 mislead producers and consumers. This course will discuss the taxonomy and vernacular nomenclature of cannabis and cannabis biology will be discussed based on individual subspecies. The subspecies classification will be necessary for proper management practices and harvesting of target compounds and products. 

Cannabis Phytochemistry

CPSC 499, 3 hrs., online synchronous in Fall

This course explores Cannabis as a multipurpose plant with unique and complex chemical traits driving diverse value networks of supplements, cosmetics, food, and medicinal products. The biosynthesis, variations, and functions of major structural classes of phytochemicals in Cannabis will be examined, along with methods of extraction and analysis of chemical constituents applicable to fundamental plant research, industrial-scale production, quality and safety testing, and regulatory compliance in the U.S. Students will critically evaluate information sources pertaining to Cannabis and its purported health claims.

Cannabis Flower Production

CPSC 499, 2 hrs., online synchronous in Spring

This course explores indoor and outdoor Cannabis cultivation techniques for the small-scale grower. Topics covered include botany, the Cannabis growth cycle, growing systems and media, nutrients, environmental controls such as lighting, media, ventilation, etc., strain selection, and sanitation/disease/pest control. This section is restricted to online programs only.