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Certificate Programs
Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden
Certificate Programs
Certificate of Merit Programs enable individuals to learn about a specialized topic
at their own pace.
Many Certificate of merit programs can be completed in as little as two years and provide students specialized, high-quality educational programs without the need to be enrolled in a college or university.
Many students enrolled in certificate of merits consider themselves "lifelong learners," hoping simply to become better gardeners, while others are professionals working to improve their expertise and marketability. Several certificate of merit graduates and students are pursuing careers in horticulture, landscape design, education and conservation while others are actively volunteering at nature-based organizations in the Chicago region.
Currently the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden offers the following unique Certificates of Merit (below). To sign up online for sessions listed below, please click on the session's title. Courses without a specific catalog listing will be available at a future date.
Download the current Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden catalog.
Ornamental Plant Materials
Download Brochure (PDF)
| OPC Core Courses | Catalog | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Botany 1 (B) — Afternoon Sessions Botany 1 (B) — Evening Sessions |
Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Hardy Bulbs (I) | Spring 2010 | Botany 1 |
| Small Flowering Trees (I) | Spring 2010 | Botany 1 |
| Ground Covers and Vines (I) | Spring 2010 | Botany 1 |
| Deciduous Trees (I) | Autumn 2010 | Botany 1 |
| Deciduous Flowering Shrubs (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Annuals and Biennials (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Herbaceous Perennials (I) |
Summer 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Conifers and Broadleafed Evergreens (I) | Autumn 2009 | Botany 1 |
| WIN/SPR 2008-2009 OPC Electives | Catalog | Prerequisites |
| The Best New Annuals for 2009 | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Evaluating Your Space: The Garden in Winter |
Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Evaluating Your Garden for Summer | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Organic Pest Control | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Building Soils Organically | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Shrubs for Summer Interest | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Edible Ornamentals and Their Companions |
Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Container Plantings for the Professional Gardener |
Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Local Flora: Spring | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Tulip Tutorial | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Crab Apples | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Viburnums | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Lilacs | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
Professional Gardener Level 1
Download Brochure (PDF)
| PGL 1 Required Courses | Catalog | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Botany 1 (B) — Afternoon Sessions Botany 1 (B) — Evening Sessions |
Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Choice of four OPC core courses | VIEW OPC | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session A (I) | Autumn 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session B (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session C (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session D (I) | Summer 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Hardscape Basics (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Plant Health 1 (I) | Autumn 2009 | Botany 1 |
Professional Gardener Level 2
Download Brochure (PDF)
| PGL 2 Required Courses | Catalog | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Botany 1 (B) — Afternoon Sessions Botany 1 (B) — Evening Sessions |
Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Botany 2 (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| All OPC core courses | VIEW OPC | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session A (I) | Autumn 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session B (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session C (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session D (I) | Summer 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Hardscape Basics (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Plant Health 1 (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Plant Health 2 (A) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1, Botany 2, Plant Health 1 |
| Soils and Water (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Project Basics (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Planting Design (A) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1, 4 OPC core courses, Project Basics (A) |
| Project Management (A) | * | Botany 1, 6 OPC core courses, Planting Design |
| Guided Industry Experience (A) | Approval of program coordinator |
Midwest Gardening
Download Brochure (PDF)
| MGC Required Courses | Catalog | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Growing Vegetables and Herbs (B) | Summer 2009 | None |
| Introduction to Midwest Gardening (B) | Autumn 2009 | None |
| Growing Fruit Trees and Berries (B) | Spring 2010 | None |
| Botany 1 (B) — Afternoon Sessions Botany 1 (B) — Evening Sessions |
Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Growing Ornamental Plant Materials (B) | Spring 2010 | None |
| Survey of Plant Disorders (I) | Summer 2010 | None |
| Plant Propogation (B) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Understanding Soils (B) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Basic Landscape Principles (B) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
Garden Design
Download Brochure (PDF)
| GDC Required Courses | Catalog | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Botany 1 (B) — Afternoon Sessions Botany 1 (B) — Evening Sessions |
Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Botany 2 (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| All OPC core courses | VIEW OPC | Botany 1 |
| Choice of two Gardening Techniques courses: | ||
| Gardening Techniques: Session A (I) Gardening Techniques: Session B (I) Gardening Techniques: Session C (I) Gardening Techniques: Session D (I) |
Autumn 2009 Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 Summer 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Plant Health 1 (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Plant Health 2 (A) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1, Botany 2, Plant Health 1 |
| Soils and Water (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Project Basics (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Hardscape Basics (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Graphics (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Discovering Design (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Experiencing Design (I) | Summer 2009 | Botany 1, Discovering Design |
| Early Garden History (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1 |
| Modern Garden History (I) | * | Botany 1, Early Garden History |
| Planting Design (I) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1, 4 OPC core courses, Project Basics |
| Project Management (A) | * | Botany 1, 6 OPC core courses, Planting Design |
| Garden Design Studio (A) | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botany 1, Early Garden History, Modern Garden History, Project Basics, Planting Design |
| Guided Industry Experience (A) | Approval of program coordinator | |
Botanical Art Certificate
| BAC Required Courses | Catalog | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Drawing 1 | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Botanical Drawing 2 | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Botany for Botanical Artists | Summer 2009 | None |
| Pen and Ink 1 |
* | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Pen and Ink 2 | * | Pen and Ink 1 |
| Composition | Summer 2009 | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Color Mixing for Botanical Artists | * | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Watercolor 1 | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Watercolor 2 | Summer 2009 | Watercolor 1 |
| Outdoor Sketching | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Portfolio Seminar and Review | Approval of Program Coordinator | |
| WIN/SPR 2008-2009 BAC Electives | Catalog | Prerequisites |
| Landscapes in Pastel | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
| Bringing Design to Your Botanical Art | Winter 2008/ Spring 2009 |
None |
Healthcare
Garden Design
View more information on program.
| Register for 8-day HGC certificate program online. |
| Register for 1-day HGC seminar, "Gardens that Heal: A Prescription for Wellness" online. |
Horticultural Therapy
View more information on program.
| This program will be open for registration in Winter 2008. |
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