Enrolling in Penn State's online bachelor of science degree program in turfgrass science is a great way to maximize your career potential in any turfgrass-related field. This 120-credit program is a comprehensive course of study that builds upon the advanced turfgrass management certificate and will allow you to deepen your expertise in agriculture and business management and earn a bachelor's degree. All the courses in this online program can be completed around your own schedule, where and when it's most convenient for you.
A Degree Program for Today's Turfgrass Professional
This program's 86 major credits cover a wide range of topics essential to contemporary turfgrass management. In addition to covering pesticides, weed control, morphology, entomology, pathology, edaphology, and cultural systems, the program is designed to sharpen your skills in such areas as business management, speech communications, and organic chemistry.
Learn from Respected Leaders in the Field
Interact online with attentive educators from one of the nation's most highly regarded programs in turfgrass management.
Earn GCSAA Continuing Education Points
The program has been approved by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) for 1.5 education points per college credit hour toward meeting entry and/or renewal requirements for Class A and/or Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) status. Completion of the advanced turfgrass management certificate portion of the program fulfills GCSAA's education requirement as a 400-hour certificate program for Class A membership.
For more information and to review the Class A or CGCS Code of Standards visit, http://www.gcsaa.org.
GCSAA Certification Portfolio
Penn State Online is now accepting the GCSAA certification portfolio as the equivalent of up to 18 credit hours toward Penn State's online bachelor's degree in turfgrass. You can get more information on earning the credits by visiting the GCSAA Web site.
There is an opportunity to earn up to 30 credits of "lifetime learning" through GCSAA. Eighteen of those 30 credits can be awarded for a satisfactory GCSAA certification portfolio, with up to 6 credits for each of the 3 components: work samples, skill statements, and case studies with scenarios. The remaining 12 credits can be earned from satisfactory completion of GCSAA seminars, with a half credit for each 8-hour seminar.
There is a fee to have these credits added to your Penn State transcript. Please note: Not all of the credits earned through lifetime learning may fulfill degree requirements. It will depend on how the lifetime credits equate to college courses and what additional college credits you are transferring into the degree. Please contact an adviser to explore this option.
