Application deadline
Credits and costs
Take the Next Step with the Online Advanced Certificate in Turfgrass Management
Prepare yourself for the challenges of managing turfgrass in any climate or terrain. Build your skill set with the online advanced certificate and learn about pest management, turfgrass cultural systems, turfgrass edaphology, and case studies in turfgrass management.
Why an Online Certificate through Penn State?
Build a Solid Foundation — As a graduate of the advanced certificate program, you can gain foundational knowledge and skills to move on to the Associate in Science in Turfgrass Science and Management, the Bachelor of Science in Turfgrass Science, or even the Master of Professional Studies in Turfgrass Management. All credits earned in the advanced certificate program can be directly applied to the other undergraduate turfgrass degrees offered through World Campus.
Penn State Expertise — Penn State became a leader in turfgrass education in 1929, when we launched one of the first turfgrass programs in the United States. As the first university to offer a two-year technical program and the first to offer turfgrass science as an undergraduate major, we built a solid foundation for the online turfgrass courses that we offer today.
Who Should Apply?
Whether you work in golf course maintenance, professional lawn care, grounds maintenance, sod production, sales and service, athletic field maintenance, or research support, this program can give you the skills needed to expand your career opportunities. If you have a bachelor's degree in another field but would like to learn about turfgrass, this certificate can provide you with the foundation of knowledge required to maintain and manage any sports or turfgrass facility.
Courses
The online advanced certificate in turfgrass management is a 30-credit program of study that builds on the basic turfgrass management certificate. To earn this certificate, you must successfully complete 30 required turfgrass credits.
Courses in the program cover:
- pest management
- turfgrass cultural systems
- turfgrass edaphology
- case studies in turfgrass management
The delivery method for the courses in this program is online group, with a group of students progressing together through each course. The courses are offered in a time frame comparable to a traditional semester schedule, with fixed start and end dates. To earn your certificate in a timely manner, we suggest completing three courses every 12 months.
Course content and activities are available in electronic format, and access to the web is required in order to complete this program.
While the stated requirement for this certificate is 30 credits, it may be slightly less, depending on the circumstances.
- For students with valid state pesticide licenses who have exempted from taking TURF 230, or for students who choose courses other than the 4-credit TURF 435, the total requirement is 29 credits.
- For those students who are both exempt from taking TURF 230 and who choose to take courses other than the 4-credit TURF 435, the requirement for the advanced certificate is only 28 credits.
Note: Students must earn at least a "C" grade in each course to be eligible for the certificate.
For this program, listed course prerequisites may be waived by the course instructor if you can demonstrate the required level of competency. Contact your adviser at [email protected] for more information.
Prescribed Courses (8 credits)
Additional Courses (21–22 credits)
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Undergraduate Tuition
Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State.
Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | If you have 59 or fewer credits | If you have 60 or more credits |
|---|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $626 per credit | $671 per credit |
| 12–19 | $7,602 per semester | $8,206 per semester |
Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | If you have 59 or fewer credits | If you have 60 or more credits |
|---|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $632 per credit | $678 per credit |
| 12–19 | $7,678 per semester | $8,288 per semester |
Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19.
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
Paying for Your Certificate
Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.
Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.
Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
All supporting materials should be sent following the submission of your application.
For current and future course registration deadlines, visit the Registrar's website to view the academic calendar by semester.
Admissions Help
If you have questions about the admissions process, email
[email protected]
or call 814-865-1146.
Admission Requirements
To apply for this program, you must be a high school graduate or have completed your GED.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Start or Advance Your Career
Start or Advance Your Career
You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.
A Head Start toward a Degree
A Head Start toward a Degree
Not only can this program help create opportunities in your career, it can also give you a solid head start toward a full associate or bachelor’s degree.
Contact Us
For questions about admissions and applications, please contact World Campus Central:
World Campus Central
Phone: 814-865-1146
[email protected]
Faculty
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Jeff Borger
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DegreeM.S., Agronomy, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Turfgrass Science, Penn State
Jeff Borger, assistant teaching professor of turfgrass weed management, has been with Penn State for more than 25 years. He oversees a turfgrass field research program that encompasses the evaluations of grassy and broadleaf weed control and plant growth regulators. He teaches numerous courses in both the resident and Penn State World Campus four-year and two-year turfgrass programs.
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Michael Fidanza
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DegreePh.D., Agronomy, University of Maryland
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DegreeM.S., Agronomy, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Agricultural Science, Penn State
Dr. Michael Fidanza is a professor of plant and soil sciences at Penn State Berks. His research and teaching focuses are turfgrass ecology, the translational evaluation and exploration of plant health products (fungicides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators), soil surfactants, seed technology, bio stimulants, turfgrass physiology, cultural practices in turfgrass ecosystems, and the biology and ecology of fairy ring disease in turf. He is the director of Penn State's Center for the Agricultural Sciences and a Sustainable Environment, and he is a Fellow in the American Society of Agronomy.
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David Huff
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DegreePh.D., Genetics, University of California, Davis
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DegreeM.S., Genetics, University of California, Davis
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DegreeB.S., Crop and Soils Sciences, Michigan State University
Dr. David Huff is a research scientist who performs basic and applied genetics on a wide range of grass species, including some native to North America. In the area of crop improvement, his program focuses on enhancing turf quality, seed yield, persistence, disease resistance, and tolerance to salinity and extreme temperatures (both heat and cold). He also performs a range of genomic investigations on the reproductive biology of these grasses, including such systems as apomixis, dioecy, and fungal-induced hermaphroditism.
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Brad Jakubowski
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DegreePh.D., Agronomy, Penn State, in progress
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DegreeM.S., Soil Science, Colorado State University
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DegreeB.S., Comprehensive Environmental Geography, University of Nebraska
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DegreeA.A.S., Printing Technology and Industry, Central Community College
Brad Jakubowski is an instructor of golf course irrigation and drainage, landscape irrigation and water management, and turfgrass management. He is experienced in water management, irrigation management, turfgrass management, and soil. As a Ph.D. candidate, he is studying impact attenuation on natural and synthetic athletic turfgrass fields.
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Peter Landschoot
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DegreePh.D., Plant Pathology, University of Rhode Island
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DegreeM.S., Agronomy, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Agronomy, Penn State
Dr. Peter Landschoot's primary job responsibility involves turfgrass extension and outreach in Pennsylvania. His research interests include disease and weed management, soil improvement, turfgrass variety evaluation, and soil fertility. Dr. Landschoot teaches Case Studies in Turfgrass Management in the resident and World Campus programs at Penn State.
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Benjamin McGraw
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DegreePh.D., Entomology, Rutgers University
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DegreeM.S., Entomology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
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DegreeB.S., Animal Science, University of Maine
Dr. Benjamin McGraw's main teaching foci at Penn State are general turfgrass management (TURF 235, 496a) and entomology courses (ENT 317, 952a). His research program focuses on understanding the biology and ecology of turfgrass insect populations to improve current management practices and develop novel, more sustainable management and monitoring programs.
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Andrew McNitt
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DegreePh.D., Soil Science, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Agronomy, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Horticulture, Penn State
Dr. Andrew McNitt is the director of Penn State's Center for Sports Surface Research, where he conducts research relating to athletic field surface characterization and golf green construction and maintenance. As the technical adviser to the NFL Groundskeepers Organization, he oversees the NFL field certification and serves on several committees at the League level.
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Max Schlossberg
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DegreePh.D., Agronomy, University of Georgia
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DegreeM.S., Agronomy, University of Georgia
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DegreeB.S., Agronomy, Texas A&M University
Dr. Max Schlossberg's comprehensive instructional approach supports effective management of turfgrass in every hemisphere. His primary research focuses on developing fertilizer programs to optimize resilience, playability, and nutrient use efficiency of turfgrass systems. His laboratory team has identified cultural methods for rapid soil pH optimization of turfgrass root zones, enhanced efficiency mechanisms of N fertilizers, factors controlling soil water repellency development, and topographic dependence of soils fertility.
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