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Undergraduate Certificate in
Turfgrass Management, Advanced
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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)

  • 1
    credit

    Covers chemical toxicity, formulations, environmental fate, labels, MSDS, calibration, IPM, safety, handling, storage, and Pennsylvania certification and regulations.

    • Note

      Students who have a valid (and verifiable) state pesticide license can request to be exempted from taking TURF 230.

  • 3
    credits

    Characterization of the primary plant species used for sports, lawn and utility turf; includes turfgrass morphology, environmental adaptation, and cultural requirements.

  • 1
    credit

    Oral presentations developed by students in consultation with the course instructor.

    • Prerequisite

      Seventh-semester standing

    • Note

      TURF 495 must be taken before scheduling this course.

  • 3
    credits

    Supervised off-campus, nongroup instruction including field experiences, practica, or internships. Written and oral critique of activity required.

    • Prerequisite

      Prior approval of proposed assignment by instructor

Additional Courses (21–22 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    Introduction to entomology and management of insect pests of cold- and warm-season turfgrass.

    • Prerequisite Concurrent

      TURF 235

  • 3
    credits

    Introduction to biology of turfgrass pathogens and management of cool- and warm-season turfgrass.

    • Prerequisite

      TURF 235

  • 3
    credits

    A study of soil properties and processes and relationships to land use, plant growth, environmental quality, and society.

  • 3
    credits

    Introduction to the development of integrated weed management strategies utilizing a variety of cultural and chemical methods.

  • 3
    credits

    A study of irrigation topics with a strong concentration on turfgrass irrigation applications and a focus on surface and subsurface drainage.

    • Prerequisite

      TURF 235

    • Recommend preparation

      MATH 21 and SOILS 101

    • Note

      PLANT 217 may not be substituted for TURF 307 for prescribed course credit.

  • 3
    credits

    A study of turfgrass maintenance practices and how their interrelationships can be utilized to develop management systems.

    • Prerequisite

      TURF 235

    • Recommended preparation

      SOILS 101

  • 3
    credits

    Characterization of soil's physical and chemical properties for the establishment and maintenance of sports turf; includes root zone construction.

    • Prerequisite

      TURF 235

    • Recommend preparation

      SOILS 101

  • 4
    credits

    Study of turfgrass nutrition and growth; emphasizing constructed and mineral soil fertility, nutrient uptake and function, and fertilizer-use efficiency.

    • Prerequisite

      TURF 235

    • Recommend preparation

      SOILS 101

  • 3
    credits

    Case study and discussion considering integrated management of selected turfgrass sites; emphasis on problem analysis, principle application, and decision-making.

    • Prerequisite

      TURF 235 and (TURF 434 or TURF 435)

    • Recommend preparation

      TURF 238 and TURF 425

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.

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