Regenstein School
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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.
Certificate of Merit Programs 2008 Graduation
If you have completed or will be finishing your certificate program course work by autumn 2008, please complete the following registration form. There is no fee, but you must register with the continuing education office to be considered for the 2008 Certificate Programs Graduation. Upon receiving your notification, we will send you a transcript of classes from our records. Please notify the office of any discrepancies.
If you have further questions you may always contact Brandon Sparling, Program Specialist in the continuing education office directly at 847-835-8292.
Please provide an email address below for confirmation and correspondence, as we are striving to go paperless.
Ornamental Plant Materials
Download Brochure (PDF)
| OPC Core Courses | Catalog | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Botany 1 (B) — Afternoon Sessions Botany 1 (B) — Evening Sessions |
Autumn 2008 | 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 2008 | Botany 1 |
| Deciduous Flowering Shrubs (I) | Spring 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Annuals and Biennials (I) | Spring 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Herbaceous Perennials (I) |
Summer 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Conifers and Broadleafed Evergreens (I) | Autumn 2009 | Botany 1 |
| SUMMER 2008 OPC Electives | Catalog | Prerequisites |
| Improving Plant Health Through Organic Soil Care |
Autumn 2008 | None |
| Pruning for Professionals | Autumn 2008 | None |
| Hydrangea and Hibiscus | Autumn 2008 | None |
| The Best of Fir, Pine, and Spruce | Autumn 2008 | None |
| Ferns for the Chicago Region | Autumn 2008 | None |
| Ornamental Grasses | Autumn 2008 | None |
| Maples | Autumn 2008 | None |
| Evaluating your Garden for Spring | Autumn 2008 | None |
| Spiraea for the Upper Midwest | Autumn 2008 | None |
Professional Gardener Level 1
Download Brochure (PDF)
| PGL 1 Required Courses | Catalog | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Botany 1 (B) — Afternoon Sessions Botany 1 (B) — Evening Sessions |
Autumn 2008 | None |
| Choice of four OPC core courses | VIEW OPC | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session A (I) | Autumn 2008 | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session B (I) | Winter 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session C (I) | Spring 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session D (I) | Summer 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Hardscape Basics (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Plant Health 1 (I) | Autumn 2008 | 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 |
Autumn 2008 | None |
| Botany 2 (I) | Autumn 2008 | Botany 1 |
| All OPC core courses | VIEW OPC | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session A (I) | Autumn 2008 | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session B (I) | Winter 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session C (I) | Spring 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Gardening Techniques: Session D (I) | Summer 2009 | Botany 1 |
| Hardscape Basics (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Plant Health 1 (I) | Autumn 2008 | Botany 1 |
| Plant Health 2 (A) | Winter 2009 | Botany 1, Botany 2, Plant Health 1 |
| Soils and Water (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Project Basics (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Planting Design (A) | * | Botany 1, 4 OPC core courses, Project Basics (A) |
| Project Management (A) | Autumn 2008 | 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 2008 | None |
| Growing Fruit Trees and Berries (B) | Spring 2010 | None |
| Botany 1 (B) — Afternoon Sessions Botany 1 (B) — Evening Sessions |
Autumn 2008 | None |
| Growing Ornamental Plant Materials (B) | Spring 2010 | None |
| Survey of Plant Disorders (I) | Summer 2010 | None |
| Plant Propogation (B) | Spring 2009 | None |
| Understanding Soils (B) | Spring 2009 | None |
| Basic Landscape Principles (I) | Spring 2009 | None |
Garden Design
Download Brochure (PDF)
| GDC Required Courses | Catalog | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Botany 1 (B) — Afternoon Sessions Botany 1 (B) — Evening Sessions |
Autumn 2008 | None |
| Botany 2 (I) | Autumn 2008 | 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 2008 Winter 2009 Spring 2009 Summer 2009 |
Botany 1 Botany 1 Botany 1 Botany 1 |
| Plant Health 1 (I) | Autumn 2008 | Botany 1 |
| Plant Health 2 (A) | Winter 2009 | Botany 1, Botany 2, Plant Health 1 |
| Hardscape Basics (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Discovering Design (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Experiencing Design (I) | * | Botany 1, Discovering Design |
| Early Garden History (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Modern Garden History (I) | Autumn 2008 | Botany 1, Early Garden History |
| Graphics (I) | Autumn 2008 | Botany 1 |
| Project Basics (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Planting Design (I) | * | Botany 1, 4 OPC core courses, Project Basics |
| Soils and Water (I) | * | Botany 1 |
| Project Management (A) | Autumn 2008 | Botany 1, 6 OPC core courses, Planting Design |
| Garden Design Studio (A) | Autumn 2008 | 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 | Autumn 2008 | None |
| Botanical Drawing 2 | * | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Botany for Botanical Artists | * | None |
| Pen and Ink 1 |
* | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Pen and Ink 2 | Autumn 2008 | Pen and Ink 1 |
| Composition | * | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Color Mixing for Botanical Artists | Autumn 2008 | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Watercolor 1 | * | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Watercolor 2 | Autumn 2008 | Watercolor 1 |
| Outdoor Sketching | * | None |
| Portfolio Seminar and Review | Approval of Program Coordinator |
Healthcare
Garden Design
View more information on program.
| Register for HGC Program Online. |
Horticultural Therapy
View more information on program.
| This program will be open for registration in Winter 2008. |
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