Certificate Programs – Garden Design

Garden Design Certificate Program

Garden Design Certificate Program

The Garden Design Certificate (GDC) consists of a unique curriculum that provides the knowledge and skills you need to succeed as a garden design professional. It features a solid foundation in plantsmanship and science-based gardening techniques, both of which are essential to creating successful gardens for a wide spectrum of projects—from private residences to municipal plantings.

Who should participate? Aspiring professional garden designers, and gardeners and garden designers seeking professional development. There are no prerequisites to start the program, and no prior horticulture experience is needed.

Student Resources

Course Overview
Program Policies
FAQ Brochure
Graduation
Questions?  
Contact Stana, student advisor:  
Click here to show mail address
 

Program Requirements

The program requirements include 23 required courses and 24 instructional hours of elective courses. Botany 1 is recommended to take first or early in your curriculum given it is a prerequisite for many other courses. Students on average complete this program within three years. All requirements for the certificate must be completed within seven years of the start date of our first core course. For the certificate, a grade of at least 70 percent must be achieved for each core course.

Ready to get started? Begin your journey with Botany 1, Soil Basics, or any of the four Gardening Techniques courses.

Garden Design Certificate Program
 

Garden Design Required Courses

Prerequisites

Botany 1 
Botany 2Botany 1
Gardening Techniques: Session A 
Gardening Techniques: Session B 
Gardening Techniques: Session C 
Gardening Techniques: Session D 
Soil Basics 
Plant Health 1Botany 1
Plant Health 2Plant Health 1
Annuals and BiennialsBotany 1
Conifers and Broad-leaved EvergreensBotany 1
Decidous Flowering ShrubsBotany 1
Decidous TreesBotany 1
Ground Covers and VinesBotany 1
Hardy BulbsBotany 1
Herbaceous PerennialsBotany 1
Small Flowering TreesBotany 1
Graphics 
Introduction to Professional PracticeGraphics (can be taken concurrently)
Principles of Garden DesignGraphics & Introduction to Professional Practice
Hardscape BasicsGraphics, Introduction to Professional Practice & Principles of Garden Design
Introduction to Grading and DrainageGraphics, Introduction to Professional Practice & Principles of Garden Design
Planting DesignGraphics, Introduction to Professional Practice, Principles of Garden Design & Hardscape Basics
Garden Design ImplementationGraphics, Introduction to Professional Practice, Principles of Garden Design, Hardscape Basics, and Introduction to Grading
Garden Design StudioGraphics, Introduction to Professional Practice, Principles of Garden Design, Hardscape Basics, and Garden Design
  

CHOICE OF TWO OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES

Gardening Techniques: Session A
Gardening Techniques: Session B
Gardening Techniques: Session C
Gardening Techniques: Session D
 

GDC Elective Courses

24 instructional hours of GDC elective credit is required     
Select from a variety of course topics.     
Classes are formatted with CEUs.     
Example: 0.3 CEUs = 3 elective hours.

Available Classes

If a class is sold out, please contact us at (847) 835-6801 to be placed on the waitlist. The Garden will contact you if a space becomes available.

Botany 1

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate, 
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and 
Garden Design Certificate

5 Mondays, 5 Wednesdays:  
September 8 – October 20
No class September 22, October 1 and 13 

6 Tuesdays, 4 Thursdays:
June 3 – July 10
No class June 19 and July 3 

6:30 – 9 p.m. 

Soil Basics

Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate

6 Thursdays: 
April 10 – May 22 
6:30 – 9 p.m. and 

Saturday:
May 3 
1 – 4 p.m.
No class May 15

Principles of Garden Design

Professional Gardener Level 2 and 
Garden Design Certificate

8 Wednesdays:     
April 16 – June 4     
6:30 – 9 p.m.      
and     
2 Saturdays:     
April 19 and May 17     
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.     

Design Combinations for Pollinators

Garden Design Certificate

Tuesday, May 6
6 – 8 p.m.

Adult Ed Garden Design Gardener as Artist

Annuals and Biennials

Certificate Ornamental Plant Materials,
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 1,
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Certificate Garden Design

7 Tuesdays:
May 13 – June 24
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

6 Saturdays:
May 17 – June 21
Garden Walk, meet at Visitor Center
8 – 10 a.m.

Botany 2

Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate

6 Mondays, 6 Wednesdays: 
May 14 – June 25 
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
No class May 26, 
course starts on Wednesday
 

Adult Education Garden Design Harmonizing Design and Plant Selection

Harmonizing Design and Plant Selection

Garden Design Certificate

2 Wednesdays:
June 11 & 18
6 – 8 p.m.

Gardening Techniques

Gardening Techniques: Session D

Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate

6 Sundays:  
June 14 – July 26
No class July 5
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Adult Ed Garden Design Patterns

Patterns in Garden Design: Online

Garden Design Certificate

Saturday, June 14
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Hardscape basics

Hardscape Basics

Online and On-site Hybrid

Professional Gardener Level 2 and 
Garden Design Certificate

Online 9 Thursdays: 
June 26 – August 21 
6:30 – 9 p.m. and

On-site 2 Saturdays: 
July 12 and August 9 
2 – 5 p.m. 

Plant Health

Plant Health 2

Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate

6 Mondays, 6 Wednesdays: 
July 14 – August 20 
6 – 8 p.m. 
Rain date: August 25, 6 – 8 p.m.

Adult Ed Horticulture Herbaceous Perennials

Herbaceous Perennials

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate

7 Tuesdays:
July 15 – August 26
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. 
Includes Garden Walks, 
meet at Visitor Center

6 Saturdays:
July 19 – August 23
8 – 10 a.m.

Soil Basics

Soil Basics, Intensive Session

Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate

3 Saturdays: 
September 6, 13 and 27 
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
No class September 20

Adult Ed Horticulture Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens

Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate

7 Tuesdays:
September 16 – November 4
No class September 23 and
October 14

Wednesday, November 12
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Classroom 1, Learning Center

6 Saturdays:
September 20 – November 8
No class September 27 and
October 11
8 – 10 a.m. 
Garden Walks, meet at Visitor Center

Adult Ed Garden Design Rain Garden Design

Rain Garden Design: Online

Saturday, September 20
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Adult Ed Horticulture Gardening Techniques

Gardening Techniques: Session A Online and On-site Hybrid

Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate

Online and On-site Hybrid

6 Thursdays:
September 25 – October 30
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Online

6 Sundays:
September 28 – November 2
10 a.m. – noon
Classroom 5