Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Undergraduate Certificate in Turfgrass Management, Advanced, is designed to build upon existing skills and explore more advanced turfgrass topics. This 30-credit program covers pest management, turfgrass cultural systems, turfgrass edaphology, and case studies in turfgrass management.

Program Summary

The program aims to provide students with the foundation of knowledge required to maintain and manage any sports or turfgrass facility. It is ideal for golf course and sports field personnel who want to take their career to the next level.

Application Deadline

Apply by December 22 to start January 12.

Credits and Costs

The program consists of 30 credits, with a cost of $638/$685 per credit.

Hands-On Experience

Students receive real-world experience through an internship.

Gain Skills to Grow as a Turfgrass Professional

The program enables students to:

• Manage a diverse staff and budgetary limitations.
• Identify common turfgrass pests and develop cultural and chemical management plans.
• Comprehend and draw appropriate inferences from numeric data and quantitative models.
• Identify, establish, and maintain grasses in various climates and manage turfgrass under various conditions.

Study in a Variety of Online Courses

The program covers:

• Pest management
• Turfgrass cultural systems
• Turfgrass edaphology
• Case studies in turfgrass management

Prescribed Courses (8 credits)

• TURF 230: Turfgrass Pesticides (1 credit)
• TURF 235: The Turfgrass (3 credits)
• TURF 490: Colloquium (1 credit)
• TURF 495: Internship (3 credits)

Additional Courses (21–22 credits)

• ENT 317: Turfgrass Insect Pest Management (3 credits)
• PPEM 412: Turfgrass Disease Management (3 credits)
• SOILS 101: Introductory Soil Science (3 credits)
• TURF 238: Turf and Ornamental Weed Control (3 credits)
• TURF 307: Golf Course Irrigation and Drainage (3 credits)
• TURF 425: Turfgrass Cultural Systems (3 credits)
• TURF 434: Turfgrass Edaphology (3 credits)
• TURF 435: Turfgrass Nutrition (4 credits)
• TURF 436W: Case Studies in Turfgrass Management (3 credits)

Course Availability

Students can visit the public LionPATH course search to plan ahead.

Start or Advance Your Career

The program can help create opportunities in various fields, including:

• Equipment manager
• Commercial grounds manager
• Irrigation specialist
• Assistant manager

Career Services

Penn State World Campus Career Services provides resources and tools to further students' careers, including:

• Opportunities to connect with employers
• Career counselor/coach support
• Occupation and salary information
• Internships
• Graduate school resources

Costs and Financial Aid

• Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which students register and the number of total credits they have accrued at or transferred to Penn State.
• Tuition rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
• The program is not eligible for federal student aid, but private alternative loans may be an option.

Faculty

The program is taught by faculty from the Plant Science, Entomology, and Plant Pathology departments in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, including:

• Michael Fidanza
• David Huff
• Brad Jakubowski
• Peter Landschoot
• Benjamin McGraw
• Max Schlossberg

News

The program has been featured in various news articles, including "How TPC San Antonio’s Meadows overcame hardships to help others in industry" and "Legally blind golf pro earns turfgrass science degree."

Student Success Story

Doug King, a student in the program, stated, "I can't say enough about how much I have learned. I am able to discuss subjects at hand with my boss and other professionals in the field with greater confidence and understanding."