Turfgrass Management, Basic, Certificate

Program Code: TURFB_UCT

Program Description

Students in this program will build the knowledge and skill necessary to assess, treat, and manage turf in any climate or terrain. This program addresses pest management, turfgrass cultural systems, and turfgrass edaphology and culminates in a series of case studies in turfgrass management.

What is Turfgrass Management?

The Turfgrass Management Certificates includes basic and applied plant sciences with a focus on practical turfgrass management. The advanced certificate includes an internship to prepare students for careers as decision makers in golf course, sports field, and landscape construction and management.

You Might Like This Program If...

  • You are working in the turfgrass industry and want to improve your technical knowledge of turfgrass.
  • You want to advance your career in golf course or sports turf management.
  • You want to use your technical expertise to solve problems related to plants and the environment.
  • You have a sense of accomplishment seeing your work appreciated by others.

Program Requirements

To earn an undergraduate certificate in Turfgrass Management, Basic, a minimum of 15 credits is required.

Prescribed Courses
TURF 230Turfgrass Pesticides1
TURF 235The Turfgrass3
Select 11-13 credits from the following courses:11-13
Turfgrass Insect Pest Management
Turfgrass Disease Management
Turf and Ornamental Weed Control
Golf Course Irrigation and Drainage
Turfgrass Cultural Systems
Turfgrass Edaphology
Turfgrass Nutrition
Case Studies in Turfgrass Management

No Prerequisites Required.

Certificate Learning Objectives

  • Communication: Students will enhance their written, oral and interpersonal communication skills needed to become a successful turfgrass manager.
  • Computation: Accurately comprehend and draw appropriate inferences from numeric data and quantitative models.
  • Pest Management: Students will learn to identify common turfgrass pests and develop cultural and chemical management plans for each.
  • Plant Science: Students will understand the fundamentals of plant and soil sciences required to interpret and make scientific decisions related to managing turfgrass under various conditions.
  • Turfgrass: Students will be able to identify, establish and maintain grasses in various climates.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Dianne Petrunak
Academic Adviser
242 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-0139
dmp6@psu.edu

World Campus

Undergraduate Academic Advising
301 Outreach Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3283
advising@outreach.psu.edu

Career Paths

Graduates manage golf courses and professional stadium playing surfaces. Turfgrass professionals utilize grasses in conservation areas, and suburban and urban landscapes to enhance and beautify the environment. Some alumni pursue careers in agricultural enterprises that support the turfgrass industry.

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE
102 Tyson Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-2571
dmp6@psu.edu

https://plantscience.psu.edu/

World Campus

DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCES
116 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-0139
dmp6@psu.edu

https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/penn-state-online-turfgrass-management-basic-undergraduate-certificate