North Carolina Botanical Garden The Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Native Plants are designed to provide participants with a well-balanced curriculum combining basic scientific background and hands-on investigative opportunities. Courses are taught by NCBG staff, UNC professors, and other area professionals. Courses consist of lecture-style classroom sessions, outdoor field trips, field studies, and hands-on project experience, including a research option for the Advanced Certificate. If you are pursuing professional employment in an environmental science-related career, the Advanced Certificate can be a valuable continuing education addition to your résumé.
Successful completion of each path in the program requires core courses, field trips, elective courses, and an experiential education component. Detailed requirements for each path in the program are provided in the program handbook. Course offerings and scheduling are designed for completion within a two-to-three-year period for the Certificate and three-to-four-year period for the Advanced Certificate.
For more information, view the handbook below.
Courses may be comprised of one, two, three or four sessions and sessions are typically three hours long.
The required core courses provide instruction in achieving academic understanding of the concepts of botany, ecology and plant conservation. Elective courses offer development beyond the core courses and the opportunity for supplemental academic knowledge and environmental science exploration. Note that three one-third credit electives (3 hours each) satisfy one elective credit. Two-thirds credit electives (6 hours each) are also available.
Certificate in Native Plants Curriculum
- Botany
- 3 of the following courses:
- Plant Ecology
- Plant Communities of North Carolina
- Plant Taxonomy
- Flowering Plant Families
- Principles of Conservation Biology
- Field Trips (1.0 Credit)
- Elective Courses (1.33 Credits)
- 16 Volunteer Hours
Advanced Certificate in Native Plants Curriculum
- Botany
- Plant Ecology
- Plant Communities of North Carolina
- Plant Taxonomy
- Flowering Plant Families
- Principles of Conservation Biology
- Field Trips (2.0 Credits)
- Elective courses (2.33 Credits)
- Independent Capstone Project or Capstone Experience