Chicago Botanic Garden

Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden

Certificate Programs
Midwest Gardening Certificate

In the Midwest Gardening Program, students new to gardening will gain skills and basic training with a practical user-friendly approach to make them a more successful home gardener. If you are able to take all the courses when offered, you can complete the certificate in just two years.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?

Anyone wanting to become a more successful home gardener, and Master Gardeners who would like to further their education and training. There are no prerequisites for this program, and no prior horticulture experience is needed.

DOWNLOAD A PROGRAM BROCHURE

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE STUDY PLAN

 PHOTO: Painting in studio class

MGC Required Courses Prerequisites
Botany 1 None
Introduction to Midwest Gardening None
Growing Vegetables and Herbs Botany 1
Growing Fruit Trees and Berries Botany 1
Growing Ornamental Plant Materials Botany 1
Plant Health 1 (formerly Survey of Plant Disorders) Botany 1
Plant Propogation Botany 1
Soil Basics (formerly Understanding Soils) Botany 1
Basic Landscape Principles None

Register Online Now

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS close panel

After completing Botany 1, all remaining courses may be taken in any order, unless a prerequisite is listed. It is highly recommended that Introduction to Midwest Gardening be taken at the first opportunity. The program requirements include nine core courses offered on a rotating basis over a two-year period. If you are able to take all the courses when offered, you can complete the certificate in just two years.

For the certificate, a grade of at least 70 percent must be achieved for each core course. All requirements for the certificate must be completed within five years of the start date of your first core course.

You can prove proficiency for up to 20 percent of the coursework by passing proficiency exams or providing transcripts indicating grades of at least 70 percent for similar courses. There is no separate enrollment for the program.

A SAMPLE 2-YEAR COURSE OF STUDY FOR THE MIDWEST GARDENING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM close panel

YEAR 1

Botany 1

Introduction to Midwest Gardening

Growing Ornamental Plant Materials

Growing Fruit Trees and Berries

Plant Health 1

YEAR 2

Soil Basics

Basic Landscape Principles

Plant Propagaion

Growing Vegetables and Herbs