Turfgrass education has never been a one-size-fits-all field. Superintendents have long demonstrated success when armed with certificates, associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in turf management; business degrees; or even a diploma from the school of hard knocks.
Since the advent in 1998 of Penn State's World Campus, which brings online education to students around the world, the face of turfgrass education has been in a state of constant change. Today, the World Campus offers bachelor's and post-graduate degrees in turfgrass management, and a host of other schools offer online certificate programs, including the University of Georgia and Ohio State University.
The online horticulture certificate program at Florida Gateway College, formerly Lake City CC, is a flexible educational program that meets the changing needs of non-traditional students, many of whom already are working somewhere in the green industry and recognize the benefits of expanding their education.
Launched three years ago, the online program at FGC offers 18 credit hours through a curriculum of six 3-credit hour courses: Principles of Plant Growth, Soils and Fertilizers, Agricultural Chemistry, Landscape Plants, Golf and Landscape Irrigation, and Turfgrass for Golf and Landscape.
Initially, only about 10 students were enrolled in the program, and that number grew to a dozen last year. Today, there are 30 students in the program, says John Piersol, executive director of FGC's business, industrial and agricultural programs.
The curriculum is intended to supplement the knowledge base of those already working in golf or sports turf or the landscape industries, but lack a plant science background, Piersol says.
Many superintendents lament a lack of business education. Piersol said he recommends to those who wish to be a golf course superintendent or sports turf manager, the FGC online horticulture program coupled with a four-year degree in business administration.
"We are taking advantage of modern technology to deliver our golf, landscape, and sports turf related education to the working student," Piersol said. "This is what students want, and Florida Gateway College had to change to meet their needs."
The program has been promoted in regional turf publications and also by word of mouth as turf managers throughout the Southeast recognize the growing need for a non-traditional educational program that allows working students to earn while they learn.
Piersol says future plans could expand FGC's online offerings even more if there is a demand.
"The combination of hands-on site learning, our basic plant science certificate, and a business degree will work," he said. "I have a concept for a 30 credit online advanced certificate and a possible new all online (associate's) degree, but these will only be developed if there is strong demand for them."