UMass Extension's Green School

Scroll down or click on these headings to jump to that section for more details.

Program Background
Course Format
Curriculum & Schedule
Program Fees & Registration
Options for Tuition Assistance
Why Choose Green School?
How Does the Virtual Green School Work?
Course Requirements
Key Information
Testimonials from Past Green School Attendees
Questions?

Program Background

UMass Extension’s Green School is a comprehensive 60+ hour certificate short course that offers fundamental horticultural training in a compact time frame. This program is designed for professional practitioners such as landscapers, lawn care providers, nursery operators, public and private grounds managers, arborists, professional gardeners, landscape and garden designers, industry sales and support professionals, and others in the green industries. Both experienced professionals as well as those new to the industry will benefit from this course.

The curriculum, which emphasizes a systems-based approach to plant and land care, is based on current research and is built on a framework of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The course is expressly designed to promote understanding of economically feasible and environmentally sound plant and land care practices, and the relation of those practices to the protection and preservation of natural resources and the health of non-target organisms. The primary learning objective is to communicate effective and efficient approaches for the production and maintenance of healthy, resilient, functional, and attractive managed landscapes with simultaneous emphasis on responsibility, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

Green School has been successfully offered to the industry as a certificate short course since the early 1990’s.

Green School is only offered every other year; the next available session will be held late-October through mid-December 2026.

Course Format

Green School in 2026 will be an entirely online course taught by UMass Extension specialists, UMass faculty, and distinguished guest instructors. An online vs in-person course format offers particular benefits, including registration cost savings due to reduced overhead, savings on time and travel expenses, and opportunity for those who have previously been unable to attend due to other commitments, travel restrictions or distance the ability to participate from the convenience of their own homes and offices!

When? Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from late-October through mid-December.

Geographic Disclaimer: While attendees from far and wide are welcome to join us for this virtual course, please note that the information presented will have a geographic focus on Massachusetts and New England, and therefore will be most applicable to those locations (contact us to discuss for further details). Note also that scheduled class times are listed in Eastern Time. Prospective students in other time zones should consider and plan ahead to manage the time difference.

Curriculum & Schedule

Green School students choose a "specialty track" when registering. In 2024, two tracks are offered (the Arboriculture track will not be offered in 2024 since our primary instructor and coordinator will be away on sabbatical leave).

Click the name of the track you are interested in for complete curriculum and schedule information:

Program Fees & Registration

Options for Tuition Assistance

Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund Express Grant Program

EMPLOYERS IN MASSACHUSETTS! For eligible Massachusetts employers, the UMass Extension Green School program fee for employee training may be partially or almost fully reimbursed through the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund Express Grant Program. Employers should submit an online application to the Express Grant Program at least 21 days in advance of the Green School starting date. Note that this program only applies to Massachusetts-based employers with fewer than 100 employees, and that the maximum total reimbursement is $3000 per person and $20,000 per business, per calendar year. Visit their website find out if you qualify and to apply for benefits.

Why Choose Green School?

• 60+ classroom hours delivered over a condensed time frame; an alternative or a stepping stone to a more involved degree program.
• Convenient, yet rigorous remote learning from the comfort of your home or office.
• In-depth, research-based training for skills that are in high demand, and are applicable to active and engaging outdoor work.
• Different educational track options to tailor the curriculum to fit your personal goals.
• Structured interaction with University educators and researchers.
• Competitive fees.
• An established program with a 30+ year history and a certificate that carries weight in the industry.

Move your career or business forward, and achieve better results with a smaller overall impact!

How Does the Virtual Green School Work?

Instruction is 100% online, providing attendees with activities and resources via an online learning management system called Canvas Catalog. Most class sessions are delivered synchronously (live) via Zoom, although some content may be pre-recorded. All synchronous material will be recorded for later on-demand viewing (while most lecture recordings will be available within half a day following the conclusion of class, note that technical difficulties may sometimes interfere and that timing cannot be guaranteed). Handouts, polls, surveys, assigned readings and guided discussion/Q&A opportunities complement class instruction.

Classes are generally scheduled for 3 hours (two 1 ½ hour blocks with a ½ hour break in between) on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from late-October through mid-December. For more specific schedule information, check the details for the track you are interested in by clicking on the tab for each track under the Curriculum & Schedule heading above. Please note that class schedules, topics, and instructors may be subject to change.
 
Quizzes: Weekly graded quizzes will be assigned throughout the course to assess mastery of the material and to keep students progressing appropriately. Generally, there will be a quiz on each class/topic. For maximum flexibility, each quiz can be completed after it opens within a multi-day window as opposed to a specific date and time.

Prospective students should have a basic understanding of online learning and must have access to a computer or other device, a reliable high speed internet connection, functioning speakers and microphone or headset, and a webcam (optional, but strongly encouraged). These materials will not be provided. Previous experience with Canvas Catalog and Zoom is not required.

What to Expect:

• 3-5 classes, comprising approximately 9 hours of instruction, per week. These will consist predominantly of live lecture material, and may also be supplemented by live interactive discussion, Q&A, and review. Some lecture material may be pre-recorded and accessed directly through Canvas Catalog on-demand.
• 1 quiz per class, each week (3-5 quizzes/week).
  • Quizzes generally open at 8:00 PM the day of instruction (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) and close at 9:00 PM the following Monday before the start of the next class week. Each quiz is timed and must be completed in a single attempt.
• Please consider that additional time will be needed to study and to take quizzes. This can add an additional 5-10 hours or more per week, depending on the individual.
• A syllabus indicating when course materials will be available in Canvas Catalog. Learning objectives, outlines/notes, and pre-recorded lectures for each class week to be posted by 12:00 PM on Mondays.

Course Requirements

Computer Access: Regular, reliable access to a computer or other device and the internet is a must! Delivery of lectures, outlines, supplemental materials, and quizzes will all be online.

To prepare for this online learning opportunity: 

• Access to a computer and peripherals - Regular, reliable access to a computer or other suitable device, as well as a strong internet connection, is a must (e.g., desktop or laptop computer or tablet; these are listed in the order of preference/convenience for remote instruction).  Audio capability and a microphone are also necessary, and having a webcam is encouraged and will enhance the interactive experience.
• Access to a fast and reliable internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (cellular connections are slower/less reliable in many locations). Review detailed information that will help you to determine bandwidth requirements for Zoom.
• The ability to print, while not required, is recommended. Students are encouraged to make copies of lecture outlines to take notes on during each lecture.  Please note however that printing of resources can carry significant costs on the student side in the way of ink, paper, etc.
• Cursory familiarity with Zoom – If you are a new user of the Zoom web-conferencing platform, see their meeting guide and consider practicing with family or friends. There are also a variety of YouTube videos that can be helpful.
• Cursory Familiarity with Canvas Catalog – Canvas Catalog is the Learning Management System at UMass Amherst currently used for this course. If you are new to Canvas Catalog, see their FAQs. More details about getting set up with Canvas Catalog will be shared upon acceptance.
• Attendance at a virtual orientation session prior to the start of class – Orientation is typically scheduled in mid-October, and successful applicants will receive more information upon acceptance.

Key Information

• Pesticide & Professional Contact Hours: 12 contact hours for Massachusetts categories 29, 36, 37 will be requested; 6 contact hours for Massachusetts Licensed Applicator Training will be requested (the full requirements for a 3-year renewal cycle). Pesticide credits awarded will be valid for all New England states, but NOT for any states outside of New England (you are encouraged to check with your pesticide license authority outside of New England for the applicability of training received at Green School). Credits are also requested for MCH, MCLP, MCA, ISA, SAF, CFE and AOLCP professional certifications.
  • We encourage prospective students to take the pesticide exam or professional certification exam prior to Green School so the course applies to their license recertification.
  • Conversely, Green School is also helpful for people preparing to take the following professional certification exams - Massachusetts Certified Arborist (MCA) offered by the Massachusetts Arborist Association (MAA), Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH) offered by the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA), and the Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional (MCLP) offered by the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals (MLP).
• Certificate: Awarded upon achieving at least a 70% final average. There will be a quiz for most class sessions, and an average of all quiz grades will comprise your final grade. It is not necessary to take the daily quizzes to attend Green School if receiving the certificate of completion is not desired. Please let us know ahead of time if you plan to audit the course!

• Quizzes and Grading: All quizzes are done online. Quizzes will be open book, with limited time for completion once begun. Each quiz will be available for students to complete between 8:00 PM the day the class is offered and close at 9:00 PM the following Monday before the start of the next course week. According to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all scores and grades are confidential and available only to the registered student.

   

Testimonials from Past Green School Attendees

• “Green School is a must for the landscape professional. I had been in the landscape business for 29 years, operating at a high level. Yet, the amount of knowledge I gained helped to transform my business to the most effective tree care business in my area.”
• "After a few months post-graduation (the following spring) I received a raise.”
• “Yes, the amount of confidence I gained by knowing I had the latest research and scientific understanding has been immensely beneficial to my personal life and my business life.”
• [I became] “better qualified to charge a higher hourly rate."
• “I loved this program. Thank you all so much for your hard work!”
• “This was a very informative course. I was not expecting it to be so in depth. Thank you!”

Contact

Harmonie O'Loughlin at harmonieolou[at]umass[dot]edu (harmonieolou[at]umass[dot]edu) or (413) 545-2685 with logistics questions such as registration, payments, scheduling, etc.

Jason Lanier at jdl[at]umass[dot]edu (jdl[at]umass[dot]edu) or (413) 545-0895 for content related questions.