Outstanding Program Award Granted to Saint Louis University's Cannabis Science Certificate

Published on: March 30, 2023

Saint Louis University’s (St. Louis, Missouri), Cannabis Science and Operations program received the 2023 Outstanding Program by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA).

This award is given to honor outstanding professional and continuing education programs allowing students to earn academic credit (1).

The Cannabis Science and Operations Certificate began in the fall 2020 semester in Saint Lous University’s (SLU) School for Professional Studies. It is the school’s most successful program in their history. The program has been offered for the last three years and currently enrolls 300 students and more than 140 graduates. It was the first of its kind in St. Louis.

Courses for this certificate program are taught by industry professionals and cover all aspects of cannabis operations. This includes (1):

The fundamentals of growing, manufacturing and dispensing cannabis
Plant science and cultivation
Cannabis extraction and product production
Compliance and dispensary operations
Pharmacological properties of cannabis

The certificate program is 16 hours and includes a research project.

“While this program is 100% online, there are hands-on opportunities in each course that are successfully preparing our students to work in every aspect of the cannabis industry, providing well-rounded employees,” said program director Stacy Godlewski (1).

Due to the program instructors being industry experts, students completing the certificate have opportunities to network nationally with those across a variety of fields.

“A high percentage of students are receiving job offers and reporting higher salaries due to the fact that they are enrolled in this program,” Godlewski added.

Students who have graduated from the program have been offered positions in cannabis sales, dispensary management, marketing, laboratory technology, and quality assurance.

SLU continues to expand their offerings for those interested in the cannabis industry. In January 2022, the School of Professional Studies created a Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutic Management Certificate (2). This program is targeted for individuals who care for others by providing science-based education on cannabis-based therapy options.

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