Outstanding Program Award Granted to Saint Louis University's Cannabis Science Certificate
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.
References
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
Assessing Cannabis as a Harm Reduction Strategy: Insights from a Large-Scale Study
November 19th 2024A New Zealand study aimed to assess cannabis use as a harm reduction tool. Findings highlight lifestyle factors, and suggest cannabis-focused harm reduction strategies in reducing other substance use such as alcohol.
Ep 23, Part III: Accreditation in the Cannabis Industry with Susan Audino
October 24th 2024In Part III of this episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC, and co-founder of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to examine the complexities of sampling in the cannabis industry, emphasizing the need for proper sampling plans, and methods.
