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
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February 28th 2025In this latest installment of Noid Knowledge we are joined by Julie Kowalski, a leading mind in analytical chemistry and cannabis testing. Julie has arranged a very compelling symposium for Pittcon entitled Cannabis Aroma: Advances and Challenges in Determining and Commercializing Cannabis Product Quality Attributes. It is taking place on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, starting at 9:30 AM in room 209. The session features top notch speakers, including several previous guests of this show, and yours truly, discussing the next generation of quality assessment in cannabis.
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
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March 5th 2025This article explores fundamental principles of photobiology, including Photosynthetically Active Radiation, photoreceptor-mediated responses, and the spectral influences on plant morphology and development.
