Master
BeekeepingCornell

Certificate Program

Effective hive management requires an understanding of the behavior, physiology, and evolution of these amazing and complex creatures. Explore this critical knowledge with world-renowned honey bee experts as well as Cornell University researchers and extension associates. This course serves as a foundation to help you understand the characteristics of a colony and how these traits and behaviors support colony survival and success. This information can be applied as you develop your hands-on beekeeping skills and will translate directly into your hive management practices. In addition, it will enable you to better understand the current scientific research and communicate with credibility within the beekeeping community. 

This is the first in a series of courses that equip beekeepers at the hobby, sideliner, and commercial levels with the concepts, knowledge, and best management practices needed to pass the written, oral, and field components of Cornell University's Master Beekeeping Certificate.

Managing pests and diseases is the number one reason beekeepers reach out to the Cornell University Honeybee Research and Extension Program for support. In this course, you will gain knowledge about honey bee immunity as well as how to apply Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles to prevent and control all known pests, parasites, and pathogens that interfere with honeybee health and productivity. As a result, you'll feel confident in your ability to monitor, diagnose, and control specific problems in your colonies as you identify how to be proactive and take charge of the health of your bee operation.

Supporting your colonies' ability to thrive and achieving your desired outcomes requires a systematic approach and the application of practical techniques and knowledge. In this course, you will discover how to predict what to expect in your colony season by season. You'll gain confidence in your ability to analyze different situations and make informed management decisions based on the scientific principles you study here. Apply the hands-on techniques used by experienced expert beekeepers, honey bee biologists, and the Cornell University Honey Bee Extension team to keep your colonies healthy and to produce your desired outcomes year after year.

Beekeepers are in a unique position to both reap financial benefit from their hives and contribute to the health of pollinator populations and the greater beekeeping community. In this course, you will examine major hive products and services, how to grow your operation, and what options to consider for beekeeping as a business. Even if you are not interested in making a profit from your bees, you will gain a valuable appreciation for the beekeeping industry, and understand how hard bees and beekeepers work.

You will also determine how to evaluate the quality of information sources about bees and beekeeping, allowing you to contribute to education, research, and outreach, as well as participate in research activities, mentor less-experienced beekeepers, and raise awareness on pollinator issues. This course will prepare you to be a leader in your beekeeping community.

This course enables you to schedule the evaluation components required in order to earn the Cornell University Master Beekeeping Certificate. Although evaluations can be scheduled in advance (and are held in the U.S. summer months), students must complete all required coursework prior to completing their evaluations.

Components that will be evaluated include:

• A written examination demonstrating comprehension and application of knowledge learned in coursework. The written examination will be administered online. The written exam consists of multiple-choice, short-answer, and long-answer questions. Students must score 70% or higher on their written examination in order to pass this component of the final examination.
   
• Delivery of a 15-minute oral presentation demonstrating applied knowledge of beekeeping and research beyond the information provided in the coursework. (May be completed remotely using video conference technology or in person at Dyce Lab). Research topic must be approved by course facilitator and the oral presentation must be accompanied by visual slides. Students will be evaluated on the following criteria:
  • Their ability to locate, critically evaluate, and interpret the scientific literature and other information sources
  • The presentation's informational content 
  • The presentation's organization 
  • Their communication skills 
  • The presentation's level of appropriateness for the audience
  • Their ability to answer follow-up questions from the instructor 
• Students must score 70% or higher on their oral examination in order to pass this component of the final examination.
   
• An evaluation of fieldwork demonstrating application of effective management techniques learned in the coursework (completed at Dyce Lab in the U.S. summer months or virtually due to COVID-19 travel restrictions). Students will demonstrate these skills one-on-one with the facilitator on Dyce Lab honey bee hives or with their own hives via video (if virtual option is chosen). Students are expected to bring their own protective gear. Thin medical gloves are permitted, but leather gloves are not. Examples of techniques to be demonstrated include (but are not limited to) the following:
  • Performing a split
  • Performing a merge  
  • Making a nuc
  • Performing proper inspections
  • Identifying pests and diseases
  • Monitoring for pests and diseases
  • Handling queens
  • Assessing the nutrition of the colony
  • Troubleshooting issues
• Students must score 70% or higher on their field examination in order to pass this component of the final examination.

In order to enroll in Cornell Master Beekeeping Exam Series, all four courses, PTRENT001, PTRENT002, PTRENT003, PTRENT004 must be completed.