Online degree.
Its in the works. Currently Minot State University - Bottineau Campus offers 3 classes online, Soils, Intro, and Arboriculture. Will have Turf Managment and Dendro on by end of Spring semester or soon after. These, along with a climbing class, which I have not figured out how to teach online, will make up a Certificate of Completion in Basic Grounds Workers Skills (I think that is the official title). If there is enough interest, we will also put a diagnostic type Pathology class, Urban Forest Management, Sports Turf Management and an equipment safety class in the mix and offer our Diploma program, mostly online. As I mentioned before, the climbing and equipment classes are hard to teach online, so these will be face to face either on our campus for about 2 weeks, at remote sites if a large enough group is gathered, or may be transferred from a program such as ACRT or Arbormaster, possibly even a videotape of skills will be sufficient, as long as a standin is not used. These are all accredited classes using the same notes, internet links, hands on labs, and tests that I use in my classroom.
I have worked in the field for 34 years, so I know how hard it is to take time off to go back to school for a year. This is an attempt to help those in the industry who want some professional recognition for what they already know, but they and their peers don't know they know. There I go warping young (and old) minds again.
Check the sites below to see a little more on the classes. Feel free to email me at any time.
Bob Underwood
Online Class Page