Earn your Horticulture and Human Health Certificate online
Although our ability to cultivate plants has become much more sophisticated, our understanding of horticulture’s impacts on human health is just beginning. Significant potential exists for horticultural and agricultural industries to impact human health in both positive and negative ways. This transdisciplinary graduate certificate program gives you the historical context and scientific understanding to better evaluate potential health impacts. In addition to growing your understanding of both horticultural science and the study of human health, this program puts your analytical skills to the test.
Exploring the intersection of agriculture and health
As more consumers seek to utilize plant-based foods to maintain or improve personal health, a growing number of individuals and companies attempt to source or create food that can be marketed for its health benefits. Unfortunately, this process is often fraught with insufficient, misleading, and sometimes patently false information.
Considering the increase in obesity and chronic disease around the world, a clear need exists for the healthcare and agricultural communities to collaboratively support (and better understand) human health without significantly impacting food production. These challenges can be met in part by giving entrepreneurial professionals the analytical skills to systematically improve the development, access, and utilization of the human food supply to facilitate chronic disease prevention in a manner consistent with the 21st century mandates for energy independence, environmental sustainability, and food security and safety.
As a student in this program, you will expand your understanding of core horticultural and human health concepts. After completing this graduate certificate, you will:
- Possess knowledge in disciplines related to horticulture and human health, specifically in plant biology, food and medicinal crop production, human nutrition, and the development and treatment of chronic disease
- Be exposed to thought leaders from around the world who are actively engaged in pertinent research
- Think critically about complex challenges and organize information to begin solving problems
- Critically examine the impact of horticultural practices on human health and well-being
- Evaluate health claims related to food, landscapes, and public health
- Design and perform an intervention plan that tests a hypothesis and achieves a meaningful technical objective
- Learn to communicate and collaborate with peers more effectively
- Motivate others by understanding how to change behaviors, even when change is difficult
Who should take this program?
Although anyone with an interest in personal health can benefit from studying in this program, the course material will be particularly useful for people who work in (or plan to work in) the following industries:
- Public health
- Healthcare
- Horticulture
- Agribusiness
- Food product development
- Food science research
- Food pharmacology
- Nutrition
- Personal health coaching
- Physical training
- Sports nutrition
- Landscaping
- Education