By: Jesus Cortez
The Horticulture program at College of DuPage is offering a new 44-credit-hour Ecological Restoration certificate, designed to teach students how to use both basic and applied ecological concepts to reclaim and/or restore natural functions to disturbed ecosystems.
The program emphasizes the use of restoration techniques to monitor, assess, preserve and restore ecosystems. It also provides students with a strong foundation in local natural history, ecological concepts and disturbances and natural resource management policy.
"Training in ecological restoration is needed to reverse environmental degradation, enhance biodiversity, improve the ecosystem services that benefit humans and help build resilience against climate change and natural disasters,” said Brian Clement, COD assistant professor of Horticulture and program chair.
Upon completing the Ecological Restoration certificate, students can pursue careers as restoration ecologists, environmental restoration planners and field technicians, with positions available at government, corporate and non-profit organizations. Participants can also earn industry-recognized certifications such as the Illinois pesticide license, prescribed burn training certification and chainsaw training certification.
“Local government, park districts, schools, forest preserves, state parks, corporate institutions and landscape companies are all doing more with ecological restoration, and there is a need to train people to work in this area of the industry,” said Clement.
Students who complete the Ecological Restoration certificate can also stack 36 out of the 44 credit hours directly toward COD’s Horticulture Associate in Applied Science degree.
Biology/Botany faculty collaborated on the new certificate by developing a new Natural Resources Management course and by integrating the existing Prairie Ecology course into the curriculum. Individual courses can be taken by working professionals looking for development opportunities and industry-recognized certifications in the field.
Learn More About the Horticulture Program at College of DuPage