Second Course in the Therapeutic Horticulture Online Certificate Series
Course Dates: February 16 - March 22, 2026
NC State University Department of Horticultural Science and the North Carolina Botanical Garden at UNC Chapel Hill have partnered to create an exciting online learning program. Therapeutic Horticulture: Program Development is the second in a series of online courses that teach the theory, practice, and profession of Therapeutic Horticulture.This course will equip students with the ability to design therapeutic horticulture treatment interventions for a wide variety of sites and participant populations. Students will learn how to perform foundational participant and site assessments that inform the subsequent stages of a therapeutic horticulture program’s development and management. We will explore the concept of “form follows function” and discover how to use client-centered assessment data to let the program ‘write itself.’ Students will practice developing an overarching program and client treatment goals that target specific outcomes and become acquainted with various documentation and evaluation tools that ensure program efficacy and accountability. Using dynamic interactive forums with real-world examples, students will research, discuss, and reflect on the multiple facets of TH program development, and will be provided with references and resources for further study.
Perhaps the most important part of this course is the comprehensive safety information and assessment participants will receive to use in evaluating any participant and any potential TH site. Knowledge of this information protects facilitators, programs, volunteers, and especially participants from preventable accidents and injuries.
Foundational knowledge of therapeutic horticulture is a prerequisite for taking this course. Registrants should have received a Certificate of Mastery in: TH1: Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture.
If you have taken an Introduction to HT or TH course at any of the accredited programs listed on THIS webpage, please email proof of completion to the instructor prior to enrolling in TH2. For more information, contact Amy Bruzzichesi at afbruzzi@ncsu.edu.
Students can watch lectures and fulfill assignments when their schedule permits during the 7-week period the class is in session, with a new module opening up every Monday morning. Despite the asynchronous nature of this course, it is highly recommended that students keep up with lectures and assignments before the next module is introduced since it is possible to fall behind quickly.
Fees
- Regular Tuition: $450
- Discounts:
- $10 (tuition= $440) - Early Bird (applied automatically when you register early)
- $10 (tuition= $440) - Members of JC Raulston Arboretum, or the NC Botanical Garden
- $30 (tuition= $420) - Volunteers: JC Raulston Arboretum, NC Botanical Garden, and Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers (regardless of location)
- $30 (tuition= $420) - Professionals: NC State University and UNC
- For membership discounts send an email to afbruzzi@ncsu.edu from your work email account to request the discount code.
- Payment Plan Option
- Available upon registration for this course, with $200 due at the time of enrollment and the remaining balance due 14 days before the course begins.
Additional Information
- Request an Invitation to Upcoming Classes
- Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
- Course 1: Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture
- Back to Main Page for Online Non-Credit Courses
- Please contact Amy Bruzzichesi at afbruzzi@ncsu.edu with any questions.
