Master Level Course

Dates June 10-August 9, 2024 (Registration opens March 27 at Noon MDT)
Instructors Jerry Bromenshenk, Scott Debnam & Phillip Welch
Registration Fee $495
Location Course meets fully online.

Course Description

The Master course is the third and final level in UM's Master Beekeeping curriculum. It offers a more detailed look into bee flight, anatomy and reproduction, discusses bee pheromones and genetics, and provides templates for record-keeping for improved bee management. The course also covers hive products, bee nutrition, selection of apiary locations, and basic principles for conducting your own experiments. Students will be introduced to use of Excel spreadsheets for research and managerial applications. The course capstone is completion of a literature-based or experimental-based research project and delivery of a final technical report.  Research projects may be conducted by individual students or by alliances of students.  By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of advanced bee management, an introduction to the business of beekeeping, and the ability to conduct original research. They should be able to establish and maintain healthy hives for both hobbyist and larger scale endeavors. Course syllabus.

The course is structured with weekly topics, discussion forums, assignments, and quizzes. However, there are no scheduled class meeting times when all students need to be logged in and “attending” the course at the same time. Instead, students work on the course at whatever times best fit their schedule. Instructions for logging on to the online course will be sent to registrants about one week before the class begins. Participants must have access to an internet-connected computer and should allow for 5-7 hours per week of study time. The course is taught online through Moodle, the University of Montana’s online learning system. View the computer system requirements.

Upon successful completion of the course, 4.5 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) will be awarded and a certificate issued.

The course offers optional academic credit and has been approved for three credits through the University of Montana Division of Biological Sciences as BIOB 325 Master Level Beekeeping.  Students who opt to take the course for academic credit must pay an additional $135 credit recording fee at the time of registration. Students must be a minimum of age 16 in order to register for the credit section.

Prerequisites

Required Course Materials

The Hive and the Honey Bee
Joe Graham, Editor, 2015 Revision
ISBN 978-0-915698-16-5 (Hardcover)
Available through Dadant.

The Craft of Research, 4th Edition
W.C. Booth, et al., 2016
ISBN-13: 978-0226239736 (Paperback).
Available through Amazon and other online retailers. eBook versions are also acceptable.

Course Policies

Beekeeping courses are dependent upon a minimum number of registered students to run. If the minimum enrollment is not met, the course will be cancelled and registrants fully refunded. Courses are limited to a maximum enrollment with registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Once a course is full, students will be added to a waitlist and notified if an opening becomes available.

Registration fees vary by course and full payment is required at the time of registration.  If your payment is not received by one week before the course start date, you will be dropped from the course.

Students will receive full refunds for cancellations received up to one week before the course start date. To cancel a course, students should call Student Support Services, (406) 243-6495.

Refunds are generally not provided for cancellations received after a course begins.  Please note the University of Montana requires a "Substitute W-9 Form" in order to process refunds for payments made by check. The "Substitute W-9" form requires the student’s Social Security Number.

UM will provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. To request an accommodation, students should contact Student Support Services, (406) 243-6495, at least two weeks before a course starts.