Syracuse University is launching a new set of courses to prepare workers for careers in a new and somewhat complicated new field.
Starting in June, SU’s University College will offer non-credit, or certificate, programs in several aspects of the emerging cannabis industry. It’s produced in partnership with California-based cannabis education company Green Flower.
The four distinct programs will cover law and policy, business, health and medicine, and agriculture and horticulture.
Each program consists of three 8-week courses over a 6-month period and students can proceed at their own pace within that timeframe, said Michael Frasciello, dean of SU’s University College. Students receive online instruction in their chosen topic area from expert faculty members vetted and selected by Green Flower.
At the end of the program, without the need for a full University degree, students obtain a certificate they can use to land jobs or advance in their careers, Frasciello said.
Each of the four University College cannabis programs starts June 28 and lasts about six weeks. The cost is $2,950 per program. Enrollment is open now.
The legal recreational marijuana business, coupled with the New York’s existing medical marijuana and hemp/CBD businesses, is poised to become what state officials predict will be a a $4 billion a year industry that could create 30,000 to 60,000 within a few years.
“I’ve read reports recently that this is the fastest growing industry in the country,” Frasciello said. “This is what we do at University College — programming to market sensitivity, where things are headed.”
And, given that the marijuana law just took effect last month, University College put its program together in a hurry. The college began discussions on the cannabis program more than a year ago as New York made its first attempts at legalizing marijuana.
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