Cannabis Operations and Plant-Based Wellness FAQ - Technology and Occupational Sciences

What is included in the CO PBW program?

At its core, the Cannabis Operations and Plant-Based Wellness (CO PBW) program is a multidisciplinary curriculum designed to cover the entire lifecycle of the industry—from seed to sale to consumer health. The program is built around three specialized pillars:

1. Cannabis Operations (The Business of Cannabis)

This sector is designed for the strategists and entrepreneurs of the industry. It focuses on the retail and business management side of the trade.

• Key Topics: Dispensary management, supply chain logistics, marketing strategy, legal compliance, and financial profitability.

• Goal: To give you the tools to run a compliant, efficient, and profitable cannabis enterprise.

2. Cannabis Agriculture (The Science of Cultivation)

This sector is for those who want to work directly with the plant. It focuses on the horticultural and technical side of cannabis production.

• Key Topics: Plant physiology, soil science, pest management, greenhouse technologies, and harvesting techniques.

• Goal: To master the art and science of large-scale cultivation and botanical quality control.

3. Plant-Based Wellness (The Application of Nature)

This sector bridges the gap between traditional herbal medicine and modern wellness. It focuses on the therapeutic properties of plants and their role in holistic health.

• Key Topics: Ethnobotany, herbal formulations, the endocannabinoid system, and the history of plants as medicine.

• Goal: To understand how to safely and effectively integrate plant-based solutions into modern wellness practices.

Our program is 100% online and asynchronous, meaning there are no mandatory "live" lectures or set times you must be logged in. While your instructors will set weekly deadlines for assignments and discussions to keep you on track, you have the freedom to engage with the course materials, like recorded lectures and readings, whenever it fits your schedule. Whether you are a morning person or a night owl, the classroom is open 24/7.

Yes. As part of Northern Michigan University, all certificates and degrees offered through the Global Campus are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This ensures your education meets rigorous academic standards recognized by employers and other institutions nationwide.

The time it takes to finish up to you. Because our program is asynchronous and stackable, you can adjust your course load each semester to fit your work and life schedule.

Typically, students follow these timelines:

• Certificate (16 credits): Approximately 30 weeks (one academic year). This is the standard pace for students taking two classes per semester.

• Associate Degree (60 credits): Approximately 2 academic years. This includes two of our specialized certificates plus general education and elective requirements.

• Bachelor’s Degree (124 credits): Approximately 4 academic years. This comprehensive path covers all three certificates, advanced technical training, and all university degree requirements.

The "Earn While You Learn" Advantage

One of the best features of the CO PBW program is that you don’t have to wait four years to get a credential. You can earn your Certificate in your first year and your Associate Degree in your second, giving you resume-boosting qualifications to enter the workforce while you continue working toward your Bachelor’s.

Can I finish faster?

Yes. If you have the availability to take a full-time course load (12–16 credits per semester), you can significantly shorten the time to completion for the Associate and Bachelor's degrees. Conversely, if you need to take only one class at a time, the program will simply wait for you. You set the pace.

For the most up-to-date information on cost please visit NMU's Tuition and Fees.

Absolutely. Our program is designed for "Targeted Specialization." You can enroll in a single 16-credit certificate to master cultivation and walk away with a university-backed credential in about 30 weeks. If you decide to come back for your Associate or Bachelor’s degree later, your certificate credits will be waiting for you.

While the courses dive into the science of the endocannabinoid system and ethnobotany and retail operations we build the foundation from the ground up. You don't need to be a biologist or operations director to start, just a passion for learning. 

You are never "on your own" in the Global Campus. As an NMU student, you have a full ecosystem of support at your fingertips:

• Dedicated Academic Advising: You will have a specific advisor to help you navigate your degree plan and select the right classes.

• Writing Assistance: the NMU Writing Center offers online reviews for your essays and reports.

• Career Services: You have full access to NMU Career Services for resume building, mock interviews, and "Handshake", our platform that connects students directly with employers in the cannabis and wellness industries.

• Technical Help Desk: If you hit a digital snag, our IT Help Desk is available via phone, email, or chat to get you back into your classroom quickly.

While both programs at NMU focus on the power of plants, they prepare you for completely different roles in the industry. The best choice depends on whether you want to be behind a microscope or leading the business.

Medicinal Plant Chemistry (The "Lab" Path)

• Focus: Advanced science, analytical chemistry, and laboratory research.

• What you’ll do: You will spend your time in high-tech labs testing plant samples for purity, identifying chemical compounds (like THC or CBD), and studying the molecular biology of plants.

• Career Goals: Lab Manager, Extraction Technician, Quality Control Scientist, or Product Formulator.

• Format: Primarily on-campus (due to lab requirements).

Cannabis Operations & Plant-Based Wellness (The "Industry" Path)

• Focus: Business strategy, cultivation management, retail operations, and holistic wellness.

• What you’ll do: You will learn how to run a profitable dispensary, manage a large-scale grow facility, navigate complex state/federal laws, and consult with clients on plant-based health.

• Career Goals: Dispensary Manager, Master Grower, Compliance Officer, or Wellness Consultant/Entrepreneur.

• Format: 100% Online & Asynchronous (Global Campus).

While both programs offer valuable industry knowledge, the NMU CO PBW (Global Campus) program and Green Flower certificates serve very different purposes:

1. Academic Credit vs. Non-Credit

• CO PBW (Global Campus): These are for-credit university courses. Each certificate is 16 academic credits. This means they are recorded on your official NMU transcript, can qualify for federal financial aid (when part of a degree), and—most importantly—stack directly into an Associate or Bachelor’s degree.

• Green Flower: These are typically non-credit professional development certificates. 

2. The "Ladder" to a Degree

• CO PBW: Our program is designed as a career ladder. You can start with a certificate and later "stack" it into a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS). You aren't just getting a certificate; you are building a college degree.

• Green Flower: These are standalone credentials. 

3. Instruction and Rigor

• CO PBW: Courses are developed and taught by NMU Faculty and experts, following the same high academic standards as any other degree program at Northern Michigan University.

• Green Flower: These programs use a standardized curriculum developed by an outside company (Green Flower) and are partnered with various universities to provide industry-specific training.

In some cases, yes. We recognize that many students coming into the CO PBW program may already have professional training or industry certifications. We offer pathways to convert that prior knowledge into academic credit.

Green Flower Course Substitutions

If you have completed specific Green Flower certificate programs, you may be eligible to receive credit for an equivalent NMU course. To ensure our high academic standards are met, this process typically involves:

• Verification: Providing proof of completion for the specific Green Flower courses.

• Assessment: Passing a specialized NMU proficiency exam to confirm that your knowledge aligns with our degree requirements.

Other Institutions & Professional Experience

If you have completed coursework at other institutions or have extensive professional experience in the cannabis or plant-based wellness sectors, we evaluate these on a case-by-case basis.

• How to apply for an assessment: Please contact the Program Coordinator, Sarah Lee (salee@nmu.edu), to discuss your background.

• What to provide: Be prepared to share course syllabi, official transcripts, or a detailed professional portfolio for review.

Students interested in applying for financial aide should contact the NMU Financial Aid Office to discuss specific eligibility and private scholarship opportunities.

You don’t need a high-tech lab to succeed here. At a minimum, you will need a reliable computer (laptop or desktop) with high-speed internet access. Most of your work will happen through EduCat, NMU’s online learning portal.