What You'll Learn
This 24-credit certificate program is designed for students and professionals seeking a foundation of knowledge and skills in mycology. This includes mycology training for natural resource managers, farmers, environmental scientists, restoration ecologists, and clinical social workers, health professionals, educators, and entrepreneurs.
Interest in fungi for human health and the environment has exploded in the last decade. The value of specialty mushroom sales in the US exceeded $1 billion in 2021 and the psychedelic medicine industry has been projected to reach close to $7 billion by 2027. There is a need for individuals qualified to grow and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medicinal and nutritional mushroom products, as well as their potential in biotechnology, psychotherapy, and bioremediation. These career paths require knowledge of fungal biology along with chemistry, skills in the cultivation, identification and culturing of fungi, and training in community-based, sustainable, and ethical business practices.
Certificate Prerequisites
Students need at least 8 credits of college-level biology before taking the core courses: Medicinal Fungi and Environmental Applications of Fungi. Topics covered in previous biology courses should have included cell and molecular biology, diversity of life, ecology and evolution.
Email certificates@evergreen.edu if you have questions about these prerequisites.
Certificate Coursework
This certificate consists of 24 undergraduate credits. Students complete 16 credits of core coursework and select 8 credits from elective offerings. Core coursework can be completed in any order.
Core coursework:
Medicinal Fungi - Winter quarter, 8 credits*
Environmental Applications of Fungi - Spring quarter, 8 credits*
*To earn this certificate, students must earn upper division science credit in the core courses: Medicinal Fungi and Environmental Applications of Fungi. While students may be eligible to receive upper-division credit in Psychedelics, it is not needed to earn the certificate. Upper-division science credit is considered junior-senior college level work. Other colleges/universities often use course numbers 300-499 to signify that a course is upper division.
Electives (select 8 credits):
Fungi for Human Health and the Environment - Fall quarter, 8 credits
Topics in Mycology: Fungi and Food Justice - Fall quarter, 4 credits
Psychedelics - Spring quarter, 4 credits
Which elective(s) should I pick?
Fungi for Human Health will give you a foundation in the broadest array of topics. Students new to mycology are encouraged to choose this elective.
Psychedelics is a specialized course and works well as a follow-up to Medicinal Fungi.
Please note a total of 8 elective credits is required to complete this certificate. Learn more about courses in the Academic Catalog