Grow Your Career With Cannabis and Hemp Production

April 02, 2025

Posted by in Programs and Pathways 

When Sarah Moore began building courses for STLCC’s cannabis and hemp production program, she wanted students to learn more than information gathered from social media, online forums or personal growing experience.

She wanted them to understand plants.

“My goal was to build a foundation of knowledge of how plants work and give the students a hands-on portion to apply what they are learning in class,” said Moore, an STLCC horticulture graduate who now teaches in the program. “Cannabis and hemp are another crop that is now growing in our industry.”

That plant-science foundation is at the center of the cannabis and hemp production certificate of specialization at STLCC-Meramec. The 13-credit-hour program introduces students to the science and production practices used to grow, manage and process cannabis and hemp plants.

Students work with industrial hemp as they build skills that may support entry-level employment in cultivation, propagation, processing, quality control and other production operations.

Grow a Foundation in Plant Science

The certificate is part of STLCC’s horticulture department. Students begin with introductory horticulture or biology before moving into specialized cannabis and hemp coursework.

That sequence helps students understand the larger systems behind plant growth. Light, water, soil, nutrients, temperature, humidity, pests and disease can all affect how a plant develops.

Moore said the curriculum was designed to replace unsupported advice with a scientific understanding of cultivation.

“The focus with building the curriculum was to remove the ‘broscience’ from the internet,” Moore said, referring to anecdotal information that may be shared without reliable scientific support.

Instead, students study how plants function and then apply those concepts during laboratory activities.

Learn Through Applied Lab Work

Jerry Pence, horticulture program coordinator, said the opportunity to work directly with hemp plants helps distinguish the STLCC program.

“I believe we are on the forefront as far as the applied components go and having students work with the actual hemp plant in their labs,” Pence said.

Students may study areas such as propagation, growing environments, plant health, harvesting and processing. Laboratory work gives them opportunities to observe plants, monitor conditions and connect classroom concepts to production decisions.

The courses also complement broader horticulture offerings at Meramec. Students who want additional training can explore the horticulture associate in applied science or certificate of proficiency.

Prepare for a Professional Industry

Cannabis businesses operate under state requirements related to cultivation, processing, testing, tracking, security, labeling and sales. Employees must be able to follow procedures and document their work carefully.

Patrick Vogan, assistant professor of horticulture, said students approach those responsibilities seriously.

“In general, the students have been thoughtful, open-minded and very engaged,” Vogan said. “They are eager to learn about what works, and they take their responsibilities in this industry seriously.”

Professional preparation may involve:

• Workplace safety.
• Sanitation and contamination prevention.
• Plant and product tracking.
• Quality-control procedures.
• Security expectations.
• State and workplace regulations.
• Accurate recordkeeping.

Moore said openly discussing cannabis as an agricultural product can also help students move beyond outdated assumptions about the industry.

Understand What Students Work With

The certificate is an academic plant-production program. You’ll work with industrial hemp, apply horticulture and cultivation methods and practice the professional standards used in regulated production settings.

The program stays focused on plant science and career preparation. Students don’t consume cannabis in class, and personal cannabis or THC products aren’t allowed on campus. You’ll also follow College and laboratory safety requirements during every activity.

As you move through the certificate, you’ll build practical skills for entry-level work in cannabis, hemp, horticulture and controlled-environment agriculture. Classroom instruction and lab experience can help you enter the field already familiar with plant care, production processes and workplace expectations.

“Our students have the skills and knowledge level to jump right into a career after finishing the program,” Moore said. “Giving students an opportunity to apply those skills in their classes is going to set them above other candidates applying for those same jobs.”

Job titles and requirements vary by employer. Some positions may require previous experience, a minimum age, state approval or other qualifications.

See What a Class Day Might Look Like

A day in the cannabis and hemp production program may include more than sitting through a lecture. Students can move between classroom discussion, plant observation and laboratory activities.

Depending on the course, you might:

• Inspect plants for signs of stress, pests or disease.
• Compare how light, water or nutrients affect plant growth.
• Practice propagation techniques.
• Monitor conditions inside a greenhouse or growing area.
• Study plant compounds and extraction methods.
• Record observations and explain what may be affecting a crop.

The goal is to help students understand why a plant responds the way it does, not only memorize steps.

Use Plant Skills Beyond Cannabis

The program’s value is not limited to one crop. The same plant-science principles can apply in greenhouses, nurseries, urban agriculture and other production environments.

Students can build experience with monitoring plant growth, maintaining growing conditions, following production schedules, identifying health concerns and documenting their work.

That broader horticulture background can be especially useful in an industry affected by changes in regulation, research, technology and consumer demand.

Pence said the program was created not only to prepare students for current jobs, but also to help them understand the larger plant industry.

Common Questions About Cannabis and Hemp Production

Turn Curiosity Into Plant Science Skills

You may begin the program because you’re curious about cannabis. Along the way, you can learn how plants grow, how production facilities operate and how science guides decisions from propagation through processing.

The certificate gives students a chance to explore a changing industry while building horticulture skills that can apply to more than one crop or workplace.