Continuing Education FAQs

Program Coordinators are available for student counseling as it relates to course work. Program Coordinators are experts who are experienced instructors and working professionals in their respective areas. You can get in touch with a Program Coordinator through email. See below for contact list based on area of study:

Botanical Art & Illustration: bilcoordinator@nybg.org

Botany: botcoordinator@nybg.org

Floral Design: fdncoordinator@nybg.org

Gardening: garcoordinator@nybg.org

Horticulture: hrtcoordinator@nybg.org

Therapeutic Horticulture: thpcoordinator@nybg.org

Landscape Design: lancoordinator@nybg.org

Urban Naturalist: natcoordinator@nybg.org

In-Person Classes: Classes are offered at The New York Botanical Garden.

Online Classes: As of January 2024, all multi-session online classes will be conducted through Canvas, NYBG’s Learning Management System. Single-day online classes will be conducted through Zoom.

For more information on classes facilitated through Canvas, view our Canvas FAQs.

Blended: “Blended” means that sessions of a particular class will take place online and in-person. The in-person class sessions take place at NYBG or an off-site location. The online sessions are facilitated through Canvas.

The New York Botanical Garden
2950 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10458-5126
718.817.8720

When coming to class, please enter via Mosholu Entrance, located at 2950 Southern Boulevard, at all times. And ask for the Watson Building.
See map of path from the gate to the Watson Building.

Great question! Please review our handy FAQs About Online Classes.

If you are on the wait list for a class and a space opens up you will be contacted by the NYBG Registration staff by phone and/or email. Students are contacted in the order in which they appear on the wait list. If demand for a class is high, we will occasionally create a new section to accommodate students. If you are on the wait list and a new section for a class is created, you will be contacted.

If a class is canceled because it does not meet minimum enrollment, you will be called and/or emailed approximately one week prior to the class start date. Please make sure that we have your most current contact information on file so we can reach you in the event of cancellation.

In case of inclement weather, an announcement will be posted on the Continuing Education home page. You can also call 718.817.8720 (prompt 2) for information on class postponements. It is the student’s responsibility to call to learn if a class is postponed due to weather. Students are to call the Registration Office for a voice-mail message on class status recorded by:

• 7:30 a.m. for classes beginning 9–11:45 a.m.
• 10:30 a.m. for classes beginning 12–3 p.m.
• 1 p.m. for classes beginning 3:15–8 p.m.

Refunds and Withdrawals

No discounts or refunds will be granted for missed classes. If you decide to withdraw from a course before it begins, you must notify the Registration Office 10 full business days before the first session; we will issue a refund minus a $25 processing fee. We will not issue refunds or credits if you withdraw after the deadline, no exceptions.

Note that there is no refund for any materials fees if you withdraw after the deadline of 10 full business days before the first session.

In the rare case of course cancellation by NYBG, a full refund will be issued to you.

Summer Intensives allow you to take multiple required Certificate classes in a condensed period of time. Summer intensive programs are offered in Floral Design, Landscape Design, Gardening, and Therapeutic Horticulture.

None of the NYBG Certificate programs are full time. Rather, they are designed to be flexible, and taken over time at the student’s own pace. However, the NYBG School of Professional Horticulture does offer a full-time, two year diploma program. Please visit the SOPH website for detailed information.

Need the perfect present for that plant-loving someone? Classes at The New York Botanical Garden make the perfect gift for any occasion. When you purchase a Continuing Education gift card for a loved one, you’re giving them the gift of lifelong learning at one of the world’s foremost horticultural institutions. For the curious beginner, passionate expert, or anyone in-between, the Garden has a class to educate, inspire, and enrich.

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All purchases are final and valid for NYBG Continuing Education classes only.

As of January 2024, all multi-session online and blended classes will be conducted through Canvas. Single-day online classes will be conducted through Zoom.

Please note, all Zoom sessions are held in Eastern Time (ET).

Canvas is NYBG’s learning management system that supports online teaching and learning. In Canvas, students can access Zoom, view and submit assignments, review course documents, receive and read announcements, and participate in discussions online.

Instructure is the company that owns Canvas, so if you see the word “Instructure”, think “Canvas” and vice-versa.

Once you register for a class, you will receive the following automated emails from continuinged@nybg.org:

• Course Confirmation: Sent after you register
• Course Details: Containing helpful steps to accessing your course through Canvas

You will also receive the following automated emails from notifications@instructure.com:

• Finish Registration: A prompt for you to create or finish creating your Canvas account
• Accept Course Invitation: A prompt for you to join your Canvas course site
• Course Welcome: Additional information about accessing your course in Canvas

Once you have created your Canvas account and accepted the invitation to your class, you can go to visit https://nybg.instructure.com/ and log in with your email address and password used to create your Canvas account.

View this instructional video to learn more about accessing Canvas.

Yes. Once you accept your Canvas Invitation, you will have access to important information for your course. You can also access your class Zoom meetings, assignments, and handouts on Canvas.

When you registered for your course, you were automatically added to Canvas. Please search your email for the email subject “Finish Registration: Canvas” from NYBG (notifications@instructure.com), and click the link in that email to finish your registration process. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder.

If you cannot find this email, please visit https://nybg.instructure.com/

Click “Forgot Password,” then type in your email address used to register for this class. Canvas will send you an email via NYBG to set a password this way.

If you still cannot access your Canvas account, please contact digitallearning@nybg.org.

NYBG courses are published in Canvas one week before the start date, so that students have one week to familiarize themselves with Canvas before their class starts. Each course includes a “Welcome” module with helpful information about the course as well as an electronic discussion board, “Introduce Yourself to Your NYBG Community,” so that students can connect with their instructor and their peers before class begins.

View this instructional video to learn more about navigating Canvas.

You can always access the Zoom meeting information from your Canvas course site in the “Zoom” tab.

Please log into Canvas, then go to your course in Canvas. Click the “Zoom” tab in the lefthand menu. Locate the correct date of your course meeting and click the “Join” button. The Meeting ID and passcode can also be used to join your Zoom meeting.

Zoom recordings can be found in the Media Gallery tab in your Canvas course. Please allow up to 2 business days for your class recordings to upload.

Announcements contain important information about your course from your instructor or NYBG’s Digital Learning team. Announcements are sent from Canvas to your email for easy viewing but can also be seen in the Announcements tab. When you receive a new announcement, please view it because it likely has important information.

You can use the Inbox tool to message your instructor privately on Canvas. Find the inbox icon in the black left-hand menu, and you can compose a new message to your instructor.

A Certificate signifies that a student has successfully fulfilled all the requirements of a prescribed series of courses. Several Certificates offer students a choice among areas of concentration.

The Garden offers Certificates in Botanical Art and Illustration, Floral Design, Horticulture, Botany, Gardening, Therapeutic Horticulture, and Landscape Design. Certificates are awarded each spring and have been used by many recipients to investigate plant-related pursuits or to qualify for salary increases and/or increased responsibilities in their current positions.

Please note: You have six (6) years to complete a Certificate. The catalog from which you start your Certificate program contains the requirements you must fulfill for the completion of your Certificate. See each section for the Certificate requirements.

We offer Certificates in the following disciplines:

• Botanical Art and Illustration
• Botany
• Floral Design
• Gardening
• Horticulture
• Therapeutic Horticulture
• Landscape Design
• Urban Naturalist

Students generally complete our Certificate Programs in 2 to 4 years. However, you are free to complete the requirements at your own pace and credits do not expire for a full six years, from the start date of your first Certificate class. Certificate requirements are based on the program of courses stated in the catalog from which you started. You can accelerate your Certificate program through Summer Intensives.

Yes, Summer Intensives allow you to take multiple required Certificate classes in a condensed period of time. Summer Intensive programs are offered in Floral Design, Landscape Design, and Gardening.

You may register for as many classes and Certificate Programs as you wish as long as you have completed the prerequisites, if any are required.

Yes! You may are welcome to register for any course that does not have a prerequisite, including those labeled “Certificate Requirement” or “Elective”. You may also register for classes that require a prerequisite, as long as you have completed the prerequisite(s) required. You do not have to be working toward a Certificate to register for Certificate-level courses.

In rare cases, students may qualify for exemptions based on:

• College courses from an accredited college or university
• Evaluated non-collegiate sponsored instruction
• or proficiency exams.

Note: if you are exempt from a course, you must make up the hours through elective classes.

The NYBG Continuing Education Department has relationships with multiple institutions and companies in the New York metro area that have accepted NYBG students as interns in the past. NYBG instructors are working professionals in their field and may also be able to assist with internship connections. Contact the registration office at 718.817.8720 for further assistance.

While our Certificate Programs are not accredited by the US Department of Education, the School of Horticulture and Landscape Design is licensed with the New York State Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision (BPSS), a division of the New York State Department of Education. Licensure under the state recognizes the Certificate Programs in Horticulture and Landscape Design as high quality and career oriented.

For more information, visit our State Licensing & Accreditation page.

The School of Professional Horticulture has a two-year full-time accredited Title IV program.

The annual Certificate Award Ceremony is held the first weekend in June. If you expect to complete your Certificate requirements or enroll in all remaining classes by June, you must complete and submit an application for graduation which will be available in March.

Call the Registration Office at 718.817.8720 or email graduation@nybg.org with any questions.

In order to register for courses with prerequisites, students must have received a passing grade in the prerequisite course(s).

Student progress is measured by grades.

Students must maintain a cumulative weighted average of 70% on a 100% scale, and must pass all courses with a minimum grade of 60%. All students are required to complete a minimum of 90% of their cumulative registered clock hours. Students who do not meet the 90% cumulative completion percentage will be placed on probation. Courses for which a student receives a letter grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, and P (passing) are included in the calculation of cumulative clock hour completion percentage as courses successfully completed.

Courses for which a student receives a letter grade of INC and F will be treated as courses attempted, but not successfully completed. Students are required to meet these minimum standards at each point of their program evaluation. A student must repeat a course and earn a passing grade in order to fulfill the Certificate requirements; additional course materials will be charged at cost.

All coursework (final exams, papers, projects) must be completed on time unless the instructor grants additional time for extenuating circumstances.

A student may qualify for course exemption by completing college courses taken for degree credit from an accredited college or university, evaluated non-collegiate sponsored instruction, or proficiency exams.

Students who wish to be granted exemption from a required course must:

1. Complete the Course Exemption Request Form
2. Present transcripts showing an earned grade of C or higher
3. Present the course outline, syllabus,and/or relevant supporting documentation.

The School will then evaluate these submissions and make a decision on course exemption. If a student is exempted from the course, s/he is required to take an equal number of hours of an approved elective course to complete the Certificate.

On-time attendance is required at all classes. Unexcused tardiness and absences are not accepted and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

A student who is absent from a class without adequate reason may be assigned a failing grade. Absences due to serious illness or death within a student’s family are recognized as excused absences. To validate such absences, the student should present evidence to the Director, who will then provide a letter of verification to all of the student’s instructors for the term.

Makeup quizzes and exams must be requested by the student and will be scheduled at the instructor’s discretion. Deficiency in any required work resulting from absence from class must be made up at the student’s own expense to satisfy the instructor.

Students have 8 weeks following the last day of class to pick up any work left by instructors at the Registration Office. After that time, unclaimed assignments will be discarded.

• Certificate requirements are those stated in the catalog from which the student first registered for a Certificate course.
• To qualify for a Certificate, students must receive passing grades in all required courses.
• A student has six (6) years from the start of their first required course, to complete a Certificate.

The annual Certificate Award Ceremony is held the first weekend in June. If you expect to complete your Certificate requirements or enroll in all remaining classes by June, you must complete and submit an application for graduation which will be available in March.

Call NYBG Continuing Education at 718.817.8720 or email graduation@nybg.org with any questions.

Official ($15 each) and Unofficial transcripts (free) are available from the Registration Office year-round. Official transcripts must be requested in writing, including the name and address of the institution to which the transcript is being mailed. Transcripts are mailed within two (2) weeks and a copy is sent to the student.

The School of Horticulture and Landscape Design—which includes Horticulture and Landscape Design—is licensed with the New York State Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision (BPSS), a division of the New York State Department of Education. Licensure under the state recognizes the Certificate Programs in Horticulture and Landscape Design as high quality and career oriented.

Students of Licensed Private Schools in the State of New York have the right to file a complaint with the New York State Education Department if they believe that the School or anyone representing the School has acted unlawfully. Students may make complaints about the conduct of the school, advertising, standards and methods of instruction, equipment, facilities, qualifications of teaching and management personnel, enrollment agreement, methods of collecting tuition, School license or registration, School and student records, private School agents, and other charges.

To file a complaint, students should write to the New York State Education Department’s Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision at 116 West 32nd Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10001, or call the Department at 212.643.4760, requesting an interview for the purpose of filing a written complaint. All relevant documents must be brought to the interview. If you cannot attend an interview, send a letter or call the Bureau to request a complaint form. You must complete and sign the form and mail it to the Bureau, including copies of all relevant documents. The Bureau cannot investigate any complaint made more than 2 years after the date of alleged occurrence.

For more information about The School of Horticulture and Landscape Design,
visit this page.

Content of courses and opinions expressed by instructors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of The New York Botanical Garden. The information provided does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. No representation is made that any information provided constitutes the most up-to-date legal or other information.

Returning students should log in with the email address and password provided to them by the Registration Office. If you did not receive this, please call us at 718.817.8720.

New students should begin by creating an account.

Please contact the Registration Office at 718.817.8720 for further assistance.

Yes. Among other benefits, the Garden members receive 10% off all Continuing Education classes. Visit the membership page to learn more about becoming a member and saving on classes. Select NYBG Corporate Members are eligible for course discounts.

Yes. A limited number of work-study opportunities are available for students who wish to gain class credit by working in the NYBG Education Department. Computer skills are required. Email ContinuingEd@nybg.org for details.

For accommodation requests related to a disability, questions, comments, or more information about the accessibility of Continuing Education programming, please contact us by emailing continuinged@nybg.org.

All NYBG Continuing Education students have full access to the Garden’s LuEsther T. Mertz Library – the most comprehensive botanical and horticultural library in the world. Students can register for a library card which will provide offsite access to all of the Library’s electronic journals and databases and a 4,000 volume circulating collection for home reference use. Librarians are available to assist students during opening hours or you may also e-mail your questions to libref@nybg.org.

Visit the instructor page to read the instructor bios and search classes by instructor.

To inquire about becoming an NYBG instructor, please contact NYBG Continuing Education at ContinuingEd@nybg.org.

NYBG Continuing Education currently has one alumni group that current students or alumni can join for professional advice, networking and friendship: The Landscape Design Students and Alumni Association (LDSA). For information about LDSA contact Ellen Yellen at 914.723.4090.

To inquire about alumni groups across other disciplines, please contact studentservices@nybg.org.

Select Landscape Design courses are available for CEU’s for American Society of Landcape Architects (ASLA) and Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) members. CEU’s are also offered in select Horticulture, Gardening and Botany courses for International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA).