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Course Description

Supporting your colonies’ ability to thrive and achieving your desired outcomes requires a systematic approach and the application of practical techniques and knowledge. In this course, you will discover how to predict what to expect in your colony season by season. You’ll gain confidence in your ability to analyze different situations and make informed management decisions based on the scientific principles you study here. Apply the hands-on techniques used by experienced expert beekeepers, honey bee biologists, and the Cornell University Honey Bee Extension team to keep your colonies healthy and to produce your desired outcomes year after year.

This course equips beekeepers at the hobby, sideliner, and commercial levels with the concepts, knowledge, and best management practices needed to pass the written, oral, and field components of Cornell University’s Master Beekeeping Certificate.

Faculty Author

Authors:

Emma Kate Mullen
Honey Bee Extension Associate, Dyce Lab of Honey Bee Studies, Cornell University

 

Tom Seeley
Horace White Professor in Biology, Cornell University

 

Eleanor Andrews

PhD Candidate & Honey Bee Extension Assistant, Cornell University

 

 

Ben & Kim Carpenter

 

Experts

 

Marla Spivak

Bryan Danforth

Dennis VanEngelsdorp

Randy Oliver

Scott McArt

Paul Cappy

 

Benefits to the Learner

Students enrolled in this course will learn

  • Identify seasonal needs and management practices to support honey bee health

  • Understand how to conduct an effective hive inspection

  • Identify how to meet your colonies’ nutritional needs

  • Explore swarming: preventing, catching, and baiting

  • Identify robbing and learn how to intervene

  • Identify when you want to requeen your colony

  • Manage colony growth: when and how to split and merge colonies

  • Understand how to breed bees and rear queens for the traits you desire

  • Explore how to keep records to learn more about your colonies

Target Audience

This course is perfect for beekeepers with at least three years of experience who are seeking advanced depth and breadth of knowledge to increase the success of their colonies, improve their skills in the bee yard, and gain credibility as a resource in the beekeeping community. Beekeepers who are interested in expanding their operation and extending their business opportunities will also benefit from this course.
 

A Master Beekeeper should have the ability to analyze a situation and make informed management decisions based on scientific principles, rather than needing to follow an exact recipe or procedure. We will provide you with the knowledge and tools to make evidence-based decisions in your own bee yard.

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Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in
Type
3 week
Dates
Sep 03, 2025 to Sep 23, 2025
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Regular Price $350.00
Type
3 week
Dates
Sep 03, 2025 to Sep 23, 2025
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Regular Price $350.00
Type
3 week
Dates
Oct 21, 2025
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Regular Price $350.00
Type
3 week
Dates
Oct 21, 2025
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Regular Price $350.00
Type
3 week
Dates
Nov 05, 2025 to Nov 25, 2025
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Regular Price $350.00
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