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Course Description

Managing pests and diseases is the number one reason beekeepers reach out to the Cornell University Honeybee Research and Extension Program for support. In this course, you will gain knowledge about honey bee immunity as well as how to apply Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles to prevent and control all known pests, parasites, and pathogens that interfere with honeybee health and productivity. As a result, you’ll feel confident in your ability to monitor, diagnose, and control specific problems in your colonies as you identify how to be proactive and take charge of the health of your bee operation.

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

Emma Kate Mullen; Eleanor Andrews; Katherine Urban-Mead

Benefits to the Learner

Students enrolled in this course will learn

  • Explore how honey bees naturally combat infections through immune function and social behavior

  • Apply the benefits of Integrated Pest Management

  • Identify, prevent, and control

    • Pests and parasites

    • Viruses

    • Bacterial Infections

    • Fungal Infections

    • Combination Syndromes

  • Explore what we can learn from and how we can protect native bees

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
4 week
Dates
Jan 14, 2026 to Feb 10, 2026
Total Number of Hours
20.0
Course Fee(s)
Regular Price $350.00
Type
4 week
Dates
Mar 11, 2026 to Apr 07, 2026
Total Number of Hours
20.0
Course Fee(s)
Regular Price $350.00
Type
4 week
Dates
May 06, 2026 to Jun 02, 2026
Total Number of Hours
20.0
Course Fee(s)
Regular Price $350.00
Type
4 week
Dates
Jul 01, 2026 to Jul 28, 2026
Total Number of Hours
20.0
Course Fee(s)
Regular Price $350.00
Type
4 week
Dates
Aug 26, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026
Total Number of Hours
20.0
Course Fee(s)
Regular Price $350.00
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