Oakton College at forefront of cannabis education in Illinois

A consistent modus operandi for Illinois News Joint has been to incorporate cannabis and academia to help speed up the path to normalizing the plant. In May, we hosted the Academic Cannabis Conference in Carbondale. Several colleges and universities were represented at the conference, including Oakton College. Oakton College, located in Des Plaines, has been on the forefront of a similar mission to combine cannabis and academia.

Spring 2018, Oakton College started planning curriculum and courses that focused on medical consultations in dispensaries. August 2019, Oakton College started offering cannabis courses for the Cannabis Dispensary and Patient Care Specialist certificate. That same year, Oakton College applied for and received a community college grow license. January 2022, the college debuted its semester-long course Botany and Cultivation of Cannabis, the PharmaCann Cannabis Cultivation Lab, and the Cannabis Cultivation Certificate. Visit here for FAQ about cannabis cultivation at Oakton College, or email the cannabis program at cannabisprograms@oakton.edu.

Now, Oakton College is one of the leaders in cannabis education, offering several certificate options and more as part of its Cannabis Studies curricula. Oakton College’s certificate programs now include a Cannabis Cultivation Certificate, Cannabis Dispensary and Patient Care Specialist Certificate, Cannabis Transportation, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management Certificate, and Transfer Agreements. Oakton College’s pioneering cannabis studies programs are designed in collaboration with industry experts to prepare you for a career in a rapidly evolving field. The first two certificate programs listed requires a minimum of two semesters. No prerequisites or placement in English, math, or science, are required.

Students in the cannabis program at Oakton College also have access to a first-of-its-kind 2900-square-feet indoor educational facility, the PharmaCann Cannabis Cultivation Lab, specifically constructed to teach cultivation. Students can attend lectures online, then come to Des Plaines campus two days a week to work with all different stage of the plant during lab sessions. A video tour of the lab can be found here.

“Understanding the seed-to-harvest growth cycle will prepare students for a broad range of opportunities in the cannabis industry, from retail and medical dispensaries to cultivation and craft grow centers,” said Dr. Steve Fix, Assistant Professor and Chair in the Department of Cannabis Studies. “The uniqueness of the facility means that we have gotten many (CNB-107) students from far outside our district.  Because CNB-107 is a hybrid course, students pay in-district rates even if they don’t live in Oakton’s district.”

Currently, Oakton College has limited scholarship funds for cannabis students and transfer agreements with 4-year institutions that offer cannabis degrees. The faculty also collaborates with cannabis employers to place students in dispensaries, craft grow, cultivation, and non-plant-touching positions. Oakton College Cannabis can be contacted at the form at the bottom of this page.

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