Cannabis Applied Science
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Program Overview
Cannabis Applied Science is a one-year graduate certificate program designed for students with a background in science. Students will study analytical chemistry techniques, cannabis crop science, and microbiology. This program focuses on new product development and quality assurance while taking place in cutting-edge labs to prepare you for a career in this growing industry
Program Details
Program Code
CSC1
Credential:
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Duration
30 weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 January
London
Open
2025 September
London
Open
2026 January
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
Part Time Offerings
2025 January
London
Open
2025 September
London
Open
2026 January
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 January
London
Open
2025 September
London
Open
2026 January
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
Your Learning Experience
In this one-year graduate certificate program, students will apply their scientific knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the emerging cannabis industry.
This science-based program focuses on new product development, propagation, and quality insurance. Cannabis courses are developed in partnership with cannabis industry experts and will take place in cutting-edge labs to familiarize students with industry standards and environments.
The program prepares students to analyze cannabis for quality, safety, and stability, and contribute to research and development, including the development of new cannabis products. In addition to scientific techniques, students will study the regulatory context of the cannabis industry, and develop their scientific communication and project management skills.
This program is also available part-time.
Career Information
Students in Fanshawe's Cannabis Applied Science program develop specialized knowledge, skills and abilities preparing students to work in a variety of roles in the rapidly growing cannabis industry, including product development, quality assurance, formulation chemist and processing technician. In addition to opening the door for an array of career opportunities, graduates can leverage the scientific communication and project management skills learned through the program in a workplace environment.
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Business Analysis program:
Quality Assurance
Oversee the production process of a licensed cannabis producer and ensure the quality and compliance of the product is up to standard.
Product Development
Manage the process of developing cannabis products while enhancing existing products.
Processing Technician
Assist in processing and packaging cannabis products while keeping accurate records of each product.
Formulation Chemist
Lead design and development of formulations and processes that adhere to proper standards and safety regulations.
Learning Outcomes
- Collect, analyze and summarize data on cannabis cultivation to optimize yield and quality in a variety of production models;
- Perform all tasks in compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, and security measures for legal cannabis production and processing;
- Evaluate current research to apply best practices for sustainability and innovation in the cannabis industry;
- Use laboratory procedures to conduct quantitative and qualitative chemical analyses of cannabis products to test product quality, safety and stability;
- Write, follow, validate and optimize standard operating procedures to extract and analyze cannabis products;
- Apply business principles to manage resources effectively in a cannabis lab;
- Evaluate product safety using quality assurance programs and processes;
- Design, plan, and manage projects to meet industry demands;
- Communicate scientific data from lab procedures and scientific literature effectively to licensed producers and stakeholders.
Related Programs
Academic School
Program Coordinator:
Liliana Santamaria
Admission Requirements
1. An Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Degree, or equivalent in a scientific field.
OR
Relevant work experience in a related field and post-secondary education, as evaluated by the College.*
2. Successful completion of the following College or University courses, as determined by the College:**
- Analytical or formulation chemistry, microbiology, calculus and instrumental methods of analysis.
NOTES:
*Applicants may be required to submit a resume and cover letter outlining their practical laboratory experience.
**Students lacking one of the required courses might still gain eligibility and will undergo a qualification evaluation by the College. They may be required to complete additional courses or upgrades prior to admission. For further details, please contact the program coordinator.
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 88 |
| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands |
| CAEL | Overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands |
| PTE Academic | 59 |
| Cambridge English | Overall score of 176 with no language skill less than 169 |
| ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 9, 75% in Level 10 |
| Duolingo | Overall score of 120, with no score lower than 105 |
Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
Courses
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| CHEM-6008 | Chemistry Lab Techniques 1 | 3.5 | ||
| This course will introduce students to instrumentation used in the study of cannabinoids. Students will learn interpretation of results from industrial protocols, certificate of analysis. Sample preparation and preparation of a sampling plan including quality control measures will mimic the workplace environment. Industry association protocols from AOAC, ISO and HAACP will be taught. Through the writing and auditing of standard operating procedures and their validation and optimization, students will be prepared for an industrial lab. | ||||
| CHEM-6004 | Chemistry of Cannabis | 2 | ||
| Students learn the properties of chemical groups in cannabis, including cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. Chemical contaminants resulting from crop growth and processing, including heavy metals, pesticides, solvents, cleaning agents, water and environmental contaminants, are analyzed. | ||||
| COMM-6040 | Scientific Communications | 3 | ||
| Students develop scientific communication skills in reporting scientific data using a variety of media. Students prepare posters and oral presentations to practice communicating research data to their peers. Projects focus on synthesizing observational data into reports for various stakeholders in the framework of regulations. In addition to learning how to make posters and perform oral presentations, students will learn technical writing skills. | ||||
| LAWS-6043 | Principles of Cannabis Regulations | 3 | ||
| Regulations surrounding cannabis production and processing will be explored. Fundamental aspects of internal and external laboratory auditing will be taught. Students will prepare an audit plan for meeting laboratory accreditation requirements. Bioethics will be introduced relative to the moral issues of cannabis regulatory compliance. Specifics of Cannabis testing requirements while following the Cannabis regulations are taught. Safe Foods for Canadians Regulations as it pertains to edible cannabis products are examined. | ||||
| HORT-6007 | Cannabis Crop Science | 2.5 | ||
| In this predominantly lab based course, students learn Cannabis culture methods. Skills are taught with a focus on commercial production facilities. Aspects of plant propagation including aseptic technique, micropropagation, breeding, tissue culture and cloning and media preparation are practiced in labs. Additionally, yield optimization and disease and pest control to minimize product contamination are central to the teaching. Post-harvest processing practices are also explored. An emphasis is placed on biological products. Students will perform proper data collection and notebook maintenance. Theory will complement lab work and include aspects of crop management. An emphasis will be placed on genomics-based breeding practices and genome editing. Students will examine cannabinoid biosynthetic pathways. | ||||
| BIOL-6001 | Microbiology | 2.5 | ||
| Students will learn theory and lab practices related to industrial microbiology. The main themes will be quality assurance programs in Cannabis processing, edible product testing, raw product testing, and food and crop processing. Microbiological contaminates will be tested by culture and molecular methods while mycotoxins will be tested with immunoaffinity assays. Current industry standards will be taught in class and reinforced in the lab, including HACCP, GMP, Good Production Practices and GLP. Students will practice industry-standard protocols for enumeration and detection of microbes from various substances. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.