Main Content
Learn how to be a beekeeper in this self-paced online course that teaches students how to start, maintain, and care for a honey bee colony.
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We do not have an offering of this course scheduled at this time. Please join our email list to be notified when the next offering is scheduled!
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Course Details
Course Name: Bee-ginner’s Beekeeping: The Basics of Apiculture
Course Code: AE0401WC26
Date of Most Recent Offering: April 1-30, 2026
Course Overview
This online class is designed to provide information that new beekeepers need to start and care for a honey bee colony. Learn everything you need to know to further your hobby or get your business off the ground!
Participants will be introduced to bee biology and management. Participants will also learn how to assemble hives, open and examine colonies, and see how honey and beeswax are harvested.
This course fulfills the legal requirements of the State of New Jersey for beekeeper education: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/pdf/Diseasesofbees.pdf.
There will also be a live Q & A Session on Zoom with the instructors Michael & Debra Haberland (see date and time above). The Zoom link to attend the live session will be sent to registered students the day before. (Note: If you register for the course after the Q&A date, although you will miss the chance to attend live, a recording of the Q&A session will automatically be shared with you.)
Featured Topics
- Bee Biology
- Disease and Mite Prevention
- Hive Assembly and Management
- Honey Extraction
- Queen Bee Purchasing
- And Much More!
Earn a Digital Badge
Students who successfully complete this program will be issued a digital badge that details the course requirements. This badge is a great way to demonstrate the rigorous training you completed to prospective employers, schools, colleagues and peers. It can be added to your email signature, your LinkedIn profile, other social media accounts, or shared via URL. Visit our digital badge page for more information.
Who Should Attend?
Whether you are brand new to beekeeping or already have a few years as an apiarist under your belt, you will gain valuable insights from our seasoned instructor and his experience.
Our students come from all walks of life—attorneys, the armed forces, teachers, retirees, farmers, artists—but they leave with one thing in common: a newfound confidence to start their own hives and pursue their passion for beekeeping.
Meet Your Instructors
Mike Haberland, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Mike Haberland is an associate professor and County Environmental Agent with Rutgers University Cooperative Extension. He uses applied research and collaborates with organizations to develop programs that assist in the creation, promotion, and education of innovative environmental, sustainable community and natural resource management practices. Mike uses beekeeping and the creation of native pollinator habitat for research and as a way to educate the public on the importance of pollinators.
Debra Haberland, Working Girls Meadows
Debbie is a marine biologist, teacher, and owner of Working Girls Meadows apiaries. She has been involved in beekeeping for more than fourteen years. One of her main goals is to use her education and scientific background to promote the science of beekeeping and educate on the importance of pollinators. The goal of her apiaries is to produce queens and nucleus hives to increase the availability of locally-raised and adapted bees in order to assist the survival and health of bees in our area.
Student Reviews
“I would recommend this course for everyone to help save the bees and ourselves and the planet. The content was thorough and informative, course engaging. I feel confident I gained the knowledge needed to be a good caregiver and have a sense of belonging, part of a beekeeping community.”
– Mary Michell
“My first Rutgers online course. The triumphs and trials of beekeeping were described in honest, authentic terms. I found all the content relevant and interesting. The technology and support [were] reliable. I felt I received me money’s worth and my time respected. Kudos. Great job!”
– Andrew Lenza
“Anyone starting bees should take this first. We lost our bees over this winter because I did not know how to properly look after the hive. This class has taught me so much that would have prevented the loss and also led to much better production.”
– Ted Blanco
Continuing Education Credits
The most recent offering of Bee-ginner’s Beekeeping: The Basics of Apiculture course was approved for 1.4 Rutgers CEUs (14 contact hours).
Technology Requirements
Email Requirement
Cancellations and SubstitutionsAttention U.S. Veterans
This course is approved by the New Jersey State Approving Agency for Veterans Training for educational benefits through the GI Bill®. Learn more.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!
If you have any questions about Bee-ginner’s Beekeeping, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Senior Program Coordinator: Pamela Springard-Mayer
848-932-7463
pspring@rutgers.edu
Administrative Assistant: Claudine Oleskin
848-932-7204
coleskin@njaes.rutgers.edu
For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.
