UMOnline Beekeeper Program Expands

From anywhere in the world, learners can be immersed in three rigorous levels of beekeeping instruction through the University of Montana. Participants completing the fully online certificate program are deemed a Master Beekeeper, like Raylynn White who earned her Master Beekeeper title in 2022. 

In light of Raylynn’s recent accomplishment of having a research paper published with Bee Culture - The Magazine of American Beekeeping, (although The American Bee Journal was also eager to publish her research paper), UMOnline was excited to speak with her about her background and experiences within the UM Master Beekeeping program.

Raylynn resides in the most easterly province in Canada, on a “little island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean,” called Torbay, Newfoundland, Canada.  While Raylynn’s profession for the past 23 years has been a clinical social worker, you can find her in her apiary after hours.

“My interest in bees started three years ago while talking to a coworker about her bees," Raylynn says. "When she started talking about worker bees, queens and drones, I was amazed. I just had to learn more.”

Raylynn began watching YouTube videos, attending seminars and even joined the Newfoundland and Labrador Beekeeper Association as Director at Large. The more she indulged in bee knowledge, the greater her thirst for understanding grew.

Newfoundland has only 179 registered beekeepers and there are very few master beekeepers in the province. This information quickly fueled Raylynn’s motivation to complete a formal program. She wanted to become not only an educator, but a mentor to fellow beekeepers in the province. As a working professional, Raylynn couldn't relocate her life solely for beekeeping training. After a search on the web, she found the University of Montana Online Master Beekeeping Program and reviewed the syllabus for each level.

“I was determined that I was going to complete the program,” she says. “It is a difficult program - and I spent way more hours than was suggested on the coursework. I was extremely dedicated and strived to do my very best.”

And she did - completing the online program with a 96.3%.

When she began the program, she had only two hives of honey bees - however that has increased to an apiary of 10 hives (and growing).

“In Newfoundland, we have a very unique and special honey bee population," Raylynn says. "Our honey bees are Varroa free, free of tracheal mites, free of hive beetles, American foulbrood and European foulbrood - making Newfoundland honey bees the healthiest in the world.”

“The fact UM’s program can be completed online is great,” she says. “The instructors are five stars! Jerry and Scott are wonderful professors.”

She described her instructors as patient, knowledgeable and accessible. They always answered all of her questions in detail, and she “asked a LOT of questions.”

UM’s program requires Master Beekeepers to complete a research project or literature review as a culminating capstone to the program. Raylynn’s research paper, “Propolis and Wound Care Management,” features her arguments and research on how propolis benefits bees, how it was first discovered and used in ancient society and how its incredible attributes make it an important alternative treatment for wound care management in humans.

Propolis is “bee glue” or a resinous mixture that honey bees produce by mixing saliva and beeswax with exudate gathered from tree buds, sap flows or other botanical sources. It’s also used as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in beehives.

“Honey bees create many products that are beneficial to humans such as honey, pollen, venom, wax and propolis," Raylynn says. "In my paper, I narrowed in on the benefits of using propolis for wound care management. Propolis has antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory properties - all of these properties are beneficial to wound care.”

Raylynn plans to continuously use her knowledge to educate about the importance of honey bees and the numerous benefits that come with advocating for a healthy bee population.

UMOnline proudly recognizes Raylynn’s achievements and looks forward to her impact on raising awareness of honey bees and their numerous benefits to humans. Raylynn is currently listed among our Master Beekeepers at the University of Montana on umt.edu/bee, but if you want to follow her research, you can follow Raylynn White on Twitter.

About the Online Master Beekeeping Certificate Program at the University of Montana:

Honey bees are faced with more diseases, more pests, and more challenges of all sorts than ever before. Traditional beekeeping practices are no longer sufficient to keep bees alive, much less producing at full capacity. Earning this certificate will distinguish you as a beekeeper grounded in science and versed in the latest discoveries in honey bee health.

Endorsed by the Montana State Beekeepers Association, The American Honey Producers Association, and Project Apism, is the University of Montana, UMOnline’s Beekeeping Certificate Program which consists of three university-level courses. The full program takes three years to complete and is structured to give participants a full year of experience between courses. All courses meet online with instructors guiding lessons, participating in discussions, and being available to answer questions. Although consisting of three main levels (Apprentice, Journeyman and Master), UMOnline also offers a Natural Beekeeping Course that teaches a method of beekeeping that is simply for the sake of having honey bees - not keeping them or their products. Stay abreast of registration dates by signing up for the beekeeping newsletter, or visiting the website umt.edu/bee for more information.

About UMOnline at the University of Montana:

UMOnline at the University of Montana promotes and supports excellence and innovation in online teaching and learning at the University of Montana by supporting the creation of quality online, blended and web-enhanced learning opportunities for students. Our high-quality programs and courses meet the needs of learners in the global century. Whether our students wish to earn a degree or certificate with UM's outstanding faculty and students, or just allow greater flexibility in scheduled options, many futures begin with UMOnline.

In addition to serving our students and providing phenomenal online and distance education for all, UMOnline strives to support faculty and staff in a variety of ways including; course design, data and market research, marketing, accessibility tools and content testing, program launch support, Moodle LMS resources and support, regulatory compliance and more. Learn more about UMOnline, and view our online programs by visiting umt.edu/umonline.