Quick Links: Noteworthy Instructors | Scholarship Information
Permaculture is a whole-systems design approach to developing sustainable human settlements.
Rooted in horticulture and agriculture, Permaculture design incorporates land stewardship, ecology, food production, animal husbandry, appropriate technology, water management, and regional planning.
Our online, instructor-led Permaculture Design Courses (PDCs) teach the design process and lay the foundation for a lifelong study and path in Permaculture.
The collaborative, academically rigorous curriculum guides you to complete a regenerative landscape design with the support of intensive instructor feedback to help with every step along the way.
Both courses include:
We offer two different Permaculture Design Courses.
Permaculture Design Course, PDC: This course is designed for anyone who is interested in learning more about sustainability through the lens of Permaculture Design. This course includes all the curriculum required for the internationally recognized Permaculture Design certificate.
PDC PRO: For the person wanting to gain the skills of a professional designer. This course includes all the curriculum required for the internationally recognized certificate, but offers more time, resources, and support:
We typically offer both courses four times a year, starting in June, September, January and April.
Our Permaculture courses were developed by OSU instructors Andrew Millison and Marisha Auerbach.
Today the teaching team (see bio's below) includes instructors from diverse regions and climate zones around the world .
Successful completion of either the PDC or PDC-PRO course results in a Permaculture Design Certificate issued by the Permaculture Institute of North America.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
You will have a chance to learn:
You will engage with peers through the PDC's program discussion boards, where you can receive and provide feedback and follow each project’s progress. You will learn from peers by sharing your own permaculture design plan and viewing other projects from diverse climates and environments. In the PDC PRO you will also meet and support each other’s work through bi-weekly Zoom calls.
Previous participants have come from locations all around the world, and have created design plans for sites that ranged in size from urban balconies to 100-acre ranches. View examples of previous student projects.
“Prior to completing the OSU PDC-Pro course I had taken a different on-line PDC course. I had learned that permaculture was a field I wanted to pursue. Unfortunately, as I delved deeper into permaculture and all the various rabbit holes it introduced me to, I realized that I had very little guidance with regards to client interaction and even less instruction with the development of a comprehensive site plan that was inclusive of all the necessary analysis yet concise and aesthetically presentable to a client. Not only did the OSU PDC-Pro course reinforce what I had previously learned but it added to that, with extensive instructor guidance, material resources, and more importantly for me, taught me how to transfer observations and ideas from my head into a presentation that is helpful to a client. I am glad that I took the course and recommend it to others.” -Past Permaculture student, Greg Lawrence
This course focuses on completing a Permaculture design for an actual site of your choice. Please review this document that provides guidelines for choosing your design site. It is important to spend some time considering before the start of the course. View examples of previous student projects.
This is a fully online course and requires a certain level of basic computer literacy to be successful. Please review this Required Hardware and Software page to make sure the course is feasible for you.
As part of the course, we use free online programs to do site analysis and create design reports. We provide instructions within the course, but familiarity with these programs prior to the course will enhance your experience and prepare you for the work:
“I work full-time, so being able to take the course at my own pace was a big factor for me. And even now, I can go back and watch the videos if I have questions... I want to help people grow their own food, and this course gave me the confidence and knowledge to do that.” ~ Linda Nash
“To have somebody that has that kind of experience and knowledge critiquing my design was priceless. I hope I have conveyed how rich my current life is, absolutely without question because of what I have gleaned from Andrew in that class." ~ Marianne Cicala
A very limited number of scholarships are available. Preference is given to students who live in countries where the economy makes it very difficult to pay US prices, as well as those from disadvantaged communities.
Scholarship applicants must have completed the Introduction to Permaculture Course and are required to upload their completed workbook.
Scholarship applications are due five weeks before the start of the next course. You will receive notification at least three weeks before the start of the next course.
“The content in OSU programs far exceeded my expectations. Often I feel I received my money's worth in the first part of multi- part courses. OSU is a high quality experience and I absolutely recommend OSU for your educational needs. Love Andrew Millison’s courses. I’m enjoying my courses and glued to the content and highly respect the instructors for their expertise and vast knowledge!” ~ Toni Tayor
“An amazing first step when wanting to learn about permaculture design and how to take sites towards being more sustainable and well thought out.” ~ Sydney Toole
Re-Enrollment
PDC: $250 ($70 transfer fee, $180 re-enrollment course fee)
PDC PRO: $450 ($70 transfer fee, $380 re-enrollment course fee)
You may only transfer once. (PDC students transfer to the next PDC, or see below to upgrade)
Upgrade from PDC to PRO
$500: You must request an upgrade within the first two weeks of starting PDC.
*Does not apply to PDC re-enrollments.
Course Access
You will have access to your course for two years from the end date of the course.
This course is a collaboration between Oregon State University College of Agriculture and Oregon State University Professional and Continuing Education.
After successful completion of the Permaculture Design Certificate Online, consider enrolling in one of our advanced courses:
 |
 |
 |
Andrew MillisonAndrew Millison is an educator, storyteller and designer who founded Oregon State University's Permaculture Design education program in 2009. As Education Director and Senior Instructor, he brings 25 years of experience and a playful approach to regenerative design. He lives in his own permaculture paradise in Corvallis. |
Marisha AuerbachMarisha is an internationally recognized permaculture educator, designer and speaker based in Portland, Oregon. An avid gardener and herbalist, she specializes in food production, ecology and useful plants. She believes permaculture lets us lower our ecological footprint while continuing to live equally delightful lives. |
Tao OrionTao Orion is an author, permaculture educator and entrepreneur who consults on farm, forest and restoration planning through Resilience Permaculture Design, LLC. She holds an agroecology degree from UC Santa Cruz and an MSc in Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. She lives on Viriditas Farm, Willamette Valley. |
 |
 |
 |
Devon BonadyDevon is a teacher, farmer and ethnobotanist who began her permaculture journey in 2000 and has taught at OSU since 2014. She founded Fern Hill Nursery and Botanical Sanctuary and now homesteads in central Vermont, focusing on season extension for year-round northern harvests. |
Neil BertrandoNeil is a regenerative specialist in water harvesting, agroforestry, season-extension gardens, pollinator habitat and ecological restoration. An OSU instructor since 2014, he holds degrees in Biology and Environmental Science and owns RT Permaculture. He tends a high desert forest garden with his family in Reno, Nevada. |
Javan Kirby BernakevitchJavan is a life and land designer helping clients worldwide cultivate abundant, diverse and profitable lives, landscapes and businesses. Since 2015 he has developed curriculum and the PDC Template for OSU. He leads All Points Design, founded Regenerative Living, and stewards 400+ acres in British Columbia. |
 |
 |
 |
Jamie WallaceJamie has focused on naturalistic landscapes for over 35 years, teaching and practicing landscape design and construction. He has earned numerous national and provincial landscape awards, and counts Geoff Lawton, Darren Doherty and David Holmgren among his early permaculture influences. He still designs landscapes with his wife, Angela. |
Kelda LoraxKelda cultivates gardens for self-reliance, sale, trade and education through the Divine Earth Gardening Project in Fairland, Oklahoma. She holds diplomas in Permaculture Site Design and Permaculture Education. She teaches at OSU, the Permaculture Women's Guild and Starhawk's Regenerative Land Management course. |
Jyoti DeshpandeJyoti is a certified permaculture designer, consultant and educator whose deepest passion is design. For over a decade she has designed land-based systems, led workshops and courses, and consulted ethical businesses and academic institutions in India. Her homestead, Chaitraban, is where she experiments with new designs. |
 |
 |
 |
Karen TaylorKaren has focused on ecological design, resilient communities and water harvesting for over 30 years. A permaculture educator and designer with Siskiyou Permaculture LLC in Southern Oregon since 2009, she builds gardens wherever she goes. Her path began at Arcosanti, a life-changing Arizona desert community. |
JR MorganJR is an educator and designer with over 10 years of organic gardening experience, inspired to bring youth and less privileged communities into permaculture and healthy living. He holds certificates in permaculture design and horticulture and runs Morganic Roots Eco Firm in Eugene, Oregon. |
Ricky ClarkeRicky is an enrolled member of the Numunu (Comanche) Nation and a lover of the intelligence of the wild. He trained in permaculture in Guatemala and Spain. Inspired by nature and Indigenous wisdom, he is president of High Quality Gardens, Inc., and a permaculture teacher, designer and consultant. |
 |
 |
 |
Sunshine Rose ClaymoreSunshine Rose Claymore is a mother from Standing Rock Reservation with an Environmental Science degree from Sitting Bull College. She is Permaculture and Food Systems Coordinator for NDSU and Regenerative Land Management Coordinator with Earth Activist Training, bringing a passion for environmental education and systems design. |
Monica IbacacheA native of Chile, Monica is a New York City-based community organizer, sustainability educator and ecological designer. As Executive Director of Beyond Organic Design, she partners with public schools and community centers, working with diverse communities to improve food systems and advance social and environmental justice. |
Lion WaxmanLion is a regenerative farm and landscape designer and educator who studied permaculture around the world. He holds a B.A. in Social and Environmental Sustainability and an M.S. in Ecological Landscape Design. In southern Oregon since 2017, he founded Good Earth Gardens, LLC. |
.png?width=45&height=45&name=price%20(2).png){kind=small}
Enjoy peace of mind with our risk-free guarantee on online instructor-led courses. No. What sets OSU's Permaculture Design Certificate apart is that it's taught online by industry experts with personalized attention and feedback and access to an online community. So, rather than spending time and money on traveling, you get to learn directly from the experts without leaving your home. By the end of the program, you'll have a working Permaculture design that you can implement.
Oregon State University's Permaculture Design Certificate includes all the curriculum required for the internationally recognized certificate. Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a digital certificate of completion from Oregon State University that you can easily print out. Though the program is robust, it's non-credit, so it's not possible to transfer it towards college credits.
"This course furthered my ecological knowledge and allowed me to pursue an amazing fellowship opportunity! The instructors were very responsive and I really appreciated the feedback I received each week from fellow classmates. I loved this program and highly recommend it to others that are interested!”
“OSU PACE programs have allowed me to grow professionally and expand my knowledge in areas that I was passionate about but didn't yet have much experience with. I'm grateful for the opportunities it provided and doors that it opened me.”
“It was wonderful to have our work evaluated by an experienced, regionally appropriate Permaculture designer. I never would have done some of the exercises on my own without prompting, and I got a lot out of it. It was gratifying to have such personal work affirmed in many ways, but I also learned about my weaknesses as a designer and where I can improve, and I mean that as a compliment to the program!”
“The permaculture design course is well designed, with recorded lectures, lots of reading, and learning by doing the weekly assignments. This culminates with a comprehensive plan for your land. It’s a lot of work, especially learning the computer skills necessary for doing the weekly assignments. And well worth it! My husband and I are starting a small farm. The permaculture course taught me so much, providing a solid foundation. The class was outstanding. The component I would have liked would have been a discussion group with our TA and cohorts.”
"I am loving how each week I am having so many moments where I think…”I never thought of that. It’s a great idea that could work.” And everywhere I go I am observing so many possibilities for change. I feel like I am at the beginning of my college experience, instead of 20 plus years past it. There are many ideas I want to incorporate as part of my permaculture design, but my challenge is having a small design site and packing it all in."
"A lot of information covered! This course provided me with a better understanding of where I needed to focus on further studies. Excellent course content!"
"WOW awesome job. Very intense but very rewarding. A lot of work went into creating the course and managing the course and it shows. Thanks!"
"I loved, LOVED this class so much. I’ve truly gained so much knowledge and ambition through each week. I’m moving onto a farm from the city (apartment where I currently reside) in two weeks with a group of 4 people; we are all likeminded city kids with common experiences and working knowledge of farming and diy lifestyles. I have been left in charge of designing the layout of the land and the gardens, so this is my next HUGE endeavor. We are planning on getting chickens, goats, and we already have 3 beehives. We are even going to be installing rain barrels. I feel like I have a lot of good ideas brought forth from you and Marisha that I can share with my roommates and put into play what I’ve learned from this course. So, thank you for an excellent semester."
"Andrew and all of his instructors were incredible. They are extremely hardworking, knowledgeable, and kind, and each put in a significant amount of effort to help each involved student understand, learn, and therefore grow. I was very impressed with the research that has gone into creating and maintaining this course and I highly recommend it to anyone willing to put in the effort. I end this course feeling inspired, more knowledgeable, and ready to take on the principles I learned about. I'm genuinely grateful, thank you!"
