Introduction to Beekeeping is designed for people who are curious about bees, considering their first hive, or still early in their beekeeping experience.

Rather than compressing beekeeping into a single workshop, the program follows the honey bee colony through the year. Participants learn what is happening within the hive, what environmental and seasonal factors are influencing the colony, and what beekeepers need to observe and consider at each stage.

Monthly online classes provide a foundation in biology, behavior, equipment, colony health, and seasonal management. In-person labs then connect those concepts to real hives, tools, specimens, inspections, health assessments, harvesting, and winter preparation.

The program helps participants move from curiosity to informed readiness while developing practical skills and building relationships with others who are beginning their beekeeping journey.

Why this Program Exists

Interest in beekeeping continues to grow, but many aspiring beekeepers begin with limited knowledge of honey bee biology, colony behavior, equipment, or seasonal management. Beginning beekeepers may have access to individual workshops, informal guidance, or local associations, but beekeeping cannot be fully understood through a single class. The needs of a colony change throughout the year, and many concepts become most meaningful when learners can observe them during the appropriate season.

Introduction to Beekeeping provides a structured pathway through that first year of learning. It gives participants time to build knowledge, observe seasonal changes, practice relevant skills, ask increasingly informed questions, and understand how individual management decisions fit into the broader life of the colony.

The University of Richmond offers a distinctive environment for this experience through the combination of expert instruction, campus hives, sustainability initiatives, community engagement, and programming designed for adult learners.

How the Program is Structured

The program follows a clear progression:

1. Begin with the broader world of bees, protective equipment, and the tools used in beekeeping.
2. Build an understanding of honey bee anatomy, physiology, life cycle, development, behavior, and colony organization.
3. Examine hive construction, apiary selection, spring management, colony inspection, and preparation for a first hive.
4. Explore sources of bees, installation, colony establishment, and swarming.
5. Follow summer management, nectar and pollen resources, and changing environmental conditions.
6. Develop skills in colony-health monitoring and the recognition of diseases and pests.
7. Explore honey, beeswax, propolis, and other hive products.
8. Prepare colonies for winter and understand winter biology, feeding, urban beekeeping, and responsible hive management.

This progression ensures that participants build their knowledge in a logical sequence and apply it in connection with what is occurring in the hive.

Program Cadence

Introduction to Beekeeping begins in January and follows the honey bee colony through December. Participants move through the full program as a cohort, allowing them to build on previous learning, compare seasonal observations, and develop a shared foundation in beekeeping.

The program includes two primary learning experiences each month:

1. Synchronous Online Class

Each monthly topic begins with an instructor-led online class held on the third Wednesday of the month from 7-8:30pm. The 90-minute class introduces the scientific background, management principles, terminology, and seasonal context participants need before the applied session.

2. In-Person Campus Lab

The online class is followed by an in-person lab, held at the University of Richmond on the following Saturday from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Labs connect monthly concepts to hives, equipment, specimens, colony conditions, hive products, and practical beekeeping activities.

The program includes both an online class and an in-person learning experience in each of the twelve months. The full program includes approximately 42 instructional contact hours: 18 hours of synchronous online instruction and 24 hours of in-person applied learning.

Because beekeeping activities depend on weather, temperature, colony condition, seasonal development, and other environmental factors, the specific activity completed during a lab may be adapted when necessary. Indoor demonstrations, specimens, equipment, processing activities, or other applied learning methods may be substituted when direct hive work is not appropriate.

Equipment and Supplies

Participants will be expected to obtain personal protective equipment appropriate for working around active honey bee colonies. At minimum, participants should have appropriate sting protection in the form of a veil, beekeeping jacket, or suit, along with beekeeping gloves. Participants will receive recommended supplier and equipment information in advance so they can select protective equipment that fits properly and is comfortable to use.

Planned required resources include the books Beekeeping Basics and Honeybees and Their Maladies, both from Penn State. Both books will be provided to participants as part of the course cost. Supplemental resources, recommended for participants who want to continue their study, include.

Pricing and Discounts

The course is priced at $2,499 but is being offered at $1,999 for the inaugural 2027 cohort.