Permaculture Design Courses are as unique as the teachers who design them, with each teacher focusing on her/his own area of interest and expertise. However, international agreements among Permaculturists require that, in addition to a complete sustainable systems design for a home or business site, the following topics will be included in every Permaculture Design Course Certification Curriculum [Items marked with * are covered in the Permaculture Fundamentals course. The remaining classes [in bold] are taught as part of the Design Practicum.]:

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    *Ethics
    *Principles
    *Pattern Understanding
    *Site Analysis
    *Design Processes
    *Ecosystems
    *Soil
    *Trees & Forests
    Agroforestry
    *Water
    *Wastewater Treatment
    *Erosion Control
    *Microclimates
    *Gardens
    *Orchards
    Broadscale Agriculture
    *Animals
    *Aquaculture
    *Natural/Green Building
    *Appropriate Technology
    Earthworks
    Budgeting & Costs
    *Designing the Home System
    *Mapping
    Economics
    Urban Permaculture

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In addition to the above, and hands-on practice with design and implementation of sustainable systems, our courses also include:

 

    *The History of Permaculture
    Design Graphics
    *Waste & Compost
    *Plant Use Strategies
    *Making Herbal Medicines
    *Rainwater Catchment
    Settlement Patterns
    Transition Towns
    Intentional Community & Ecovillages
    *Design for Human Dynamics
    *Cultural Sustainability
    Design for Economic Yield
    Global Economics
    The Gift Economy