San Diego Universities are offering new Beer Certificate Programs

With the craft beer industry continuing to expand exponentially and San Diego hosting more than sixty craft breweries, two universities are going to launch professional brewing certificate programs. San Diego State University (SDSU) and University of California San Diego (USCD) are both working with industry insiders and brewing up their own programs that will educate and prepare students for the craft beer scene and its career pathways. 

Jake Nunes, a bar supervisor for Stone Brewing, said “There is not a lot of formal training available for the craft beer industry. This program exposes students to information that is not available unless they work for a beer company. It’s even good for people working for a beer company to increase their knowledge base.” SDSU's program will offer students the opportunity to learn from instructors who are professionals in the industry. Applying a hands-on learning environment with classes being held at on-site breweries as well as the SDSU campus. Students will also be able to interact and network with local industry experts.

Not only will students be able to work and learn from local industry professionals, the program also offers classes that explore the past and present history of craft brewing, beer tasting, and what the future holds. They will discover that the craft beer industry offers numerous opportunities in such areas as brewing, packaging, engineering, maintenance, information technology, supply chain logistics, management, finance, sales, and marketing.

“The local brewing industry will pair up with the school to offer the students an opportunity to have hands on experience to increase the depth of their knowledge,” adds Claudia Faulk of Aztec Brewing Company.

For more information, click SDSU Beer Program

Effective this summer, UCSD will launch their professional beer certificate program which will also focus on providing students with the essential knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to work in a professional brewing environment. The program has been developed in response to the rapid growth of the craft brewing industry in the San Diego region, and in consultation with an advisory board of leading San Diego brewers.

According to masslive.com, the industry's growth rate (in volume sold) has been 5.8 percent (2008), 7.2 percent (2009), 12 percent (2010), and 13 percent (2011).
The connection between USCD and local craft beer is strong, as Chris White, President and Co-Founder of San Diego’s White Labs, one of the leading yeast providers to breweries throughout the U.S., received his Ph.D. from UC San Diego. Also, head brewer and co-founder of Ballast Point, Yuseff Cherney is a graduate himself. Ballast Point is one of the largest and most respected craft breweries in San Diego. Both White and Cherney are on the Advisory Board for the developing program, and Cherney will teach the introductory course for the program which will start in July.
For more information, click USCD Beer Program

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CREDIT: PRWEB & West Coaster SD