Facilities
Pilot Brewing Systems
With five pilot brewing systems in-house, you’ll get hands-on experience with all phases of wort production.
Applications for this major are currently not being accepted
This degree is being transformed from a two-year traditional program to a one-year certificate program in order to meet industry and prospective students’ needs with an anticipated start date of Fall 2021. Contact the School of Business, Arts & Sciences with any questions.
Brewing & Fermentation Science
Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)
About this program
Confucius was right when he said, “Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life.” When you pair your passion for craft beer with a degree in Brewing & Fermentation from Penn College, you’ll learn the scientific and technical skills to tap into a rewarding career in this thriving field. Designed by an industry leading brewer with 20+ years of expertise, the innovative Brewing & Fermentation Science curriculum encompasses everything from raw material acquisition and packaging to the final pour.
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Careers
- Brewer
- Cellarperson
- Packaging technician
- Procurement/Inventory manager
Courses
At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.
Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.
- Introduction to Brewing and Fermentation (BRW101)
- Principles of Brewing Science (BRW103)
- Sanitation (FHD118)
- Operations in Brewing Science I (BRW201)
- Brewing and Fermentation Science Internship (BRW269)
- Principles of Management (MGT115)
- Operations in Brewing Science II (BRW202)
- Brewing Technology (BRW250)
- Wines of the World (FHD307) or
- Food Sustainability (FHD312)
- Introduction to Lagers and Ales (FHD226)
- Sensory Evaluation and Analysis of Beer (BRW270)
- Modern Topics in Zymurgy (BRW275)
- Brewing and Fermentation Science Capstone (BRW280)
Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.
- First Year Experience (FYE101)
- Principles of Biology I (BIO108)
- Fundamentals of Chemistry (CHM100)
- Microbiology (BIO201)
- Humanities Elective (HUM) or
- Social Science Elective (SSE) or
- Art Elective (ART) or
- Foreign Language Elective (FOR) or
- Applied Arts Elective (AAE) or
- International Field Experience Elective (IFE)
- Fitness and Lifetime Sports Elective (FIT)
Student Experience
"Learning where every little bit comes from and how everything is done is amazing to me. I want to go to work every day and do this. I want to come to classes to learn this."
William Ernst-Wingfield
Brewing & Fermentation Science
Facilities
Fermentation Facility
Outfitted with equipment just like the pros use, our lab is designed to deliver hands-on experience in fermentation, aging, conditioning, and draft packaging.
Facilities
Dispense Equipment
A lot goes into the craft of brewing before it reaches the glass. But it doesn’t end there. We also have the equipment to perfect dispensing, operation, and maintenance.
Facilities
Quality Control Tools
Assess raw material and final product quality with the help of industry-standard equipment.
Industry Partners
Work with experts to become an expert
Penn College's strong corporate partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.
Related Programs
Follow your passion
Business Management
Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)
Culinary Arts Technology
Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)
Applied Innovation Leadership
Certificate
Student Life
Lead and put your skills to the test
Student Government Association (SGA)
Let your voice be heard! Attend the next meeting to learn what’s new or consider running for a senate seat.
Student Organizations at Penn College
Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.
News
05.22.2020
Brewing instructor offers insights at honors colloquium
Pennsylvania College of Technology’s brewing and fermentation science instructor shared his expertise at Susquehanna University ...
12.19.2019
Brewing instructor delivers talk at Master Brewers Conference
Pennsylvania College of Technology’s brewing and fermentation science instructor joined three other academic colleagues in ...
10.18.2019
High-schoolers preview not-so-distant future at Career Day
Career Day brought hundreds of ninth-12th graders to campus on Thursday to explore more than 30 activities offered by employees ...
Study Abroad
Gain global experience
See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.
Internship
Your knowledge in practice
Our hands-on approach to education means learning through doing. A required internship rounds out the Brewing & Fermentation curriculum, allowing students to expand their knowledge base from raw material acquisition to packaging and dispense.
Student Experience
The community as their classroom
Magazine features member of brewing major’s inaugural class
Chris dabbled in home brewing. Worked as an assistant at a popular local brewery. Now he holds a degree in Brewing and Fermentation Science from Penn College and landed his dream job as header brewer in a State College hotspot.
More Information
Requirements mandate that students must be 21 to complete the final year of the brewing program because the courses involve beer production. Students interested in enrolling in the Brewing and Fermentation Science major who will not be 21 years old by their second year may still enroll in the program. However, they will be strongly encouraged to consider options that would allow them to combine their interest in Brewing and Fermentation Science with another related area of study in order to delay completion of the final year of Brewing coursework until they have reached the required minimum age. This would extend a student’s time beyond two years of study but would ultimately result in earning two degrees. There are many additional majors offered at Penn College that align closely with brewing course requirements and will help students become even more marketable in the growing brewing industry. Some of these majors include but not limited to: Applied Management, Hospitality Management, and Culinary Technology.
The Master Brewers Association of the Americas has recognized Pennsylvania College of Technology's brewing and fermentation science degree as one of only 12 approved programs - and the only approved program in the U.S. Northeast.
This major will follow the transfer standards established by the College. The school dean must approve any exceptions to this policy.
Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.
Visit the Alternative Credit Options page in our Course Catalog for general requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.