Craft Beverages

Bachelor of Science

Built on a foundation of scientific thinking and a focus on business, marketing, and entrepreneurial principles, the Craft Beverages program offers a multi-disciplinary degree to provide students with the knowledge and practical skills for success in the craft beverage industry.

The Craft Beverages program will instill an understanding of legal, ethical, social, and historical aspects of alcohol consumption and a respect for individual and community health. Through classroom and internship experiences, students will learn to apply creativity and scientific knowledge to become well-rounded and responsible practitioners in the craft beverage industry.

Individuals can choose to pursue one of the following Craft Beverages programs.

Bachelor of Science in Craft Beverages degree
Minor in Craft Beverages
Craft Beverages Certificate

Lourdes University students can complete a brewing degree with this program in four years and gain hands-on professional experience through national and international brewery and vineyard internships. Inside the classroom, students will appreciate the extensive courses on artisanship, science, sustainability, and business operations of the craft beverages industry.

In line with the University’s Franciscan values, the curriculum instills in students and future craft beverage professionals the importance of a respectful approach to the industry regarding responsible drinking.

Plan of Study

CRAFT BEVERAGES, BS

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 120

To complete your Bachelor of Science in Craft Beverages degree program, you are required to:

Complete a minimum of 30 semester hours in core and general education courses, and 32 semester hours of 300/400 level courses
Maintain a minimum of 2.0 grade point average for all college level courses
Fulfill the degree requirements in your chosen concentration including the General Education Requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree

Curriculum

Core Courses (42 credit hours)
LUC College Connections Series: 101, 102, 201, and 202
ENG 101 College Composition I
ENG 351 Media Writing OR 352 Professional Writing OR 355 Writing for Science & Health Professions
MTH 212 Statistics
PHL 103 Introduction to Ethics
HST 205 Prohibition
BIO 207 Intro to Public Health
PSY 110 General Psychology
One Enduring Questions course
One Fine Arts course
One Literature course
Two Theology courses

Courses in Major (48 hours)
BUS 101 Business Principles
BUS 201 Accounting I
BUS 203 Management Concepts
BUS 204 Marketing Concepts
BUS 300 Small Business Management
BUS 320 International Business
BUS 330 Legal Environment Business
CHM 140 General, Organic and Biological Chemistry
CHL 140 General, Organic and Biological Chemistry Lab
BIO 201 Principles of Biology I
BIL 201 Principles of Biology I Lab
BIO 335 General Microbiology
BIL 335 General Microbiology Lab
BDW 100 Intro to Brewing Science
BDW 110 Sales, Operations & Technology
BDW 200 Fermentation
BDW 210 Styles & Flavors
BDW 300 Distribution, Packaging, & Quality Control
BDW 350 Advanced Brewing & Distilling
BDW 400 Management & Service
BDW 450 Culture & Pairing

Internships (9 hours)
BDW 290        Brewing/Distilling Internship I
BDW 390        Brewing/Distilling Internship II
BDW 490        Brewing/Distilling Internship III

Allied Requirements (9 hours)
BIO 212 Nutrition
SWK 223 Substance Abuse Perspective
PLS 305 Permits, Licensure, Government Regulations

Diversity & Service Learning Components

CERTIFICATE IN CRAFT BEVERAGES – 24 CREDITS

BDW100 Intro to Brewing Science
BDW110 Sale, Operations, & Technology
BDW200 Fermentation
BDW210 Styles and Flavors
BDW300 Distribution, Packaging, & Quality Control
BDW350 Advanced Brewing & Distilling
BDW400 Management & Service
SWK223 Substance Abuse Perspective & Services

MINOR

Required Hours: 18

BDW 100 Introduction to Brewing Science
BDW 110 Sales, Operations & Technology
BDW 210 Styles & Flavors
BDW 300 Distribution, Packaging & Quality Control
BDW 400 Management & Services
SWK 223 Substance Abuse Perspectives and Services

Students with other majors who are interested in learning about the field of craft beverages can declare a minor. This option may be particularly attractive to some students obtaining Business degrees.

Learning Outcomes

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CRAFT BEVERAGES

Program Learning Outcomes:

Graduates of the program will:

Understand principles of biology, chemistry, and nutrition that underlie human movement and health
Demonstrate effective, ethically grounded, and culturally competent professional skills in exercise science and human performance
Advocate for individual health and a healthy society
Critically evaluate research for evidence-based information
Communicate effectively and work collaboratively within health and exercise settings

Craft Beverages Certificate

Total Credit Hours Required for Certificate: 24

Courses

BDW 100 Introduction to Brewing Science
BDW 110 Sales, Operations & Technology
BDW 200 Fermentation
BDW 210 Styles and Flavors
BDW 300 Distribution, Packaging & Quality Control
BDW 350 Advanced Brewing & Distilling
BDW 400 Management & Service
SWK 223 Substance Abuse Perspectives and Services

Students with other majors or that would like to take courses building a trained skill set to gain employment in the field of craft beverages can declare a certificate.

This option may be particularly attractive to some students obtaining Business degrees.

Craft Beverages Internships

The Bachelor of Science in Craft Beverages program of study includes three internship courses–completed regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Regional Internship Partners

Maumee Bay Brewing Company (Toledo, OH). Maumee Bay Brewing provides a $2,500 stipend and $2,500 scholarship for the internship.
Toledo Spirits (Toledo, OH). Toledo Spirits provides an unpaid internship.

Supporting Partners

Inside the Five Brewing (Sylvania, OH)
Upside Brewing Company (Sylvania, OH)

Craft Beverages Job Outlook

The Bachelor of Science in Craft Beverages program prepares craft brewing and winemaking enthusiasts to pursue successful careers in the industry. Job possibilities include head brewer or winemaker, owner/operator, production or lab manager, quality director, brewery or vineyard sales, marketing director, trade development manager, and more.

The U.S. craft beverage industry has flourished for many years. The growth over the last decade can be attributed to the explosion of craft beer and premium-plus wine segments which particularly appeal to millennials. According to TechNavio, a leading market research company, the U.S. alcoholic beverages market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 3.55 percent from 2017 to 2021.

In recent years, technology has changed consumers’ purchasing habits leading to greater competition within the industry. To realize success and longevity, brewers and vintners must tap into 21st century business practices to appeal to the needs of millennials and other key market segments.

WINEMAKING

Jobs

Winemaking Director
Winemaker
Assistant Winemaker
Lab Manager
Enologist
Cellar Master
Operations Director
Vice President of Sales
Sales Manager
Public Relations Manager
Tasting Room/Wine Club Manager
Vineyard Manager
Top Ranking Sommelier
Sommelier
Restaurant / Bar Manager
Wine Educator

Job Outlook

$43,600 – $200,000 annual salary depending on type of industry job
998,496 jobs in US wineries and vineyards

Winemaking Industry

$220 billion annual US wine market
$36.5 billion annual tax revenue from business, personal and consumption taxes
10,236 US wineries (2018)
1.7 million jobs created and supported by US wine industry

BREWING & DISTILLING

Jobs

Brewer
Head/Senior Brewer
Distiller
Engineer
Quality Assurance
Microbiology Lab Technician
Maltster
Process Manager
Owner/Operator
Manager
Sales & Marketing
Production Brewer
Global Beer Export Manager
Brewing Supply Chain Coordinator

Job Outlook

$50,388 – $70,824 annual salary depending on type of industry job
2.23 million jobs generated by US beer industry
44,495 US brewing jobs created (2010-2017)

Brewing Industry

111+ billion annual US beer market
$63+ billion annual tax revenue from business, personal and consumption taxes
8,863 US breweries (2018)
33 jobs are created that support the beer industry for each US brewery or beer importer
55% of US brewers value an internship with practical experience
263% growth in brewery establishments (2012-2017)
135% increase in employment for brewing industry (2010-2016)

Meet the Director

Dr. Chris Paumi is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Craft Beverage. He injects a wealth of experience and an infectious passion for brewing into the program. Dr. Paumi’s academic journey began with a 1998 Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Chemistry from Gettysburg College, followed by a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Wake Forest University, which he completed in 2003.

Having served as an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky from 2008 to 2015, contributing to leukemia and lymphoma research, Dr. Paumi transitioned to the chemistry department, teaching pre-health courses and brewing science. His brewing venture, Fusion Brewing, launched in 2018 and remained open until 2022.

Joining Samuel Adams in 2022 as a Brewing Supervisor, Dr. Paumi oversaw the organization and operation of entire shifts. Seeking a new challenge, he transitioned to Lourdes University in 2023 to be closer to family and positively impact the Craft Beverage program.

Dr. Paumi aims to collaborate with the community by raising awareness and fostering relationships. Recognizing the importance of preserving traditions while injecting originality, he envisions a dynamic Craft Beverage program. Dr. Paumi is not just brewing beverages; he’s crafting success, community engagement, and a future filled with possibilities. Students and enthusiasts can anticipate a program seamlessly blending tradition with innovation under his expert guidance.

Get hands-on experience in Craft Beverages.

Internship courses are completed regionally, nationally, and internationally.

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