Flathead Valley Community College Launches Montana's First Brewing Science and Brewery Operations Program

KALISPELL, MT – This fall, Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) will introduce Montana’s first brewing science and brewery operations program to prepare individuals for entry-level careers in the rapidly growing craft beer industry. With only a handful of these programs taught in the nation, FVCC’s program was developed with the input of many local craft brewing businesses to meet the workforce needs at the local and national levels.

According to the Craft Brewers Association, the craft beer industry is growing at a rate of 17 percent annually, currently representing 20 percent of the market share in national beer sales. It is estimated that a new craft brewery opens every 16 hours in the United States and over 115,000 craft brewing industry jobs were created across the nation in 2014. Montana ranks among the top five states in craft breweries per capita.

Students who successfully complete the two-year Associate of Applied Science degree program will have gained practical experience in brewing through coursework and internships at Montana breweries. Graduates will have the skills to demonstrate the fundamental techniques of brewing beer and the understanding of the microbiology and biochemistry concepts involved in beer fermentation. The program also will focus on the production, selection and analysis of brewing materials, including malt and hops; evaluation of beer quality; classification of beer style and characteristics; brewery operations safety; packaging and handling technologies; practical aspects of the brewing process; and business principles, including compliance and licensing.

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Sees Positive Results from Energy Efficiency Program

    The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently announced the results of its Energy Program in Facilities Management, put into place eight years ago, according to a news release. Between the fiscal years of 2017 and 2025, the university’s campus grew by 13.6% while the energy use per square foot dropped by 19.2%.

  • University of Kansas Opens $400M Football Stadium Reconstruction

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently announced that the $400-million reconstruction of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is complete in time for the 2025 football season, according to a news release. The university partnered with Turner Construction Company on the project.

  • Inglewood Unified School District Breaks Ground on New High School

    The Inglewood Unified School District in Inglewood, Calif., recently broke ground on a new campus for Inglewood High School, according to a news release. The project has a budget of about $240 million, funding coming through bond proceeds from Measure I.

  • California School District Starts Construction on Public Safety Center

    The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) recently announced that construction has begun on a new public safety center that will house the district’s safety and security programs. According to a news release, the James Ramos Center for Public Safety will measure in at 17,140 square feet and contain the district’s Police Department, Office of Emergency Management, and cadet program.

Digital Edition