• Get hands-on practice in laboratories, vineyards, and wineries.
• Washington state is the nation's second-most productive wine region, and Washington wines have an international reputation for high quality.
• Learn from professors who are national and international experts in viticulture and enology.
• WSU's agricultural and plant science research is ranked #2 in the nation based on the number of scientists who cite WSU's professors in their work.
• Benefit from the combined expertise of WSU faculty in Pullman, TriCities (Richland), and Prosser.
• WSU is nationally known for its strengths in organic/sustainable agriculture, soil science, and plant science.

Core courses

To build a foundation in the science and technology of viticulture and enology, you'll take core courses like these:

• Intro to Plant Physiology
• Vines and Wines
• Vineyard and Winery Equipment Systems
• Viticulture and Small Fruits
• Soil: A Living System
• Advanced Viticulture
• Intro to Biochemistry
• Chemistry and Biochemistry of Fruit and Wine
• Sensory Evaluation of Food and Wine

Electives

Focus on your particular interests and develop in-depth expertise by taking courses like these.

Enology

• Wine Microbiology and Processing Lab
• Food Microbiology
• Food Chemistry
• Food Processing
• Food Analysis
• Advanced Food Technology
• Postharvest Biology and Technology

You can also get course credit — and priceless experience — for doing a winemaking project in a commercial winery.

Viticulture

• Irrigation Systems and Water Management
• Advanced Cropping Systems
• Plant Propagation
• Harvesting and Processing Technology
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Environmental Soil Chemistry
• Soil Fertility
• Analysis Methods for Soil-Plant-Water Systems
• Geospatial Analysis

Internships

The viticulture and enology program also includes an internship that gives you hands-on experience in vineyards and wineries in the state of Washington — an area that stands among the best wine-producing regions in the world.

Graduation requirements

See the WSU Catalog for degree requirements and talk with your academic advisor about planning and scheduling your courses. All students must meet requirements as outlined in the catalog in order to graduate.

A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs.

For all students at WSU

Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.

To get all the financial help WSU can provide, start by doing these two things:

• Complete the University's general scholarship application so you can be eligible for scholarship consideration.
• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) so WSU can consider you for aid (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) based on financial need.

Click here for more info about WSU scholarships and financial aid

For viticulture and enology majors

The College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) annually awards more than $550,000 to students. For more information, see the CAHNRS scholarships page.

• Interest in becoming part of a vital, growing industry in grape and wine production and wine marketing.
• Interest in a science-based and practical four-year degree program.
• Interest in research and development opportunities in the wine industry.

Students who graduate with a major in viticulture and enology can expect to contribute their skills immediately in the grape and wine industry.

The wine industry is one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the Washington state agricultural economy. In 1998 Washington surpassed New York as the second largest wine-producing state in the nation with a total economic impact of $8.6 billion in 2012, and Washington wines have acquired an international reputation for their quality.

For more information visit the Washington Wine Commission and the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers. Also, check this report on The Economic Impact of Washington State Wine and Grapes.