Students will have the opportunity to pursue an advanced degree in viticulture and enology at Washington State University beginning this fall, according to a June 2 announcement. The program will be offered through the university’s Tri-Cities campus.
Jean Dodson Peterson, founding chair of WSU’s Department of Viticulture and Enology, said, “The wine industry increasingly recognizes the need for a workforce with deeper education, stronger scientific understanding, and the critical thinking skills required to address complex challenges, from climate change to shifting consumer preferences. This is the right time for us to lean into that need. An advanced degree in viticulture and enology fills an important gap and will help strengthen the future of the industry.”
Previously, students could earn a master’s degree in either food science or horticulture with some coursework relevant to wine science. The new curriculum focuses more specifically on Washington’s wine grape growing region and climate while maintaining collaboration with related departments. Dodson Peterson said, “Our team is excited to continue engaging as affiliate faculty in horticulture. This is not about creating a new silo. It is about strengthening our college by building on existing partnerships and creating new opportunities for collaboration.”
The curriculum was developed using survey feedback from current graduate students, recent alumni, and industry members. Students can choose concentrations in enology (the science of winemaking), viticulture (grape growing), or both.
Kristina Kelley, executive director of the Washington State Wine Commission—which partnered closely with WSU—said: “Building on the legacy of pioneers like Walt Clore and Chas Nagel, the Washington wine industry continues to advance through a commitment to research and education. This program represents an important step forward in that tradition… The industry will benefit from a growing pool of highly trained professionals with specialized technical expertise who understand how to collect and analyze vineyard and winery data to support informed, fact-based decision-making.”
Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, said: “The viticulture and enology department’s dedication to the thoughtful development of this degree is commendable… I’m eager to witness the many new opportunities it will offer.”
Core courses include science writing workshops; seminars focused on career development; statistics classes covering experimental design; as well as electives tailored toward individual research interests within viticulture or enology fields.
Dodson Peterson concluded: “A graduate degree teaches students how to think critically and solve problems while instilling in them a passion for lifelong learning… Our department focuses on conducting research in industry settings… I hope the changes we are making… will have a lasting impact on economic sustainability of the wine and grape industry in Washington and beyond.”
