Introduction to Brewing Science Courses: Comparison of General Studies and Full Program Options

Brewing Science courses have been implemented in many institutions across the country. These courses have included many curriculum options and serve a wide variety of purposes within the departments in which they are housed. The present discussion centers on comparison of courses within a general studies curriculum and within a program in Brewing Laboratory Science. While the differences seem significant at the surface, there is a great deal of overlap between course objectives, student learning outcomes, and interest in these topics. Herein we outline both curriculum and courses within two programs that lie at the extreme ends of the spectrum. Their comparison highlights the students' greater appreciation for the interdisciplinary nature of Brewing Science and for the application of chemistry to 'real-world' problems.