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Grapevines at Lareullo Vineyards in Harpersfield, Ohio

Viticulture - A.A.S.

The Viticulture Associate of Applied Science program provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the growing field of wine production. Through a combination of coursework and hands-on experience, you'll learn about the science of winemaking, vineyard management, and marketing. You'll also have the opportunity to participate in internships and cooperative education experiences, allowing you to gain real-world experience in the industry. Whether you're interested in starting your own vineyard or pursuing a career in the wine industry, this program provides you with the foundation needed to succeed.

This program can be completed in its entirety at Kent State Ashtabula.

Ashtabula Campus Contact

Lori Lee
Director, Enrollment Management & Student Services
Suite 110A Main Hall
Phone: 440-964-4217
Email: llee5@kent.edu

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Associate of Applied Science in Viticulture

The Viticulture Associate of Applied Science program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the practice of grape growing and its included agricultural activities. Through a combination of coursework and hands-on experience, you'll learn about the science of growing and caring for grapes, vineyard management, and marketing.

Program Information for Viticulture - A.A.S.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Viticulture provides students with the foundational scientific and mathematical knowledge, practical experiences and technological skills of the cultivation of grapes for making wine. This program emphasizes hands-on experiences and internships at local vineyards and wineries in Ashtabula County.

Graduates are qualified for positions in the commercial winemaking industry as a viticulturist, vineyard manager and assistant vineyard manager.

The A.A.S. degree in Viticulture is offered in consortium with the Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA), a National Science Foundation-funded partnership between the Missouri State University system and colleges, universities, vineyards and wineries across the United States.

Admissions for Viticulture - A.A.S.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

Applications to A.A.S. in Viticulture are not being accepted starting with the spring 2025 admission term.

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Identify and safely use planting, cultivating, spraying and harvesting equipment found in a vineyard.
  2. Identify the various parts of a grapevine and describe the sequential growth cycle of grapevines.
  3. Properly prune grapevines, including calculations regarding the appropriate balanced pruning formula.
  4. Identify and treat major pest, weed and fungus infestations in a vineyard, including preventative treatments.
  5. Perform random sample on vines to predict crop yield and maintain vine balance.
  6. Collect fruit samples and perform lab analyses regarding harvest parameters.
  7. Make decisions regarding vineyard management practices, including planting, pruning, harvest, nutrition, planning and winterization.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ENOL 14600INTRODUCTION TO ENOLOGY 3
VIN 10510MOLECULAR PRINCIPLES IN WINE AND BEER 4
VIN 11100INTRODUCTION TO VITICULTURE AND VINEYARD ESTABLISHMENT 3
VIN 11392WINTER VITICULTURE FIELDWORK (ELR) 2
VIN 11492SPRING VITICULTURE FIELDWORK (ELR) 2
VIN 11592SUMMER/FALL VITICULTURE FIELDWORK (ELR) 2
VIN 21100INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT 2
VIN 21300REGIONAL VINEYARD MANAGEMENT 2
VIN 29300SOILS FOR VITICULTURE 3
Enology (ENOL) or Viticulture (VIN) Electives8
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
BMRT 11000INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS 3
or BMRT 21020 INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BSCI 10002
& BSCI 10003		LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS)
and LABORATORY EXPERIENCE IN BIOLOGY (KBS) (KLAB) 		4
or BSCI 10110 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB)
BSCI 16001HORTICULTURAL BOTANY 3-4
or VIN 11200 BOTANICAL VITICULTURE
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition3
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts3
Kent Core Social Sciences3
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 60 credits hour)6
Minimum Total Credit Hours:60

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
Roadmap

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
BSCI 10002
& BSCI 10003
or BSCI 10110
 LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS)
and LABORATORY EXPERIENCE IN BIOLOGY (KBS) (KLAB)
or BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB)
4
ENOL 14600 INTRODUCTION TO ENOLOGY 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
VIN 10510 MOLECULAR PRINCIPLES IN WINE AND BEER 4
VIN 11100 INTRODUCTION TO VITICULTURE AND VINEYARD ESTABLISHMENT 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Two
BSCI 16001
or VIN 11200
 HORTICULTURAL BOTANY
or BOTANICAL VITICULTURE
3-4
VIN 11392 WINTER VITICULTURE FIELDWORK (ELR) 2
VIN 11492 SPRING VITICULTURE FIELDWORK (ELR) 2
VIN 11592 SUMMER/FALL VITICULTURE FIELDWORK (ELR) 2
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
VIN 21100 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT 2
VIN 29300 SOILS FOR VITICULTURE 3
Enology (ENOL) or Viticulture (VIN) Electives 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
BMRT 11000
or BMRT 21020
 INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS
or INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
3
VIN 21300 REGIONAL VINEYARD MANAGEMENT 2
Enology (ENOL) or Viticulture (VIN) Electives 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:60

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
    • Mostly online
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus

Applications to A.A.S. in Viticulture are not being accepted starting with the spring 2025 admission term.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Viticulture - A.A.S.

Those who complete the Associate of Applied Science in Viticulture at Kent State University can benefit from specialized career opportunities in the grape growing and vineyard management industries.

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

-6.5%

decline

952,300

number of jobs

$68,090

potential earnings

Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders

3.5%

about as fast as the average

53,100

number of jobs

$43,100

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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