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. Read more...

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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Program Information

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

Admission Requirements

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

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

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

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements
Graduation Requirements

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ENOL 14600	INTRODUCTION TO ENOLOGY	3
VIN 10510	MOLECULAR PRINCIPLES IN WINE AND BEER	4
VIN 11100	INTRODUCTION TO VITICULTURE AND VINEYARD ESTABLISHMENT	3
VIN 11392	WINTER VITICULTURE FIELDWORK (ELR)	2
VIN 11492	SPRING VITICULTURE FIELDWORK (ELR)	2
VIN 11592	SUMMER/FALL VITICULTURE FIELDWORK (ELR)	2
VIN 21100	INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT	2
VIN 21300	REGIONAL VINEYARD MANAGEMENT	2
VIN 29300	SOILS FOR VITICULTURE	3
Enology (ENOL) or Viticulture (VIN) Electives		8
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
BMRT 11000	INTRODUCTION 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 16001	HORTICULTURAL BOTANY	3-4
or VIN 11200	BOTANICAL VITICULTURE
UC 10001	FLASHES 101	1
Kent Core Composition		3
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning		3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts		3
Kent Core Social Sciences		3
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 60 credits hour)		6
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		60

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements Summary
Minimum Major GPA	Minimum Overall GPA
2.000	2.000

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 One		Credits
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 Hours	15
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 Hours	15
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 Hours	15
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 Hours	15
	Minimum Total Credit Hours:	60

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

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