Auburn University has expanded the brewery science program to include a master’s of science degree. Not only is it one of the first degrees of its kind, the program is also completely online.
The program began with the graduate certification for brewery science, but expanded to include a master of science degree in 2021.
It is intended to attract the average homebrewer looking to take their first steps into brewing as a career. Drew Kostic, who obtained a graduate certification from Auburn in 2017, spoke on this.
“It fit my lifestyle perfectly," Kostic said. “I could continue to work full time, make money while changing my career and ultimately my life."
Kostic spoke about how he believes this is one of the main selling points of the degree, as it allows full-time workers from around the world the ability to complete it.
“People from across the globe come to Auburn virtually," Kostic said. "There was a German student in my graduating class."
Kostic also believes that Auburn is not only one of the only schools offering a degree like this but that the program itself is amazing.
“I wanted it so badly, but normally it is such a difficult transition going from home brewing to commercial brewing," Kostic said. “There’s so much more you need to learn and this program was the only one I saw out there that truly goes through all the steps that I needed”.
In addition to Kostic, Clark Danderson, a professor within the program, gave a small history of its humble beginnings.
“Martin O’Neal and Richard Bird were the original advocates of a program like the one we have today,” Danderson said. “They wanted to approach it from an online perspective to allow for flexibility where it was lacking in the field.”
The program itself contains 18 credit hours for a graduate certification and 33 for the master of science. The classes range from the science side, such as brewery science and microbiology, to the business side, with beer distribution and facilities operation.
There has already been a wild success within the program, including Kostic himself, who won a Ruppert’s Cup award while brewing in New York City. He now resides in Auburn and works as head brewer for New Realm Brewing Company and affiliated professor for the program he graduated from.
“There is nothing I could be more honored to be doing,” Kostic said. “It’s scary, I get it, that was me. Spread the gospel, come talk to me."
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Carrington Romanick is a junior from Helena, Alabama majoring in law and justice. She joined The Plainsman in August 2023.
