The Ongoing Saga of My "Brewing Degree".

[Airborneguy]

It's one of the colleges of the State University of NY. What I am doing is a little outside-of-the-box for them according to my mentor, but they have a PhD professor who has studied brewing from all angles and has been a home brewer since 1978, so he is guiding all of my studies.

It's not as crazy as it sounds. Think in terms of a one-on-one distance class. I propose what I want to study and the professor creates an individual curriculum for the semester based on our discussions. We are in contact weekly over the phone and through their online class portal, Angel. My mentor helps me create an overall degree plan which has to be approved by the college board. All of my pre-reqs were done at a 'traditional' college over the last 3 years.

As far as this particular degree being worth anything in the job market, brewing-wise at least, it definitely won't get me a brewmaster job, but it would be perfect for a history teaching position if I go that route, or in conjunction with Cicerone training, it will set me up for opening the beer-oriented restaurant I'm planning at some point with a chef friend of mine, giving me "credentials" to show investors.

Right now, it's more for fun, burning up what's left of my GI Bill, and accumulating the required credits for promotions in my current job. I'm very close to 6 figures now (soon to be well over), so this isn't like some out-of-the-box, desperate attempt to get into the job market

 

[Airborneguy]

Just finished up my rationale essay, a requirement to get my degree plan certified. The next step will be convincing the board that I already know enough about ingredients and recipe formulation for it to be worth some credits. I'm also going to try for credits on the various styles and their historical backgrounds.

Currently, I'm taking a traditional online class on the Cultural Aspects of Food and Drink. Of course my focus will be beer I have decided on a specific topic for my research paper yet, though I am considering the German culture.

 

[montanagray]

All you have to do is convince your VOC REHAB Counselor that they need to is vendorize the school and it will get approved if the school wants to participate in the GI BILL or VOC REHAB. Just go thru the motions when you apply for VOC REHAB in the VA and work with the counselor and not against them. Kind of like marketing your new beer.

gfmontana