Blue Turf Thinkers: Beer and Wine Studies Certificate partners with local businesses, gives students a competitive edge

At each Boise State home football game, the "Blue Turf Thinkers" series honors outstanding groups and initiatives on the world-renowned Blue Turf.

The Nov. 1 game honored faculty and staff from the College of Innovation and Design's Beer and Wine Studies Certificate. The flexible nine-credit certification program offers a mix of in-person and online classes that introduce students to the dynamic world of beer, wine and beverage service through both coursework and hands-on experience. Students of any major can enroll in these classes - in most cases, the only prerequisite is being of legal drinking age.

According to a 2025 study, the wine industry alone contributes nearly $1.95 billion to Idaho's total economic activity. Amanda Ryan, assistant dean of the College of Innovation and Design and director of the Beer and Wine Studies program, believes her classes give students a competitive edge for Idaho jobs.

"I've had students just take one of the courses and be able to get a job instantly at a brewery," Ryan said. "It gives them a lay-up in the market."

The Beer and Wine Studies Certificate partners with more than 30 local businesses to ensure that students' coursework is real-world-applicable. Internships offered through the program cater to students' unique interests and goals, from brewing to social media marketing.

Taya Medellin, a senior political science major from Idaho Falls, has taken two beer and wine courses: BWS 310: Fundamentals of Wine and Winemaking, and BWS 300: Fundamentals of Craft Beer and Brewing. While Medellin won't be pursuing a career in the beverage industry right away, she feels that the knowledge she's gained about fermentation and wine pairings will help her connect with colleagues in her future career. She hopes to work for the United Nations after graduating from Boise State.

"I'm going to go all over the world for my job," Medellin said. "Drinking is very customary, very traditional in a lot of places. … Knowing the area that different wines and grapes come from, knowing how to choose a good bottle of wine, I feel like it's a life skill."

Medellin has also found ways to incorporate her knowledge at home. A recent final project tasked students with creating wine pairings of their own; Medellin paired McDonald's menu items with various affordable wines.

"My whole thing was like, making a wine pairing under $20, because wine can be so inaccessible," Medellin said. "I paired the Filet-O-Fish with a Vinho Verde from Trader Joe's, and it was insane. It was so good. It made [the sandwich] taste so bright and citrusy."

Learn more about the Beer and Wine Studies Certificate, including a full list of course offerings.

Share This

• Share on Facebook
• Share on X
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share through Email