The M.S. degree in Viticulture and Enology takes approximately two years of full-time study to complete once you have gained admission. The degree is conferred upon completion of approved courses and a thesis.

Complete course descriptions can be found in the UC Davis General Catalog.

Course offerings can change between printings of the General Catalog--consultation with Faculty and Staff Advisers is essential.

Background Coursework

All students enrolled in the Plan I and Plan II program must complete the following core coursework administered through Viticulture and Enology (28 units total):

VEN 101A - Viticultural Practices (3 units)

VEN 101B - Viticultural Practices (3 units)

VEN 101C - Viticultural Practices (3 units)

(Note: Only two of VEN 101 A,B,C are required)

VEN 123 - Analysis of Musts and Wines (2 units)

VEN 123L - Analysis of Musts & Wines Laboratory (2 units)

VEN 124 - Wine Production (2 units)

VEN 124L - Wine Production Laboratory (3 units)

VEN 125 - Wine Types and Sensory Evaluation (2 units)

VEN 125L - Sensory Evaluation of Wine Laboratory (2 units)

VEN 126 - Wine Stability (3 units)

VEN 126L - Wine Stability Laboratory (2 units)

VEN 128 - Wine Microbiology (2 units)

VEN 128L - Wine Microbiology Laboratory (2 units)

If the Statistics prerequisite has not been fulfilled, one of the two courses below is required as background coursework:

FST 117 - Design and Analysis for Sensory Food Science

STA 106 - Applied Statistical Methods: Analysis of Variance (4 units)

PLS 120 - Applied Statistics in Agricultural Science (4 units)

Required Courses

Plan I students must complete 37 units of the following coursework for depth of knowledge.

VEN 135 - Wine Technology/Winery Systems (4 units)

VEN 224 - Advances in the Science of Winemaking (3 units)

VEN 290 - VEN Graduate Group Seminar (1 unit per quarter – 3 total)

VEN 299 - Graduate Research (27 units)

Emphasis Electives

Plan I may select 9 units of emphasis electives (as approved by the Graduate Advisor and Major Professor).  Students are encouraged to explore graduate coursework outside of Viticulture & Enology but related to their thesis.

VEN 210 - Grape Development and Composition (4 units)

VEN 213 - Flavor Chemistry of Foods and Beverages (3 units)

VEN 215 - Sensometrics (3 units)

VEN 216 - Vineyard Establishment and Development (4 units)

VEN 217 - Field & GIS Evaluation of Soils (3 units)

VEN 219 - Natural Products of Wine (3 units)

VEN 223 - Instrumental Analysis of Must and Wine (4 units)

VEN 225 - Advanced Sensory Analysis of Wines (3 units)

VEN 235 - Winery Design (4 units)

VEN 291 - Advanced Viticulture (2 units)