Wine & Beverage Business Management Major

A major in Wine & Beverage Business Management offers students a unique blend of practical experience and academic excellence. This major is tailored to meet the needs of the premium wine industry, one of the fastest-growing sectors in Washington. Students benefit from WSU’s strong partnerships with local winemakers and the state-of-the-art Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center. The curriculum covers a broad range of topics, including wine production, marketing, finance, and tourism, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for diverse career opportunities. Additionally, the program requires 1,000 hours of industry experience, providing students with invaluable hands-on learning and networking opportunities. This combination of rigorous academics and real-world experience makes it an excellent choice for those passionate about the wine and beverage industry.

The requirements for this major are available on the 2024 WSU Catalog.

Here’s a few exciting classes Wine & Beverage Business majors take:

• HBM 350 Beverage Management
• HBM 381 Hospitality Leadership & Organizational Behavior
• HBM 358 Foodservice Systems & Control
• HBM 490 Food & Beverage Operational Analysis
• HBM 493 Food & Beverage Strategies
• HBM 494 Service Operations Management

Criteria for Receiving Work Credit

• The position must be within the hospitality industry.
• The position must be paid.
• The pre-job placement agreement must be completed and signed by you, your employer, and your faculty coordinator.
• The job must be one that you held after high school graduation. Hours worked while in high school are not eligible for credit.
• Internship hours earned in HBM 298 and HBM 498 do not count toward the requirement.

1,000 Work Hours Required for Hospitality Major
400 Work Hours Required for Hospitality Minor

Steps to Receive Credit for Work:

Step 1: Eligible Work Fields

• Attractions
• Event Planning
• Food & Beverage
• Lodging
• Transportation

Step 2: Pre-Work Checklist

• You must file the pre-job placement agreement form (pdf) to receive credit for work hours. The form is also available in the School for Hospitality Business Management office (Todd Hall, Room 342). This agreement ensures that you are working toward meeting the requirement at a qualifying job.
• File this form before you start your job. If you are already working in, or have completed a job, you still must file a pre-job placement agreement. Complete it yourself. Don’t send the blank form directly to your supervisor. Get signatures on your completed form from three parties: you, your employer, and your faculty coordinator.
• Return your completed and signed form to the SHBM in person, by mail, or by fax. You can return it by email by scanning the original, signed form, and sending it in pdf format.

Step 3: On The Job

• Provide copies of your pay stubs to document your work. If your employer provides pay stubs online, you may print them as long as the website from which they were printed is readily identifiable. For instance, the company name and/or logo should be present, and the website URL should be visible in the footer.
• Document previous work (completed prior to joining the School of Hospitality Business Management) for which you did not save pay stubs, by obtaining copies of your pay stubs from your former employer. If that’s impossible (no fudging—we’ll verify claims of impossibility with your former employer), please visit the SHBM office in Todd 342 to inquire about options.

Step 4: Employer Evaluation

• When you’ve completed your term of employment with the company, please send your supervisor’s business email to SHBM@wsu.edu. We will reach out to them directly with a survey to evaluate your performance as an employee.

Step 5: Submit Your Forms

• EMAIL: shbm@wsu.edu
• In Person: SHBM Office, Todd 342
• By Mail
  • SHBM – Internship Hours
    PO Box 644736
    Pullman, WA 99164-4736

• Event Management Minor
• In addition to a WBBM degree from WSU, other professional certifications can also help you to be more competitive in the job market:
  • Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
  • Napa Valley Wine Academy
  • Court of Master Sommeliers

Learn about the different jobs within the Wine Industry, how to find these jobs, and how to prepare yourself for this vibrant and competitive industry.