精酿啤酒占全国啤酒销量的近8％，并且销量呈指数增长。密歇根州的手工艺酿造业产生了10亿美元的经济影响，使该州的影响力在全美排名第十。西密歇根州在手工艺品方面享有很高的声誉，作为美国第一个可持续手工艺品酿造高等教育计划的所在地，卡拉马祖正在成为这种快速增长的就业和创业现象的教育目的地。该计划由西密歇根大学和卡拉马祖山谷社区学院于2015年推出，提供了许多完成课程的选择，其中包括一个两加二计划，该计划允许您获得KVCC的副学士学位，然后继续攻读理学学士学位，将工业艺术和科学与WMU在可持续发展方面的全国声誉相
Craft brewing has experienced exponential growth during the last two decades and in Michigan contributes around 2 billion and thousands of jobs to the economy. West Michigan has developed a strong reputation for the craft, and as the site of the nation's first higher ed program in sustainable craft brewing, Kalamazoo is becoming an education destination for this rapidly growing employment and entrepreneurial phenomenon.<br><br>Launched in 2015 by Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, the Sustainable Brewing major offers many options for completion, including a two-plus-two plan that allows you to earn an associate's degree at KVCC, then move on to a bachelor's degree that combines industry art, science, and business with WMU's national reputation in sustainability.<br>Launched in 2015 by Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, the Sustainable Brewing major offers many options for completion, including a two-plus-two plan that allows you to earn an associate's degree at KVCC, then move on to a bachelor's degree that combines industry art, science, and business with WMU's national reputation in sustainability.<br>There are two possible tracks in the Sustainable Brewing major. Both include substantial training in sustainability, environmental science, and food and beverage systems.<br>Brewing trackThis rigorous science curriculum was developed with input from an external advisory board that includes members from some of Michigan's top breweries. The program includes coursework in chemistry, general biology, microbiology and fermentation to provide students with advanced training in the science behind good brewing.<br>Brewing Operations trackThis curriculum is focused more on the business side of the industry and includes coursework in accounting, sales, marketing and business operations. It is intended to train students for future careers as business owners or managers.