2010 Ice Cream Short Course

Penn State's Ice Cream Short Course is the oldest, best-known, and largest educational program dealing with the science and technology of ice cream. It also is believed to be the first continuing education course in the United States.

Beginning in 1892, when Penn State was known as The Pennsylvania State College, the School of Agriculture offered a class in dairy manufacturing during winter, "when farm work is least pressing and the boys can best be spared." Tuition was free and students were charged $5 in incidental expenses and laboratory fees.

By 1925, ice cream had become so popular that a separate course devoted exclusively to the subject was established. Today, the College of Agricultural Sciences still offers the course in January, which is normally the slowest time for the ice cream industry. The Department of Food Science sponsors this program.

Just about every major ice cream company in the world has a Penn State connection—someone on the staff who has attended the short course or who is a Penn State graduate.