Southern Illinois University in Carbondale has a new accredited degree in fermentation science to train future brewers, distillers and vintners.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education approved the new Bachelor of Science degree in March. Matt McCarroll, director of the Fermentation Science Institute at the university, says students will start the major in the summer.
McCarroll said in a news release that rapid growth in craft brewing has led to demand for fermentation scientists with scientific training and coursework focused on brewing science. He says students will be “well prepared” to get jobs.
According to McCarroll, fermentation science involves chemistry, plant biology, microbiology and agricultural sciences.