Matt McCarroll, director of the Fermentation Science Institute at the university, says students will start in the major in the summer.

McCarroll said rapid growth in craft brewing has led to demand for fermentation scientists with scientific training and coursework focused on brewing science.

According to McCarroll, fermentation science involves chemistry, plant biology, microbiology and agricultural sciences. He said programs similar to the one at Southern Illinois University are concentrated on the West Coast.

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/southern-illinois-university-add-major-in-brewing/