Fermentation Science
Major
Department of Chemistry
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Career Opportunities
There is an increasing demand for trained
employees with a background in fermentation
science and the related scientific disciplines,
as evidenced by the large growth in the
fermentation industry in the Great Lakes
region and nationwide.
Fermentation
is the process by
which organisms
convert
carbohydrates
into energy and
other by-products in the absence of oxygen.
The term ‘fermentation’ is commonly used to
refer to the production of alcohol from sugars,
such as in the production of beer and wine, but
fermentation is also present in many other
common processes, such as the leavening of
bread and the production of sauerkraut.
Fermentative processes are also used in the
production of non-food products, such as
biofuels and pharmaceutical products.
As the market for these products has
increased, so has the need for trained and
knowledgeable college graduates to fill
scientific positions in these rapidly growing
industries. This program brings together
subjects from multiple disciplines (primarily
Chemistry and Biology) and places them in
the context of the science of fermentation and
its practical application.
This major is
designed for both
traditional
students and for
those already
working in the
fermentation industry who are interested in
strengthening their skills and credentials to
move up in the industry or to bring expertise
back to their own business. Graduates of this
program will have a wide range of laboratory
skills related to chemistry, biochemistry, and
microbiology and will be well qualified for
positions across the fermentation industry,
including quality control/quality assurance,
staff scientist, production management, and
many others.
Departmental Points of Interest
• Research/Internships. The major is
concluded with a senior capstone project or
internship experience (FERM 480/485). The
goal of the capstone is to provide you an
opportunity to integrate what you have learned
during your coursework towards a real
problem in collaboration with a community
partner or a faculty member.
• Facilities. Between 2009 and 2012, the
Mark Jefferson building was expanded and
completely renovated. The finished Science
Complex features interactive, technologicallymodern classrooms, state-of-the-art teaching
and research labs, and dedicated student
study/interaction areas. The completed
Science Complex received LEED® Gold
certification as an exemplary example of a
‘green’ building. Pictures of our facilities are
available on our department website:
www.emich.edu/chemistry/facilities.
• Honors Courses. Even before EMU had
an Honors program, the Chemistry
Department has offered Honors sections of
popular courses. Every year, these include
General Biology I, General Chemistry I and
II, and Introduction to Analytical Chemistry.
Courses in other departments are also
regularly offered as Honors sections, such as
General Biology and Genetics.
• Evening Courses. It is anticipated that
several of the 400-level FERM courses will be
delivered in the evening. The required CHEM
courses are also offered in the evenings on a
regular schedule to accommodate
nontraditional students.
• Speakers. The department’s visiting
speaker program gives students a chance to
listen to professionals discuss the latest
research. Most speakers reserve time to talk to
students before or after these events.
Suggestions about Math
If you are
planning a
career in any
area of
science or
technology,
start your
math courses as soon as possible, and go as far
as possible. Calculus is the language of choice
whenever people get serious about describing
quantitatively how something depends on
changes in something else. That includes
business and the social, biological, and
physical sciences.
Faculty
Faculty members are approachable: We all
took our jobs because we enjoy helping
students, and an open door usually means
we’re “interruptible.” These approachable
faculty members—not teaching assistants—
will teach all your chemistry courses.
Dr. Cory Emal is an organic and
medicinal chemist with a strong background in
the chemistry of beer. Trained and certified as
a beer judge through the Beer Judge
Certification Program (BJCP), he has received
formal training through the Siebel Institute of
Technology and is a member of American
Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC), the
Ann Arbor Brewer’s Guild (AABG) and the
American Homebrewer’s Association (AHA).
Dr. Gregg Wilmes is an organic and
polymer chemist with a background in food
fermentation, especially bread and aged
sausage production.
Scholarships
Each year, the Chemistry Department
awards a number of scholarships to chemistry
majors at every academic level. Our website
www.emich.edu/chemistry/scholarships
contains additional information and links to
other College and University scholarships.
Recommended Course Sequence:
Year Term Courses
Fall
CHEM 121/122 (General Chemistry I)
FERM 101 (Intro to Ferm Sci)
Start Taking Math*
Winter
BiO 110/111 (Introductory Biology I)
CHEM 123/124 (General Chemistry II)
Fall
BIO 301(Genetics)a
CHEM 270 (Fund of Organic Chem)b
CHEM 271 (Organic Chemistry Lab)b
CHEM 281 (Intro to Analytical Chem)
1
2
BIO 425 (Microbiology)a
Winter FERM 385 (Analysis of Ferm Products)c
MATH 120 (Calculus I)*
Fall
3
CHEM 351 (Fund of Biochemistry) d
FERM 421 (Sensory Analysis of Ferm
Products)e
PHY 221 (Mechanics Heat & Sound)
Electiveg
BIO 305 (Cell & Molecular Biology)a
BIO 306W (Cell & Molecular Lab)a,f
Winter
FERM 431 (Fermentation in Foods)e
Electiveg
4
Fall
FERM 425 (Frm Beverage Production)e
FERM 480 (Capstone Seminar)
FERM 485 (Cap Project/Internship)
Electiveg
Winter Electiveg
*Begin taking math courses as soon as possible. STAT
170 (Statistics) can be substituted for Calculus I.
a. Completion of BIO 110/111, or equivalent
coursework, is required for fermentation science
students to obtain biology departmental permission for
required 300- and 400-level biology courses.
b. CHEM 371/372/373 may be substituted by those
who want a stronger background in organic chemistry.
c. CHEM 381W or CHEM 481 can be substituted for
FERM 385 with permission of the program coordinator.
d. CHEM 451 may be substituted for CHEM 351.
e. FERM 441 or HRM 150 can be substituted for this
course.
f. CHEM 453 (Biochem Lab) can be substituted for BIO
306W.
g. Choose 12 credits of electives from any other FERM
courses not taken above, BIO 306W, CHEM 452, 453,
HRM 103, 180, 251, 340, 376, 385, 470, 485, ACC
240, MET 314.
Other Departmental Programs:
Professional Biochemistry:
This program prepares students for graduate
study or a research career in biochemistry,
particularly the pharmaceutical industry. It is
often selected by students in pre-medical and
pre-dental programs.
General Biochemistry:
This major prepares students for entry level
technical positions in biochemistry, particularly
in the pharmaceutical industry. It is often
selected by students in pre-medical, pre-dental
and pre-pharmacy programs.
Professional Chemistry:
This program, which meets American
Chemical Society requirements, prepares
students for careers as professional chemists.
Graduates are prepared to enter technical
positions in industry and governmental research,
or to undertake graduate study in chemistry.
General Chemistry:
This major prepares students for entry level
technical positions in the chemical industry and
related careers in business, patent law, technical
writing, or industrial health and safety. It may
also be selected by students for careers in
secondary education or health fields, such as
medicine, dentistry and pharmacy.
Want to learn more?
For more information contact: 734.487.0106
E-mail: Dr. Cory Emal cemal@emich.edu
Dr. Gregg Wilmes gwilmes@emich.edu
Visit us on the Web:
www.emich.edu/chem
istry/fermsci
2-05-16