FST3711 Food and industrial microbiology
Faculty of Science
FST3711 Food and industrial microbiology is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2025 in Semester 1 at Malaysia. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 1
- Malaysia
- Assessment
- No exam
- 2 tasks
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Overview
In this unit, you will gain a complex understanding of food as a habitat, the principles involved in microbiological spoilage of foods, microorganisms of public health significance that cause food-borne illness, food safety and aspects of food preservation, useful microorganisms, and microbiological testing of foods. In this unit, we will explore industrial microbiology on how microorganisms are obtained, handled and maintained in producing substances of industrial importance such as vaccines, antibiotics, protein therapeutics, single cell protein and biofuel. You will gain understanding of various fermentation modes, kinetic models and downstream processes of industrial fermentations. Overall, this unit will cover the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to zero hunger, good health and well-being, responsible consumption and production, and affordable and clean energy.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Malaysia | On campus |
Assessment
- Laboratory reportDemonstration70%
- Group reportWritten30%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Analyse the roles and impacts of microorganisms, including probiotics, in food production, spoilage, and food-borne illnesses;
- 2
Analyse and assess the principles of microbiological spoilage, control strategies, and the role and impact of microbiological criteria in food safety within the food industry;
- 3
Investigate the approaches for laboratory identification of microorganisms in food contamination, and provide examples representing the breadth of these identifications;
- 4
Compare and contrast various fermentation processes, and the downstream processes of industrial fermentations;
- 5
Evaluate the application of industrial microbiology for producing new high-value products of commercial importance;
- 6
Assess the contribution of food and industrial microbiology practices towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable development goals.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops9 hours
- Laboratories15 hours
- Lectures36 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Three hours of lectures and
- Seven hours of independent study per week
- Three hours of laboratory (for eight weeks) and
- One hour workshop (for nine weeks)
The unit focuses on the theoretical and practical aspects of food microbiology. During workshops, various case based studies and problem-based learning of food as a habitat, the principles involved in microbiological spoilage of foods, microorganisms of public health significance that cause food borne illness, food safety and industrial microbiology are covered. During practical sessions, you will learn lab-based identification of microorganisms and the role of microorganisms in food production.
Learning resources
Required resources
Lecture notes - PDF files of all lecture notes are provided prior to the lecture presentation and all additional details to it as required.
Lecture recordings - Following the lecture, the recording is uploaded on Moodle for future reference.
Audio-visual recordings - The lecture recording is converted into Panopto recording and uploaded on Moodle for further reference.
Text book for reference - Textbooks are recommended and listed at the start of the unit and you are encouraged to purchase the recommended ones, however this is not compulsory. All required reading materials including reference papers, manuscripts and lab manuals are uploaded on Moodle for you.
Lab demonstrations - The lab manual is complete with all details on every experiment, precautions and procedures. Also, we upload on Moodle systematic details on the procedures as PowerPoint Slides and video recordings for you to better understand the procedures to be followed in the lab.
Where it fits
FST3711 is part of 1 area of study in the 2025 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Choo Wee Sim
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Choo Wee Sim
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for FST3711?
FST3711 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is FST3711 offered?
In 2025, FST3711 runs in Semester 1 at Malaysia.
Does FST3711 have an exam?
No. FST3711 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include FST3711?
FST3711 is part of Applied microbiology.