Experiential Learning Opportunities

The Department of Animal Sciences’ experiential learning credits are designed to expand a student’s education by including meaningful international, research, and/or industry work experience in the Bachelor of Science degree program.

Students are encouraged to explore opportunities that align with their professional goals. Experiential learning allows students the opportunity to gain research- and/or work-related experience while building a professional contact network.

Students earn academic credit (ANSC 379/393/396) for their efforts based on the duration and quality of the experience. The programs combine supervised study abroad, research, employment, or job shadowing with on-campus assignments.

Objective

• Involve the animal industry in the education of future animal scientists.
• Allow students to develop the best on-campus and off-campus educational program for their interests.
• Aid students in making important career decisions.
• Encourage the growth of a student’s professional network.
• Join efforts of students, faculty, and the animal industry in understanding the needs of one another.

Important Considerations

Students are expected to be in good academic standing at NDSU (GPA of 2.0 or higher) before their experiential learning opportunities. Students are encouraged to take an active role in the pursuit of study abroad, research, and/or internship experiences to ensure timely graduation. In general, students in the Department of Animal Sciences complete these experiences between their freshman/sophomore or sophomore/junior year. Students must have completed at least one semester at NDSU prior to their internship.

Students are able to earn ANSC 379 credit by participating in the Department of Animal Sciences’ Herd & Hooves study abroad experience. Students may also participate in study abroad experiences through external companies or institutions.

Herd & Hooves

This is a spring course with approximately two weeks spent abroad led by the Department of Animal Sciences study abroad coordinator. It is typically offered spring of even years. Previous Herd & Hooves experiences have taken place in England, Ireland, and Spain.

Other Study Abroad Experiences

University credits earned through external companies or institutions for study abroad experiences may count toward the required experiential learning credits pending approval of student’s substitution request form. The student must submit a Substitution Request Form and attach a current course syllabus and a link to the organization website(s) providing the course. If the substitution is approved, students will need to provide a departmental presentation. Details about the presentation will be coordinated by the department’s study abroad coordinator or internship coordinator. Failure to complete these requirements will void the substitution agreement.

Contact

All student questions regarding the Herd & Hooves study abroad experience may be sent to the Department of Animal Sciences study abroad coordinator Tara Swanson or 701-231-8865. All other student questions regarding external study abroad experiences may be sent to the Department of Animal Sciences curriculum coordinator Lauren Hanna or 701-231-7636.

To earn ANSC 393 credit, students will need to work with an Animal Sciences faculty member to develop and/or complete an animal science- and/or equine science-related research project.

Contact

Students will need contact the Animal Sciences faculty member in which they have similar research interests with to begin planning an undergraduate research experience in advance to registering for ANSC 393 credit.

Earning ANSC 396 credit is limited to new educational experiences only and credit for previous work-related experience cannot be awarded. Note that an internship will only be recognized if the Internship Agreement was submitted before the hours were worked. Credit for internship experiences will be awarded based on 100 work hours for every one ANSC 396 credit.

Students should register for ANSC 396 credits for the fall semester following their summer internship, or for internships completed during the school year, student may register for credit in the semester in which they complete their internship.

Does the new job or potential opportunity qualify as an internship?

1. Does your job represent new experiences?
2. Will the job encourage professional growth?
3. Does the employer accept the Cooperator’s Responsibilities?
4. Are you and the employer unrelated?
5. Does your academic advisor support the internship experience for credit?
6. Have you completed the Internship Agreement Form? Note that internship hours worked before the completion of the agreement form cannot be recognized for academic credit.

View current opportunities à

The Department of Animal Sciences publishes a weekly newsletter to the undergraduate student listserv (majors only) of current animal science and/or equine science-related internship opportunities. Your academic advisor and the internship coordinator can also help guide to you an opportunity that is meaningful to you. Check out this resource as you begin the search: How to Find an Internship.

If you are struggling to obtain an internship, please reach out to your academic advisor for additional guidance and recommendations.

Internship Timeline

1. Prior to beginning your internship, the student should share the Cooperator's Responsibilities resource with your employer and the Internship Agreement Form must be completed. This DocuSign must be completed prior to the start of your internship experience.
2. During the internship, students will be expected to keep a weekly journal log outlining activities, significant happenings and reflections as detailed in the ANSC 396 Syllabus.
3. To finish the internship program, students will be tasked with a public presentation of their work, a career readiness report, and updating their resumes as detailed in the ANSC 396 Syllabus. Once your internship is completed, the student must initiate the Cooperator Evaluation form to be completed by the internship employer/cooperator.

Contact

All student questions or current employer inquiries may be sent to the Department of Animal Sciences internship coordinator Lydia Trandem or 701-231-5517. Potential internship employer/cooperators should send the position information to the department’s administrative staff (ndsu.ansc@ndsu.edu) so that it can be featured in the weekly newsletters.