Degree and Certificate Programs at MSU

Students enrolled in the swine management program will develop a greater knowledge of swine enterprise management. The program includes a clerkship requirement which provides a thorough "hands-on" experience with members of farm staff to accomplish day-to-day, standard procedures. The swine clerkship at the MSU Swine Teaching and Research Center is designed to develop skills in modern swine production. In addition to the clerkship, students are required to complete courses with faculty and staff in the Department of Animal Science and a variety of elective areas.

However, learning goes beyond the classroom and the clerkship for the swine management students as they partiicpate in internships. Internships are a form of placement training, compelling students to apply what they have learned in the classroom and through clerkships in real-world situations. They must interact with talented and experienced people in their field, from whom they continue to learn. Internships are an extremely valuable portion of the Ag Tech program, providing students with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the swine industry, along with development of professional skills. In addition, the internship experience earns the students credit toward their certificate.

The undergraduate program in animal science leading to the Bachelor of Science degree is designed to prepare students for a variety of career opportunities in animal agriculture. Graduates may be employed in marketing, agricbusiness, finance, manufacturing or public relations. They may hold positions as extension specialists, as salespersons of products from or for animal agriculture, or as advisers on farm management.

Recognizing the need for skilled employees to meet the labor needs of the Michigan pork industry, the MSU Pork Team is offering a unique jobs training program for perspective employees. The Swine Jobs School will be a blend of classroom instruction, supervised on-farm training and twelve weeks of on-farm work experience. Participants in Swine Jobs School will gain experience in all phases of pork production plus classroom instruction on record keeping, disease and treating disease, feeds and nutrition, venitlation and farm maintenance, and farm communication. See links below for more information and application into this exciting new program!