Internships

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Receiving Academic Credit for Internship Experience (ANS 399A)

The Animal Science internship program (ANS 399A) is designed to expand a student's education by including academic credit for a meaningful work experience in the bachelor of science degree program (up to 6 credits can be earned and applied towards a BS degree). The program combines periods of supervised employment and on-campus assignments. 

Internships are important for both the professional and personal growth of the student pursuing the internship.  Below are additional outcomes that can be achieved should students decide to earn academic credit for their summer internship experience:

  • Involve the animal industry in the education of future animal scientists.
  • Allow students to develop the best on-campus/off-campus educational program for their interests.
  • Aid students in making career decisions.
  • Join the efforts of students, faculty, and cooperators in understanding the needs of one another.

Should a student decide to earn academic credit for their internship, here are the necessary steps that need to be completed and are responsibilities of the student:

  1. Contact potential cooperator to determine whether an internship possibility exists.
    • Determine if student and cooperator are interested in entering an employee-employer relationship.
    • Develop outline for internship which will contribute to the intern's educational development. Agree on the amount of time that will be spent on main activities.
    • Arrive at an agreement on terms of employment with cooperator (dates of employment, hours worked, wages and benefits).
  2. Discuss internship with academic advisor in Animal Science.
  3. Contact internship coordinator (Ms. Christen Burgett – cgjacks@iastate.edu) for instructions to fulfill expectations in order to receive academic credit in the internship program (ANS 399A). Apply for admission to the internship program through the internship coordinator. Forms (PDF) as follows:
  4. Notify cooperator in advance when unable to report for work.
  5. In case of emergency, accident, or prolonged illness, report to cooperator and internship coordinator.
  6. Keep internship coordinator informed about the progress on internship objectives and any unresolved issues with internship or cooperator.

Cooperator Responsibilities:

  • Provide student with the opportunity for meaningful educational experience.
  • Guide the intern's experience through regular counseling and evaluation.
  • Participate in evaluation of intern.
  • Contribute to the internship program by suggesting ideas for improvement to the internship coordinator.
  • Meet all responsibilities as outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement.

Gaining Internship Experience

The Department of Animal Science does NOT require its undergraduate students to complete a summer internship in order to graduate; however, a significant majority of Animal and Dairy Science students complete at least one, if not more than one internship prior to graduating from the department. 

Therefore, if you find a summer internship and you DO NOT want to receive academic credit for it, that is absolutely fine and there is nothing more that you need to do.  Be sure to put this internship experience on your resume and be sure to highlight your experience(s) at the career fair.    

If you are assisting a company in establishing an internship for the first time, there is nothing we as a department require in order for that internship to become “official”.  Rather, it is up the company to create and outline the specified duties and tasks that will be performed by the intern and what their expectations are of the intern and what they (the intern) can in turn expect from the company. 

Christen Burgett, Internship Coordinator
109G Kildee Hall
Department of Animal Science, ISU
Ames, IA 50011
Email: cgjacks@iastate.edu