Students looking to gain a swine-centered education now have innovative options through Iowa State University’s animal science department. There are two pathways with multiple options for how to engage in the educational opportunities with a specific swine career focus:
Swine Management Certificate
Future leaders of the swine industry now have a roadmap at Iowa State University through the swine management certificate option, provided to students at no additional cost.
Choosing from a list of courses including animal feeding, farrowing management, swine health and biosecurity and entrepreneurship in agriculture, to name a few, students have industry-specific coursework options.
“The idea behind this certification was to position students for a productive transition to become swine industry professionals,” Justin Chapman, student services specialist in the animal science department, said in a recent Iowa State article.
Students enrolled in this option while obtaining a bachelor’s degree in animal science can expect to graduate on the same timeline as fellow students and may stand out above others when seeking employment within the industry.
One of the highlights of the program includes the swine internship experience.
“The internship is very beneficial because it allows you to gain experience from industry professionals. The time spent from the internship will be one of the most rewarding experiences a student can have and will help students in the long haul while continuing their Iowa State journey,” Chapman said.
This program will join similar programs focused on beef, poultry and equine within Iowa State University’s animal science department.
Swine Science Online
Meeting the needs of undergraduate students and experienced farmers alike, the Swine Science Online program administered by the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence offers a distance education option for specialized training in the swine industry.
This program connects students and instructors from across the country at Iowa State University, North Carolina State University, South Dakota State University and the University of Missouri. Purdue University and Kansas State University were also part of the initial collaboration.
“The online delivery system serves as an educational and training resource for current and future pork professionals while allowing them to work full time and take courses when it is convenient for them,” said a recent Iowa State University article.
Courses are constructed to be applicable to an undergraduate degree, industry certificate and professional development with the central goal of helping more academically trained individuals enter the swine industry, said the article.
“My biggest advice for someone enrolling in the program is to get involved,” said Laura Greiner, assistant professor in animal science at Iowa State University. “Fully submerse yourself by building a relationship with the professors and industry professionals you meet. Take the initiative and make the most of it. You are working with industry’s best professionals across all sectors of the swine industry, so use that to your advantage.”
Iowa State University’s innovation in education aims to benefit the industry in preparing students to be academically trained swine professionals.
