College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Animal Science

Why Complete an Internship?

Internships provide a valuable opportunity to work in an animal-related field while earning MSU credit and enhancing the undergraduate experience. Through this hands-on experience, students apply classroom learning, acquire key skills and build their professional network. Employers seek to hire graduates who have work-related experience, highlighting the importance of an internship.

To complete a professional internship, a few requirements need to be fulfilled to ensure a successful and rewarding experience.

What Qualifies as an Internship?

Internships in any area of animal science qualify if the students are temporarily employed (either paid or volunteer) by an organization. The internship must enable students to build knowledge and practice skills and techniques that are important for success in their future careers.

A few important guidelines:

1. Internships should provide students with a new, off campus, hands-on experience. Employment under supervisors for whom students have worked, volunteered, or shadowed previously are generally not permitted;
2. Internships with relatives are not permitted;
3. Hours must be accumulated under a single internship position and combinations of hours from more than one position are not allowed;
4. Students must commit to a minimum of 10 weeks and 400 hours of work-related experience at the internship to count for ANS 493 credit.

Obtaining an Internship

Students can find internship opportunities through HandShake. Also, students can seek out opportunities independently or with the help of faculty specializing in their species of interest.

Earning Credit for an Internship/ Enrolling in ANS 493

Internships must be pre-approved by the program coordinator, Dr. Miriam Weber Nielsen. An online application form must be completed for approval, including details about the internship responsibilities, learning outcomes and contact information for the employer. Students must identify and secure an internship prior to completing this application. If you have any questions about the suitability of an internship, contact the program coordinator.

Application Link

Please note that students cannot obtain credit for internships that began without prior approval. Once an application is submitted, a student will be contacted with any questions on the details of the internship or with notification that the student has been enrolled in ANS 493 for the desired semester.

Course Requirements

Students enrolled in ANS 493 will complete monthly reports and a final PowerPoint presentation, with guidance from faculty coordinators listed below. In addition, both students and employers must complete forms listing expectations prior to the internship and final evaluations upon completion of the internship. A grade of pass or fail will be assigned upon completion of the requirements.

More questions?

Please contact the internship program coordinator, Dr. Miriam Weber Nielsen (msw@msu.edu).