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Shoki Hirano had a transformative experience at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University, ranked in the top 4% worldwide among other agriculture institutions. He’s originally from Japan, came to Iowa State to study animal science, moved on to work in the swine industry for six years, and is coming back for his master’s.
“I came to the US not knowing the language or culture well, but through my time of study in this department, I learned how to communicate effectively as well as how the system works in this culture. Also, I learned how I can best fit in this industry,” Hirano said.
Stories like Hirano’s are common at the Department of Animal Science. Whether students graduate from its two undergraduate majors in Animal Science and Dairy Science, minors, pre-veterinary track, or graduate programmes, many are grateful for how their programme shaped them for future success.
“Placement of ISU Animal Science and Dairy Science students is consistently near 100% each year with graduates pursuing a diverse array of careers along with impressive starting salaries,” says Mike Gaul, Director of Career Services for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
These are five more reasons to study at Iowa State’s Department of Animal Science.
Students get to work on various farms across different species. Source: Iowa State University
An experiential curriculum
Educational farms related to animal science stretch across 450 acres of land at Iowa State, enriching your learning experience with industry-level natural, technological, and human resources used in farm management. Having such exposure and experience equips you with the skills needed to make you highly employable and gives you an edge over other graduates.
You can learn about cattle production using actual, live cattle from the Beef Teaching Farm through undergraduate classes, as a student employee in the expansive dairy farm (which produces milk later sent to Midwestern grocery stores) or through a certificate programme specific to this species. The department offers certificate programmes in Beef Cattle Production Management, Swine Production Management, Equine Science and Management, Poultry Production Management, and Dairy Cattle Production Management.
A gateway to job opportunities in Iowa
Getting real experience in the animal agriculture industry helps you navigate potential career paths to pursue. Addison Randall, a senior in animal science and agricultural communication, realised she wanted an “outward facing and interactive communications career in the livestock industry” after her internship with Elanco Animal Health. She worked on various projects; realised the diverse duties in a sales role, and found a love of interacting with producers and feed mills.
“My experience in the Swine Business allowed me to understand the most important values of producers: personalised connection, attentive follow-through, and not being afraid to get your hands dirty to help solve a problem,” Randall says.
When you move to Iowa to study animal or dairy science, you’re planting yourself in a prime state for agricultural production in the US. Students typically complete multiple summer internships before graduating, and the best part is you can earn academic credit alongside hands-on experience. Iowa State students are in demand, and they’ve worked practically everywhere — veterinary clinics, dairy farms, food production, and more.
Full suite of support for students
If there’s one thing you should know about CALS, it’s that they’re dedicated to your success. The college is a web of industry connections, with faculty and staff members often bringing in industry speakers to help students expand their professional network. It’s one of the ways they support you, alongside one-on-one advising with faculty members, study spaces with guidance from teaching assistants, tutors, and peer mentors, and so much more.
The highlight of the year, however, is the CALS Career Day. It’s the biggest one for the industry in the US, attended by 293 organisations last year. That’s how Randall landed her internship in the first place. For aspiring veterinarians looking to pursue food animal medicine, CALS offers more direct career support through a partnership with the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine for the “Production Animal – Veterinary Early Acceptance Programme.”
The Department of Animal Science hosts several clubs and organisations for students to cultivate their life skills beyond academics. Source: Iowa State University
Undergraduate research opportunities
One of Hannah Lanphere’s proudest moments in university was stepping outside her comfort zone to conduct research work with Dr. Christopher Tuggle’s severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) pig labs. “I’m glad I wasn’t afraid to try new things,” she says. “I did not enter Iowa State with a significant amount of animal experience. It was out of my comfort zone to do undergraduate research. I have grown so much as a person because of it.”
There’s even an Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) Programne, where outstanding juniors and seniors can pursue graduate study through paid, hands-on experience in a formal research environment.
“The department offers fantastic research opportunities – different faculty, different species, and different research areas,” says faculty member David Rosero. “We also have industry partners that help expose students to commercial facilities, which is also part of what we can offer.”
Rosero, an assistant professor, is originally from Ecuador and had worked with a swine production company before coming to teach at Iowa State. Now, he’s conducting research on swine nutrition and how technology can be used to help with labour shortage in the industry
Clubs and student organisations for everyone
There are plenty of clubs and student organisations for you to get involved with at CALS. There are those focused on physical sports (equestrian club, rodeo club), an animal science and dairy-centred quiz bowl team called the Academic Quadrathlon, and volunteering opportunities for future animal health and or veterinary practitioners through Veterinarians Without Borders, to name a few.
Whichever you choose, you’ll learn the value of leadership and growing not only personally but professionally as well. From travelling the nation to meeting VIP’s in the agriculture industry or just having a good time with new friends, these clubs and student organisations are how many graduates have made a lifetime of great memories.
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