Internships
In the past, students have interned with a variety of agencies and companies, such as the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics encourages all of its majors to consider doing an internship. The internship is an opportunity for the student to experience the real world and explore a career opportunity. Most students will do their internship in the summer between their junior and senior years; however, the experience may be completed during the spring or fall semesters.
An internship is not just a job! The internship experience includes a mentor who assists the student and appreciates and understands his/her role in the business or agency. The mentor answers questions, assigns responsibilities, shares insights, and guides the student during his/her internship.
Some companies and agencies recruit interns on campus (Farm Credit Systems, National Agricultural Statistics Service and Servi-tech). Other companies will provide the job announcements and expect the student to contact them directly. Some students will set up their own internship with a company or in a position that they wish to explore.
The number of credits to be earned from an internship will depend upon the length of the internship and the duties and responsibilities of the intern. Students should coordinate their internship credits with their academic advisor. The internship is graded on a Pass/Fail basis and the student is required to maintain a daily journal, write a report evaluating his/her experience, and secure a letter of evaluation from the mentor.
Internship forms can be secured from the Office of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (B321 Clark). Firms that have provided internship experiences include, but are by no means limited to:
- American Cyanamid
- Bank One
- Cargill
- Elanco Products Company
- Farm Credit System
- Gunnison Savings and Loan
- John Deere
- Monsanto
- National Agricultural Statistics Service
- Norwest Banks
- Servi-tech
- Shakel Ranch
- Walt Disney World