Experiential Learning and Work Experience Opportunities

Experiential learning experience opportunities are available for internships, research experiences, and study abroad programs. This provides an excellent mechanism to explore various career options. Advisers will work with students to place them in the food industry, in community-education settings and in research laboratories, for example. Summers between the second and third years of college provide good opportunities for these internships. One search approach is to enter "Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship" (SURF) into Google, and you will find thousands of potential opportunities. Students MUST plan early to arrange an experience learning experience. It usually takes 3 to 6 months lead time to arrange off-campus activities. 

Students have participated in several off campus experiential learning experiences with some examples listed below:             

  • Global Food Systems and Health Study Abroad - Italy and Spain
  • ThornApple Valley in Grand Rapids - Nutrient labeling calculations
  • Amway in Grand Rapids - Food product research
  • Neogen Corporation - Lansing
  • Michigan Extension Service
  • Michigan Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services
  • Kellogg's Company - Battle Creek
  • Kraft Foods – Chicago

Work Experience

Faculty in human nutrition often hire undergraduate students to work in their laboratories.  Opportunities are available sporadically, so again students must plan early and be somewhat flexible. Contact individual faculty members to express interest. The Career Services Network provides a listing of on campus part-time jobs.

Undergraduate Learning Assistant Program

This program in Food Science and Human Nutrition is available to provide opportunities for mature, accomplished undergraduate students to assist FSHN faculty in teaching a professional course. Please contact your academic adviser for further details if you have interest in this experience.

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