College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Academics

MSU and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources offer a number of exchange and direct enroll programs in collaboration with its international partners and universities.

Programs range from 4-8 weeks in the summer, as well as semester-long programs in fall and spring.

If you have questions or would like to receive additional information about any of the following programs, contact Rhonda Crackel crackel@msu.edu.

Partner Universities & Programs

Austria

On the exchange program at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, Austria, students can take classes framed by BOKU’s commitment to: 

• Conservation and development of protection for habitats and the economic market,
• Management of natural resources and the environment, and
• Protecting food and health.

Because of BOKU’s academic calendar, MSU students can study there only during spring semester.

Australia

James Cook University (JCU) is Australia’s leading university in the tropics. Ranked in the top 5% of universities worldwide, its main campuses are located in the northern Queensland cities of Townsville and Cairns, between the World Heritage listed rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. JCU is recognized around the world for its expertise in marine biology, environmental studies, tropical health and tourism.

Costa Rica

At EARTH University in Costa Rica, students can study abroad for a semester (instruction in Spanish), or spend 2-10 weeks during the summer studying agriculture, sustainability, and community engagement (instruction in English). Students will experience firsthand EARTH’s core values of human development, academic excellence, ethical behavior, sustainable development, social consciousness, the search for knowledge and biodiversity conservation.

France

On the summer exchange program at Ecole d’Ingénieurs de PURPAN in Toulouse, France, students learn about European agriculture and agri-economics, then select a study track of food or viticulture and enology (wine and vine). Classes span 4 weeks, then students have the option of a 4-week experiential-learning placement at a farm, vineyard or winery.

The summer program, Culinary Sciences for Health Benefits: From Field to Plate, at UniLaSalle in Beauvais, France, is an intensive interdisciplinary program that integrates culinary arts, health science and professional practice. Students complete 4 weeks of coursework on the UniLaSalle campus, then are placed on 4-week internship on a farm or vineyard, in a culinary research laboratory, cheese dairy or traditional bakery. Placement in the kitchen of a gourmet restaurant may be possible for students with previous restaurant kitchen experience and French language competency. NOTE: This program is not available to MSU students in summer 2022.

Ireland

The CANR exchange with the University College Dublin (UCD) allows students to take courses primarily within UCD’s School of Agriculture and Food Science. Coursework in the school spans the food chain from farm to fork with focus on:

• Production Agriculture;
• Agribusiness and Rural Development;
• Agri-Environment and Sustainable Resource Management, and
• Food Science and Nutrition.

 Students may also complete additional coursework such as ISS and IAH or other classes of interest.

Northern Ireland

The College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), located in Northern Ireland, has three campuses each with a specialized focus of study:

• Enniskillen for equine studies;
• Greenmount for animal science, crop and soil sciences, and horticulture (including landscape management and sports turf management) studies; and
• Loughry for food science and human nutrition, agribusiness management, and food industry management studies.

CAFRE offers semester-long programs at all three campuses and a 6-week experiential learning program in the summer at the Greenmount campus. Programs are open to undergraduate students and students in the Institute of Agricultural Technology. The summer program focuses on animal science (dairy, cattle, sheep), horticulture and the environment.

Netherlands

During a semester at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, MSU students can select upper-level courses taught  in English from a number of subject areas including animal and plant sciences, organic agriculture, food technology, nutrition and health, biosystems engineering, environmental economics, forest and nature conservation, landscape architecture and environmental sciences.

New Zealand

At Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand, students can select courses from several areas of specialization including: Agriculture, Horticulture and Viticulture; Agribusiness; Environment; Food Science, Brewing and Enology (wine making); Landscape Architecture; Tourism Management. MSU students typically study abroad from late February through June during Lincoln’s fall semester.