Study Abroad

Over the years, Animal Science students have enriched their Cal Poly education through experiences abroad, whether a state away or across the world.

Why study abroad as an Animal Science major?

Studying abroad in any major provides students with a unique opportunity. As an Animal Science major, studying internationally has given students the opportunity to work with a variety of animals native to other habitats, as well as explore specific areas of study in depth or within a different learning system.

 

Learn about the studying abroad in an interview with an Animal Science senior:

Anna Jelks-Senior Animal Science major, Sustainable Agriculture minor

Where did you study abroad?

Thailand and New Zealand.

What are some of the things you studied while abroad?

In Thailand, my learning integrated education about Thailand with the regular curricula at Cal Poly. For example, I took a literature of Thailand class and sociology classes that counted as GEs. In New Zealand, I took classes like sheep production, plants and agriculture, and reproduction and lactation physiology.

How did your experience supplement your education in Cal Poly Animal Science?

Studying abroad put me out of my comfort zone. By putting myself in a new situation, I was encouraged to grow and evolve. Even more so though, learning about other cultures allowed me to take what I learned from Thailand and animal science in New Zealand and bridge it over to my animal science education here.

What advice would you offer a current student interested in studying abroad?

I would definitely encourage studying abroad but not necessarily out of the country. You could also study in California at another university or in Arizona or Georgia. Ask yourself, what do I want to do, what am I most interested in learning about, and where can I do that? Because no matter where you go, you’ll have a unique experience, whether you are in Texas or Saudi Arabia.

What do you want to do now?

All of these experiences helped me narrow down what I want to do. I realized I want to go into a multi-disciplinary approach to food education. I want to teach good stewardship of the land through the use of animals, plants and humans, and I want to educate the public about where their food comes from. All in all, I really want to bridge the gap between farm and fork.

 

Find out more:

To learn more about the opportunities studying abroad, visit Cal Poly’s International Center or website.

 

University of Edinburgh Vet School

University of Glasgow FEEPASS Vet School

Cal poly has a partnership with the University of Glasgow called the FEEPASS program (which stands for facilitated early entry). Students in this program spend their last year of the Bachelor's degree, and first year of vet school at the University of Glasgow. This can potentially save students a years worth of vet school fees and allows the opportunity to try out being at Vet school for one year.

Students apply during their sophomore (or junior) year and in theory can be accepted into Vet School that same year. The senior year would be completed as study abroad based at the University of Glasgow, when you would undertake the first year of veterinary school. At the end of that year, if you've passed assessments, you would be granted your Bachelors of Animal Science from Cal Poly. Thereafter you would automatically progress on to the remainder of the veterinary program. No additional assessments or exams needed as you've already been admitted.

Glasgow was one of the first of the overseas schools to get accredited by the American Veteran Medical Association and also is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Students that graduate from Glasgow will do so with a dual accredited degree. That dual accredited degree means they can work as a veterinarian almost anywhere in the world after graduation.

For more information, please watch this informational zoom.