Swine Science Online Course Listing
What is Swine Science Online?
Swine Science Online is the first ever online undergraduate program in swine science. Swine Science Online offers education and training of future pork professionals to benefit the pork industry by inspiring career interest through academic training and application. Swine Science Online's vision is to ensure that the Pork Industry is led and managed by individuals who have a broad educational and production experiences which have prepared them for these roles. Swine Science Online teaches scientific principles and management skills involved in pork production for an efficient and sustainable operation. Swine Science Online courses are delivered via distance education to universities across the country through AG*IDEA.
Who is AG*IDEA?
Agriculture Interactive Distance Education Alliance (AG*IDEA) is a premier baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate distance education collaboration that provides credit toward inter-institutional undergraduate certificates and minors and graduate degrees and certificates. Through AG*IDEA, member institutions from across the United States are able to participate in distance education programs and/or courses in agricultural and related sciences with other institutions. In a multi-institution degree program, students apply and are admitted at one participating university; enroll in courses at that university; and graduate or receive a certificate from that univerisity. Online courses are taught by the best faculty in the discipline from several universities. For more information on AG*IDEA, go to
www.agidea.org.
Who are the participating institutions that currently are offering Swine Science Online courses?
South Dakota State University
University of Missouri
University of Nebraska
What if my university isn't partnered with AG*IDEA?
If your university is not currently partnered with AG*IDEA and you would like to take courses you may enroll in courses at a university that is partnered with AG*IDEA and transfer the credits back to your current university. Since the courses are online you may take them anywhere! Since the cost of an AG*IDEA course is the same at any partnering institution you may enroll at any participating institution for the same price through their distance education department.
What are the goals of the Swine Science Online Program?
The ultimate goal of the Swine Science Online Program is to have more academically trained students entering the pork industry. After completing required and elective courses students will be able to apply for a Swine Science Online Certificate that is administered by the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence.
What careers might I pursue with a Swine Science Online certificate?
Swine Genetic Sales Consultant
Regional Swine Sales Manager
Swine Communications Coordinator
Swine Building Construction
Swine Pharmaceuticals
Swine Production Management
Swine Feed Sales
*Find more career information from the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence and National Pork Board:
www.porkgateway.org or http://www.pork.org/Resources/2419/careersinporkproduction1.aspx
What courses are offered?
Basic Swine Science (2 cr.)
Basic disciplines and concepts involved in swine production including: industry structure, trends and statistics; production phases and buildings; genetic improvement; reproduction; nutrition; health and biosecurity; nutrient management; marketing and meat quality; and career opportunities in the swine industry.
Basic Swine Science Lab (1 cr.)
Basic application of concepts presented in basic swine science course. Including: artificial insemination; semen collection; pig handling; health and biosecurity; financial analysis; pig flow; buildings and ventilation; and feed management. Not offered online. Week long course on a designate campus.
Advanced Swine Science Lab (1 cr.)
Advanced application of concepts associated with swine production. Including: semen processing; troubleshooting production efficiency; risk management; marketing; buildings and ventilation; and on-farm euthanasia and carcass disposal. Not offered online. Week long course on a designate campus.
Swine Breeding and Gestation Management (1 cr.)
Concepts related to: reproductive physiology and endocrinology of boars and sows; genetic selection programs; development programs for future replacement gilts and boars; semen collection, evaluation, and preparation; detection of estrus and artificial insemination; pregnancy diagnosis; feeding and housing programs for gestating sows; environmental management; records; diseases; and development of quality assurance programs for identifying and solving reproductive problems.
Farrowing Management (1 cr.)
Advanced integration and application of reproductive management
concepts during farrowing and lactation. Identification of production trends; formulation of strategies to improve productivity; and parturition and neonatal management.
Swine Nursery and Finishing Management (1 cr.)
Overview of the critical management, housing, and financial considerations relevant to the successful operation of a swine nursery, grow-finish, or wean to finish enterprise, including: nutrient requirements; building and facility management; and marketing.
Internship in the Swine Industry (1 cr.)
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice and actual service in a swine production operation.
Employee Management for the Swine Industry (1 cr.)
Effective employee management in swine production units. Assist students in understanding the principles, policies, and practices related to procurement, development, maintenance, and utilization of employees.
Contemporary Issues in the Swine Industry (1 cr.)
Evaluation of issues facing today’s swine industry including: welfare, nutrient management, and food safety and security. Development of skills needed for effective community relations such as media interviews and message points.
Swine Business and Records Analysis (1 cr.)
Evaluation of swine operations using farm and enterprise records, budgeting, and financial analysis and benchmarks.
Swine Health and Biosecurity (1 cr.)
Overview of standard biosecurity protocols and identification of behavior and clinical signs of illness in pigs. Treatment administration and prevention methods. Introduction to immune system function and basic swine disease transmission.
Pork Export Markets (1 cr.)
Introduction to global markets; cultural preferences and customs associated with the pork export markets. International trade regulations and potential impact of foreign animal diseases and bioterrorism affecting the U.S. swine industry.
Marketing and Risk Management in the Swine Industry (1 cr.)
A comprehensive view of industry structure and trends and marketing options available in the swine industry. Management of risk between markets and/or contracts.
Swine Environment Management (1 cr.)
Response of swine to thermal environment, ventilation system design and analysis, heating and cooling systems and examples of various designs for all phases of production. Troubleshooting ventilation systems and energy analysis of production units.
Swine Manure and Nutrient Management (1 cr.)
Function, application, and advantages and disadvantages of nutrient management systems. Manure production rates, manure handling systems, storage and manure management planning for land application and odor mitigation strategies.
Pork Product and Quality Safety (1 cr.)
Pre- and post-harvest factors affecting pork product quality and safety. Overview of pork harvesting process and traits and characteristics of quality pork products.
Swine Feed Mill Management (1 cr.)
Principles of feed manufacturing, equipment operation, feed and ingredient quality assurance and regulatory compliance in a modern feed milling operation. Overview of feed mill regulations and safety.
Swine Nutrition (1 cr.)
Principles of developing and implementing a swine feeding program. Fundamentals of feeding pigs; including nutrients, factors affecting nutritent recommendations, feeding systems and management, feed ingredients, and formulation of swine diets.
Who teaches the courses?
Swine specialist faculty from universities all over the United States.
Tom Baas
Institution: Iowa State University
Course: 'Basic Swine Science', 'Basic Swine Science Lab' and 'Advanced Swine Science Lab'
Sang Oh
Institution: North Carolina A & T
Course: Global Swine Science
Duane Reese
Institution: University of Nebraska
Course: Farrowing Management
Tim Safranski
Institution: University of Missouri- Columbia
Course: Farrowing Management
Cindy Wood
Institution: Virginia Tech
Course: 'Production Internship in the Swine Industry' and 'Employee Management'
Kenneth Kephart
Institution: Penn State
Course: Farrowing Management
Jay Harmon
Institution: Iowa State University
Courses: 'Swine Environment Management' and 'Swine Nutrient and Manure Management'
Kelly Zering Institution: North Carolina State University
Course: Marketing and Risk Management in the Pork Industry
Website: http://www.ag-econ.ncsu.edu/faculty/zering/zering.htmDana Hanson
Institution: North Carolina State University
Course: Pork Product Quality and Safety
Billy Flowers
Institution: North Carolina State University
Course: Swine Breeding and Gestation Management
Jim Kliebenstein
Institution: Iowa State University
Course: Swine Business and Records Analysis
Charles Stark
Institution: North Carolina State University
Course: Swine Feed Mill Management
Locke Karriker
Institution: Iowa State University
Course: Swine Health and Biosecurity
Jodi Sterle
Institution: Iowa State University
Course: Contemporary Issues in the Swine Industry
What courses are required for the USPCE Swine Science Online Certificate?
Required Courses
- Basic Swine Science (2 credits)
- Basic Lab Course (1 credit)
- Swine Health and Biosecurity (1 credit)
- Employee Management for the Swine Industry (1 credit)
- Production Internship in the Swine Industry (1 credit)
- Production Management Course (Choose ONE)
o Swine Breeding and Gestation Management (1 credit)
o Farrowing Management (1 credit)
o Swine Nursery and Finishing Management (1 credit)
Elective Courses (Choose 5 Courses)
- Swine Feed Mill Management (1 credit)
- Marketing and Risk Management in the Pork Industry (1 credit)
- Pork Product Quality and Safety (1 credit)
- Pork Export Markets (1 credit)
- Swine Environment Management (1 credit)
- Contemporary Issues in the Swine Industry (1 credit)
- Swine Business and Records Analysis (1 credit)
- Swine Manure and Nutrient Management (1 credit)
- Swine Nutrition (1 credit)
- Advanced Lab Course (1 credit)
- Production Management Course (able to take other two not taken as required course)
o Swine Breeding and Gestation Management (1 credit)
o Farrowing Management (1 credit)
o Swine Nursery and Finishing Management (1 credit)
Can I test out of a course if I have already taken it elsewhere?
It is possible that a student may have already taken one or more of these courses or their equivalent for another degree or certificate program. The student must obtain approval by submitting a request to the SSO Policy Committee. Requests should be sent to USPCE, Attn: Maggie DenBeste or via email to mdenbest@iastate.edu
How do I apply for the USPCE Swine Science Online Certificate?
Once you have completed the 12 credit requirements for the USPCE SSO Certificate mail in the application (see form below), unofficial transcript and $150 application fee to US Pork Center of Excellence, Attn: Maggie DenBeste, Iowa State University, 1202 NSRIC, Ames, IA 50011.
I'd like to ask a different question about Swine Science Online. Whom do I contact?
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