Internships

An internship or credit for an enterprise project is a requirement for Dairy Science Majors. Students enjoy these opportunities to explore their future options. Many internships are available in dairy-related industries or other advisor-approved occupations in and outside of California for students to explore, select, and compete for. Faculty advisors can help students with their internship decisions.

Processing Internships

Recently a new internship program has been implemented. Several positions are available and more are expected as students are ready to move into them. The program works like this:

The successful candidate will spend three quarters working and training in the Cal Poly Creamery, and one quarter in a processing facility operated by an industry partner.

Students from other majors are encouraged to apply for these internships, including but not limited to agricultural business, bioresource and agricultural engineering, food science, nutrition, microbiology, and biochemistry. The applicants should have a passion for food processing and a desire to learn about the food processing industry. The students should be articulate and exhibit good oral and written communication skills. Juniors and seniors are preferred, although highly motivated lower division students are encouraged to apply.

Interns are expected to work 20 hours per week during the campus portion of the internship, and full-time at the industry location. Relocation to the industry site is required during the quarter the student is working at the industry partner location, although there are also some San Luis Obispo based internships. Pay is commensurate with experience.

Typical duties include working with the Dairy Science faculty and industry partners to operate the Cal Poly Creamery. Processing areas include a wide variety of ice cream, fermented cream products and cheese for the industry partner, campus sales, and holiday gift packs. Other products and processing runs will occur as necessary. Interns will work under the direct supervision of the creamery manager and will participate with faculty and staff in the dairy processing facility team to schedule the plant operations. Interns will support faculty in research, instruction, outreach, and processing runs. Plant operations, controls, design, and maintenance will be included in the duties.

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Cal Poly Cheese

The Eugene and Rachel Boone Dairy Science Complex sign. Cal Poly