Opportunities for Students

Through its Pathways programs, the Department of Agriculture offers different pathway opportunities—including tuition assistance—for students and recent graduates to work in the agricultural, science, technology, math, environmental, management, business and many other fields.  Several opportunities with APHIS are available through this program.  More information is available at the USDA Pathways website.

Through the AgDiscovery program, APHIS partners with 17 universities and colleges to help teenagers learn about careers in animal and plant science, wildlife management, and agribusiness.  The 2-4 week program allows student to live on a college campus and experience hands-on labs, workshops, and field trips.  Further information is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/agdiscovery/about_agdiscovery.shtml

Each summer, American University in Washington, DC, hosts a 6-credit summer Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS) program specifically designed for Native American students.  The class consists of discussion and research on topics important to Native communities and individuals across America. Interns also work for a government agency for 2 months.  APHIS always sponsors several WINS interns. To find out more about this program, visit http://www.american.edu/spexs/wins/index.cfm

The Safeguarding Natural Heritage program is a 2-week educational outreach program co-sponsored by Diné College—a federally recognized, tribally controlled college in Arizona—and APHIS.   The 12-day program, open to students 14 to 17 years of age, is designed to enhance youths’ exposure to agriculture, natural resources, and wildlife biology, through activities within the environs of the communities of the Navajo Nation.  For more information, please contact APHIS National Tribal Liaison Terry Clark at (301) 440-4388 or Terry.W.Clark@aphis.usda.gov; or National Program Manager-Tribal Liaison Carl Etsitty at (970) 494-7573 or Carl.Etsitty@aphis.usda.gov.

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) National Internship program provides college students from institutions with significant enrollment of Hispanic students the opportunity to explore a potential Federal Service career.  More information is at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/civil_rights/hacu.shtml.

APHIS’ Summer Intern program offers paid summer internships involving substantive work assignments to college students/high school graduates who have been accepted by a college or university.  Students are recruited into the program using the regular vacancy announcement system.  For additional information, please contact APHIS Pathways Coordinator John Morris at (202) 799-7076 or John.C.Morris@aphis.usda.gov.

APHIS’ Animal Care (AC) program provides externships to students to gain unpaid work experience from 1-4 weeks in the fall, spring, and summer.  Opportunities may be available throughout the United States, depending on a student’s area of interest and the availability of AC personnel.  More information on the AC program is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/index.shtml.  Additional externship details may be found at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/meetings/Animal%20Care%20Externship%20Programv4.pdf

USDA Pathways Program: Saul T. Wilson, Jr., Internship: This internship may be available annually. To check availability or learn more, call (202) 799-7076 or visit the Animal Health website (Work for VS).