Explore all that the United States of America has to offer from Coast to Coast through the new "Study USA" programs! These programs provide undergraduate students the opportunity to learn about diverse cultures, food and agriculture systems, natural resources and life sciences within the U.S. The programs will be led by faculty within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and students will earn credit for their participation. Students of any college and major are encouraged to apply for a program.
Study USA Scholarship Opportunities
Study USA: Field to Fork on the Prairie
Travel Dates: August 6-17, 2022
Application Deadline: Not currently accepting applications
Field to Fork on the Prairie takes students on a journey from production through the supply chain to the dinner table. On this trip, students will be exposed to the production and processing of sugar beets, sunflowers, potatoes, and dry beans/peas in eastern North Dakota, lentils and canola in western North Dakota, and irrigated wheat in South Dakota and Nebraska. They will also experience rangeland 
management in North and South Dakota. A visit to a lock and dam and grain terminal on the Missouri River will provide a discussion of marketing of crops. Students will be able to compare the native vegetation and climate of the tall grass prairies of Iowa with the short grass prairies of the northern Great Plains. In addition, they will be exposed to native American culture and the local cuisine of the northern Great Plains.
- AGRON 496B (3 course credits)
- Course Fee: $800 per student
Questions? Contact faculty leader, Dr. Mark Licht, lichtma@iastate.edu or Dr Mary Wiedenhoeft, mwiedenh@iastate.edu.
(Past Program) Study USA: Agriculture and History of the Mississippi Delta
Travel Dates: March 12-20, 2022
Application Deadline: Not currently accepting applications
Study USA: Agriculture and History of the Mississippi Delta is an interdisciplinary and inter-institutional domestic travel course opportunity offered in partnership between Iowa State University and Langston University. Students from both institutions will have the opportunity to enroll in a 16-week course in the Spring 2022 semester that explores the past, the present, and the future of the Mississippi Delta, and the opportunity to travel to and participate in service-learning experiences in the Delta during Spring Break. The course will be taught by faculty from both Iowa State University and Langston University, who research and teach in their respective fields of Animal Sciences and the Humanities. All majors are encouraged to apply.
On the trip, participants will explore the Delta’s complementing and conflicting facets of natural resource management, modern agribusiness, local fresh-food initiatives, and high-tech manufacturing. Most importantly, students will be making a positive difference in the lives of others by completing a range of service-learning projects with youth development programs, conservation groups, locally grown food initiatives, and health education organizations.
- AN S 496B (3 course credits)
- Course Fee: $1,330
Questions? Contact faculty leader, Gail Carpenter, ajcarpen@iastate.edu.
(Past Program) EARTH Service Learning - U.S. Virgin Islands
January 18 - May 6, 2022 (semester long program)
Application Deadline: Not currently accepting applications
Undergraduate students will learn about the culture of the people of the Caribbean and U.S. Virgin Islands’ agriculture and ecosystems, while assisting with teaching about food and agriculture, including horticulture, soil science, culinary science, nutrition, environmental science, and sustainability, at a preK-12 school.
Program activities for school children help them learn how to grow, prepare, and appreciate the many facets of agriculture and food and the environment. University students have the chance to assist with EARTH program outreach and development and explore the U.S. Virgin Islands’ ecosystems and National Park during scheduled activities and free time.
To learn more about the program, contact Dr. Gail Nonnecke, nonnecke@iastate.edu or Emily Zimmerman, emilyz@iastate.edu.
(Past Program) NREM/ARTGR 483x/583x: Science + Design: interpretation of natural resources in Montana
Travel Dates: Aug 9-21, 2021
Application Deadline: Not currently accepting applications
A new interdisciplinary service-learning course that brings together art and science students to learn from each other and produce a product for the public. Science students will partner with students from the College of Design to travel to NREM's French Conservation Camp in Montana. There they will meet with scientists, US Forest Service rangers, and other stakeholders to learn about natural resource issues in the region. Then they will design and produce new interpretive signs and other visual materials to be installed by the Forest Service 
at trail heads and campgrounds to educate the public and communicate science. Students will travel to Montana for 1.5 weeks of field work, then continue to meet on campus to design and produce the visual.
Ideal for Interpretation Option students! Counts as an Option elective in Forestry or A ECL and as an ARTGR484/584 class for Design students. 40 hours toward NREM 104.
- 3 - course credits
- $1100 - program fee
- Program Information
Learn more or apply by contacting Jennifer Schieltz, jms3@iastate.edu or Alex Braidwood, abr@iastate.edu.
(Past Program) Boom To Bust: Community Capitals, Colorado Agriculture Systems, and a Different Kind of Gold Rush
Travel Dates: November 20-28, 2021
Application Deadline: Not currently accepting applications
Travel to Colorado Front Range to observe and analyze sustainable development, urban agriculture and impacts of climate change. You will: Learn about waterwise landscaping at Denver Botanic Gardens, see 2000 year old bristle cone pines on Mount Evans, discover urban agriculture systems and markets, and be a mile high on top of green roofs for urban storm-water management. Learn about the interesting history of public policy related to water management, land use, and urban development, and the contributions of diverse peoples.
- Globe 496B (2 course credits)
- Course Fee: $2,000
Questions? Contact faculty leaders Kevin Duerfeldt, kduerf@iastate.edu and Emily Zimmerman, emilyz@iastate.edu.