The Michigan State University American-China Turfgrass Education Program is seeking golf course internship opportunities for Chinese turf students for the 2009 season.

Program background

Michigan State University offers a joint B.S. degree program with four Chinese agricultural universities where junior and senior students take MSU turf classes in China, perform an internship in the U.S. the Fall semester of their senior year, and then obtain a B.S. degree from MSU and from their Chinese university. This (2009) is the third year for MSU to arrange for internships for undergrads in the MSU-China turf program. Over the past two years, 64 Chinese students have traveled to the U.S. for internships, mostly on golf courses. Some of the courses students have interned at in the past include Desert Mountain Golf, Scottsdale, AZ; Los Angeles Country Club, Los Angeles, CA; Shoal Creek Golf Club, Birmingham, AL, etc.

Students need to pass a Standard English language test before enrollment for MSU classes. MSU takes care of the international student employment paperwork and health insurance to make sure students can be employed legally and are properly insured for the duration of the internship.

Most students are starting from scratch and require a superintendent and crew that are willing to teach and have adequate patience. On-site housing or affordable housing off-site will be a plus.

Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested in employing one or more of our students as interns, or if you have any questions. Our curriculum is online at: http://css.msu.edu/ChinaTurfgrassManagement.cfm.

Internship duration

Internship for 2009 is scheduled to begin in early August and end December 31. However, students may be available to work for several weeks after the internship officially ends.

For more information, please contact

Mr. Yusong Mu, Coordinator American-Sino Turfgrass Education Program

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Michigan State University A266 Plant & Soil Sciences Building East Lansing, MI 48824 Email: ymu@msu.edu Phone: (517) 355-0271, ext. 1161