Program length: 2 semesters
Format: Blended 

The Illinois Dairy Science Certificate (I-Dairy) will not only introduce you to dairy cattle biology and management, but also provide you with a greater understanding of dairy cattle nutrition, mammary health, and livestock farm management. The courses offered in the I-Dairy program are structured to help students succeed in a wide array of dairy science and livestock production fields, whether that be working in the industry or attending graduate school or veterinary school. Courses also provide unique experiences unlike any other at the University of Illinois.

Much of the I-Dairy curriculum is focused on providing hands-on learning experiences. Students in the program will have the opportunity to attend classes at the University of Illinois Dairy Research Farm. Classes at the dairy farm provide unique experiences from learning how to properly handle large animals and experiencing dairy cattle behavior to milking cows on the farm. Additional classes will allow students interested in research to work side by side with professors in the Animal Sciences department to aid in or complete their own research projects. 

I-Dairy Students will also have the chance to be a part of the Illini Dairy Judging and Dairy Challenge teams. Both programs allow students to represent the University of Illinois at collegiate contests around the United States. The Illini Dairy Judging Team competes in three contests in which the team evaluates dairy cattle for their phenotypic traits related to animal health and longevity. Dairy Challenge is a contest unlike any other in which participants learn how to evaluate production farms and provide strengths and opportunities to farmers about their operation.