VBSC Italy

Course Title and Schedule

• VBSC 499: International Dairy Systems and One Health
• Course schedule is approximately half a week remote meeting, then travel in Italy from May 12 - 22, 2027, 3 credits

What You Will Learn

How are the health of people, animals, and the environment deeply connected in dairy farming contexts? How does dairy production vary across geographic and cultural contexts?

Join us this May 2027 to find out. Our VBSC 499: International Dairy Systems and One Health course gives Penn State students a global view of dairy science, then takes them behind the scenes in one of the world's most iconic dairy regions: northern Italy.

Dairy systems vary widely, from pasture-based grazing in Ireland and New Zealand to large-scale intensive operations in China and the U.S. Students compare farm management, processing, and regulation across these systems and explore through a One Health lens what those differences mean for animal welfare, food safety, and sustainability. Students study key One Health topics in dairy science: antimicrobial use, environmental stewardship, zoonotic diseases, and the central role of people in keeping animals, communities, and ecosystems healthy.

The course ends with travel in Italy, where students see these concepts firsthand on farms and in cheesemaking facilities, including visits with producers and processors of Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano.

Tentative Itinerary Highlights

The travel portion of the trip will be based out of Siena with an extended field trip to the north of Italy — around the areas of Mantova, Parma, and Bologna. 

• Visits to Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano producers and creameries
• Tours of working dairy farms
• A One Health look at herd health, antimicrobial use, and environmental stewardship
• Time in Siena, Parma, Bologna, Modena, and Mantova
• Shared group meals featuring regional specialties

Cost Estimates

• Tuition: 3 credits in Summer 2027
• Program Fee: Approximately $3600 if 15 students or more enroll. This includes your in-country transportation, lodging, and some meals. Also included all visits and activities which are part of the itinerary. Some optional activities and meals on your own will be at your expense.
• Airfare: Varies depending on where you depart from and when you book.
• Additional expenses may include: passport fees, travel to and from airport, some meals, souvenirs, etc.

More Information and Application

Application due December 1, 2026: Apply Here

Contact course leader with any questions.

• Dr. Jennifer Ida, jai5210@psu.edu
• or contact Ketja Lingenfelter, Assistant Director for Student Global Engagement, ketja@psu.edu

Sustainable Development Goals

This course is mostly closely aligned with SDGs: 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, and 15 Life on Land