The world’s largest producer and consumer of pork, China is the ideal location to gain valuable insight into one of the largest international markets on the planet. Your adventure begins in and around the mystical capital of Beijing. Visit pig, dairy and donkey farms and see a feed mill, processing plant, wet market, Pearl Market, and Feed Industry Museum. Discover impressive palaces, Buddhist temples, the Great Wall, and Tiananmen Square.

Accommodation and Meals

Students will stay in university residence halls and/or hotels for the duration of the program. Rooms will be shared, and the number of participants in a room may vary from location to location. All housing costs are included in the program fee.

A detailed itinerary will be provided. Meals are included in the program fee; however, students needing snacks or non-group food will be expected to cover their own expenses. Though the individual spending habits of each student will vary, please see the budget information below for an estimate of the average out-of-pocket expenses.

Program Travel

International round-trip air travel will be arranged for the China group. This arranged flight generally departs from and returns to Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, MO. The faculty program leader, Dr. Tim Safranski, travels with the group flight to facilitate airport check-in and transfers. The airfare estimate is included in the program fee below; however, this estimate may fluctuate as group reservations are made and the flight is finalized.  All in-country program travel and meals are organized by CAFNR and are included in the program fee.

Academics

Students will earn three credits of AFNR 2190: International Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (graded A-F) for the spring semester. Students should work with their advisors to determine how these credits will count toward their individual graduation plans.

Please be aware that there will be mandatory orientation classes prior to departure. These pre-travel class meetings (approximately 2 hours weekly from beginning of spring semester until departure for China) and lectures will provide background information, both practical and academic, before travelling to Beijing over spring break.  Dates and times for the class meetings will be available shortly after the confirmed program participant list is finalized, generally around mid-November. Participants will be notified of the class meeting details via email.

Estimated Cost