Distinctive Features of the Accounting Internship/Co-Op Program

Provides real world experience and learning on the job which cannot be obtained from textbooks and classrooms.

Enables students to established valuable contacts for possible future full-time employment upon graduation.

Enables employers to satisfy short-run staffing needs with qualified students.

Gives employers of accounting students exposure to the capabilities of the students.

Enables students to finance part of their education with the money they earn.

Allows students to earn three semester hours of academic credit by completion of the course.

Internship

This program requires a student to work full-time for only one semester.

Co-Op

In this program, students will work part time in an accounting environment. The students working a minimum of 12 hours per week for the semester will receive one credit for the semester. The student therefore needs to work at least three semesters to earn three credits - the maximum for the course.

Location of Internship/Co-Op Sites

Various cities in Michigan

Other cities outside Michigan are possible, especially for federal government positions.

Time Periods of Internship/Co-Op

Fall Semester - September through December
Spring Semester - January through April or May
Summer Semester - June through August

Types of Internship/Co-Op Positions

Public accounting
Industrial accounting
Governmental accounting - Federal, State, or local
Others - banks, hospitals, colleges, and universities, etc.

Minimum Suggested Academic Standards of the Program

Overall grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Accounting grade point average of 3.2 or better.

A minimum of six hours of earned course credit for Accounting Co-Op Program and nine hours of earned course credit for the Accounting Internship Program.

Courses include:
ACC 201, Principles of Accounting I
ACC 202, Principles of Accounting II
ACC 301, Intermediate Accounting I

One or more of the following are beneficial:
ACC 302, Intermediate Accounting II
ACC 311, Federal Income Taxation I (Public Accounting)
ACC 321, Managerial Cost Accounting (Industrial)
ACC 531, Auditing Theory and Standards (Public Accounting)

A student will not be allowed to participate in the program unless he or she will return to campus for the next semester of classes following completion of the Accounting Internship/Co-Op Program.

Responsibilities of the Employer

The employer should send a brief evaluation of each student to the School of Accounting Internship/Co-Op Supervisor. The evaluation will remain confidential. It is intended to check how the student performed and fulfilled responsibilities. Click for evaluation form.

The employer will be expected to provide the student with a variety of work experience commensurate with his or her ability and training.

The employer is not bound to hire the student upon graduation, nor is the student bound to accept employment with the employer. The student will be free to interview with other potential employers.

The employer is invited to make suggestions to the Program Supervisor, the School of Accounting Chairperson, or any other accounting faculty member so that the program can be improved.

Compensation for Students

The pay to be offered to students is expected to fall within the range of $900 - $2,200 per month.

Factors to be considered in making and accepting offers include:

Cost of living differences between large and small cities.

Grades, courses taken, previous employment experiences, and maturity differences among students.

Supply and demand differences between various work locations.

Responsibilities of the Student

Interested students should apply for the program by returning a completed application form and resume to the School of Accounting Internship/Co-Op Supervisor. (See below for the complete address.)

Qualified students who are chosen by the Supervisor will be notified of employers with whom they are eligible to interview.

The student is expected to interview with one or more potential employers. Upon accepting a position, the student will notify other employers that have made bona fide offers and the School of Accounting Internship/Co-Op Supervisor of his or her decision.

Candidates approved by the employers will register for ACC 489, Accounting Internship/Co-Op.

At the end of the program, each student will submit to the School of Accounting Internship/Co-Op Supervisor a brief report of his or her experience.

Academic Credit

Three semester hours of academic credit are allowed for ACC 489, Accounting Internship/Co-Op, on a credit/no credit basis.

Co-Op students earn one hour of credit for each semester worked. A maximum of three credit hours can be earned.

Students in the program during fall or spring semesters can make up lost academic time by taking courses in the summer sessions.

* Students need to be sure that these two above items are completed as soon as they complete the semester so that they will receive credit for the ACC 489 course.

For more information, arrangements to employ students, and an application for the program, contact:

Accounting Internship/Co-Op Supervisor
School of Accounting
Central Michigan University
312 Grawn Hall
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859

Office telephone: 989/774-3796​