Internship Opportunities

Internships play a vital role in preparing students for real-world experiences that complement their academic learning and skill development. For students in the accounting program, internships offer an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience, develop key professional skills, and build a foundation for future career success. Notably, students can participate in unique Winter Internships during tax season, which provide invaluable exposure to the demands of a busy season, allowing you to "test out the career" in a dynamic and high-pressure environment.

Why Pursue an Internship?

Participating in an internship is one of the most effective ways to enhance your preparation for the job market. Employers increasingly seek candidates with prior work experience, making internships a distinguishing factor in a competitive job pool. Furthermore, many internships lead to full-time offers post-graduation, setting students on a direct path to career success.

How to Secure an Internship

Securing an internship requires proactive effort and planning. Fortunately, the Office of Career and Professional Development is here to support you every step of the way. Our career advisors can assist you in identifying opportunities—including coveted positions with the Big 4 accounting firms—and guide you through the application process, from resume preparation to interview readiness.

When Should You Participate in an Internship?

Winter Internships (Spring Semester):

Some internships are offered during the Spring semester, often referred to as Winter Internships, and typically align with tax season. These internships are immersive experiences, but students do not enroll in courses during this semester due to the time demands. If you are considering a Winter Internship, it is essential to meet with an academic advisor to understand how this decision may affect your graduation timeline, particularly if you are pursuing double majors, minors, or concentrations with semester-restricted courses, such as the Data Science concentration.

Summer Internships:

Alternatively, many students opt for Summer Internships, which provide flexibility and avoid potential conflicts with coursework. These internships are less likely to affect your graduation timeline and are an excellent option for balancing academic and professional goals. However, due to their popularity, Summer Internships can be more competitive. With early planning and support from career advisors, you can maximize your chances of securing one of these valuable positions.

How to Get Started

No matter when you plan to pursue an internship, the key is to start early. Meet with both your career and academic advisors to explore options that align with your academic schedule and professional aspirations. Whether you choose a Winter or Summer Internship, these experiences will set you on a path to success in the accounting profession.

Internship Courses

ACCY 290: Professional Internship in Accountancy

For ACCY students in the the BSA or MAS programs needing full-time student status during the semester they have an accountancy internship, ACCY 290 is the only course you will take that semester. The reason for this, is that ACCY 290 will provide you full-time student status despite it being a 0-credit hour course. However, ACCY 290 will not provide full-time status if you enroll in other Illinois courses.

This course is especially important for international BSA or MAS students because you need to maintain full-time student status to remain compliant with your visa. So, in addition to applying for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for your internship semester, you will also need to follow the instructions below to add ACCY 290.

Note: This course does not provide students with academic credit for their internships.

How to Add ACCY 290

Adding ACCY 290 is different than registering for other courses here at Illinois. Please follow the instructions below to get started.

(For International Students) Contact ISSS

Since you will need to meet certain requirements to remain compliant with your visa, you will want to work with ISSS and see what steps you need to take beyond adding ACCY 290 such as beginning your CPT application.

Speak with you academic advisor

Since internship semesters can affect your graduation plans, it is important to meet with your academic advisor and make sure that an internship semester will not affect your current academic plan such as your graduation date.

Contact Professor Julia Shapland

Using your Illinois email, you will want to reach out to Professor Julia Shapland to add the course. In that email, you will include the following information:

  • Your legal name, UIN, anticipated degree(s), declared major and expected graduation date(s).
  • The details of your internship experience (company name, department, dates, location, a brief description of the type of work you will perform) and an explanation as to why you need full time status.

Important Notes

The department will also eventually need a copy of your employment offer letter as well as the exact start and end date for your internship. You should begin now to gather this information if you do not already have it.

For international students: When you are submitting your CPT application, you will list Professor Julia Shapland as your academic advisor.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What other information will I need to know for my CPT application?

    You must have coursework remaining to be eligible for CPT. This does not need to be a major course or a course from the Business Core, you just need remaining coursework.

    Also, when you select your approver, do not choose your academic advisor, please select Professor Julia Shapland as she handles these requests.

  • How do I know if I meet the requirements to enroll in ACCY 290?

    To qualify for ACCY 290, you must be a qualified intern and have a qualified internship.

    Qualified Intern:
         - Declared ACCY major, ACCY+DS major, or MAS student.
         - Must have completed 1 full academic year (Fall & Spring) of full-time study (12+ credit hours).
         - May not have graduated and must have remaining coursework before beginning their CPT.

    Qualified Internship:
         - Off-Campus
         - Full-time (40+ hours/week) lasting 6+ weeks.*
         - In the field of accounting.*

    *Part-time and/or non-accounting internships may still apply for CPT but you will likely take BUS 299 with Jeff Headtke instead of ACCY 290.

  • What should I take if I do not meet the requirements for ACCY 290?

    If you do not meet the requirements for ACCY 290, you will want to speak with Jeff Headtke in OUP about BUS 299. BUS 299 functions similarly to ACCY 290 but has different criteria for who is eligible and what internships are eligible.

ACCY 590: Advanced Professional Internship in Accountancy

ACCY 590 is an intensive research program MAS 1st stage and current MAS stage students can enroll in during a full-time ACCY internship for 2 graduate credit hours. To receive graduate credit, students will work with a faculty mentor to complete a research project consisting of a minimum 20-page research paper that is designed to bridge their academic knowledge with their internship experience. Project topics must be approved by both the department and your employer and must fall into one of these categories: measurement & disclosure, control systems or taxation. Also, students must have completed prerequisite courses for their desired topic prior to their internship. Below you will find the corresponding prerequisites for each of the available topics:

  • Accounting Measurement and Disclosure - Students MUST have completed ACCY 303 (or equivalent) AND have been accepted into the Accountancy bachelor/master program
  • Accounting Control Systems - Students MUST have completed ACCY 304 (or equivalent) AND have been accepted into the Accountancy bachelor/master program
  • Taxation - Students MUST have completed ACCY 312 (or equivalent) AND have been accepted in to the Accountancy bachelor/master program

Important Information about ACCY 590:

  • ACCY 590 does not grant full-time status like ACCY 290, so students considering taking this course instead of ACCY 290 will need to enroll in additional courses to reach full-time status.
  • MAS 1st stage students enrolled in this course will have its credits counted towards the 8-credit hour limit for graduate courses (4-credit hours for Agricultural Accounting students).