California	
  University	
  of	
  Pennsylvania	
  
University	
  Course	
  Syllabus	
  
Approved:	
  
	
  
Department	
  of	
  Business	
  and	
  Economics	
  
	
  
A. Protocol	
  
Course	
  Name:	
  	
  	
   	
  
Course	
  Number:	
  	
  	
  
Credits:	
  	
  	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  

Accounting	
  Internship	
  
ACC	
  491	
  
variable,	
  1	
  –	
  12	
  	
  
(repeatable	
  but	
  no	
  more	
  than	
  12	
  total	
  credits	
  possible)	
  
Prerequisites:	
  	
  	
   	
  
	
  
	
  
Completion	
  of	
  at	
  least	
  64	
  credits,	
  minimum	
  2.500	
  GPA,	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
And	
  permission	
  of	
  department	
  chair	
  
Maximum	
  Class	
  Size	
  (face-­‐to-­‐face):	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
   N/A	
  -­‐	
  internship	
  
Maximum	
  Class	
  Size	
  (online):	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  

	
  
B. Objectives	
  of	
  the	
  Course:	
  
After	
  completing	
  the	
  requirements	
  of	
  this	
  course,	
  students	
  should	
  be	
  able	
  to:	
  
1. Apply	
  knowledge,	
  concepts	
  and	
  theories	
  from	
  accounting	
  to	
  real	
  world	
  situations,	
  
2. Observe,	
  describe,	
  evaluate	
  and	
  participate	
  in	
  day-­‐to-­‐day	
  accounting	
  operations	
  of	
  an	
  
organization	
  or	
  institution	
  similar	
  to	
  one	
  where	
  student	
  desires	
  to	
  work,	
  
3. Observe,	
  describe	
  and	
  analyze	
  real-­‐life	
  problem	
  situations	
  and	
  contribute	
  to	
  the	
  solution	
  of	
  
those	
  problems	
  under	
  the	
  guidance	
  of	
  trained	
  professionals	
  using	
  a	
  variety	
  of	
  methods	
  and	
  
problem	
  solving	
  skills,	
  
4. Demonstrate	
  the	
  ability	
  to	
  conduct	
  independent	
  research	
  related	
  to	
  the	
  industry,	
  occupation,	
  
etc.	
  most	
  closely	
  associated	
  with	
  the	
  internship	
  including	
  relevant	
  information	
  literacy	
  skills	
  (the	
  
ability	
  to	
  access,	
  evaluate,	
  interpret,	
  and	
  use	
  information	
  from	
  a	
  variety	
  of	
  sources),	
  
5. Accumulate	
  experience	
  within	
  the	
  workplace	
  and	
  provide	
  verbal	
  and	
  written	
  evidence	
  of	
  this	
  
experience,	
  and	
  	
  
6. Interact	
  with	
  the	
  community	
  in	
  which	
  the	
  internship	
  occurs	
  in	
  a	
  professional	
  manner,	
  giving	
  
appropriate	
  consideration	
  to	
  multicultural	
  and	
  ethical	
  issues	
  and	
  provide	
  verbal	
  and	
  written	
  
evidence	
  of	
  these	
  interactions.	
  
C. Catalog	
  Description:	
  
	
  
The	
  student	
  is	
  placed	
  with	
  a	
  business	
  firm,	
  bank,	
  government	
  agency	
  or	
  nonprofit	
  organization	
  
performing	
  accounting	
  tasks.	
  The	
  internship	
  experience	
  offers	
  a	
  practical	
  training	
  ground	
  for	
  students	
  
that	
  supplements	
  academic	
  training	
  by	
  permitting	
  them	
  to	
  apply	
  the	
  theories,	
  concepts	
  and	
  techniques	
  
learned	
  through	
  their	
  other	
  coursework	
  to	
  address	
  actual	
  problems	
  in	
  a	
  real	
  business	
  environment.	
  
D. Outline	
  of	
  the	
  Course:	
  
	
  
Because	
  of	
  the	
  nature	
  of	
  this	
  course,	
  there	
  is	
  no	
  prescribed	
  outline.	
  	
  This	
  will	
  vary	
  based	
  on	
  the	
  specific	
  
internship	
  site	
  and	
  job	
  responsibilities.	
  	
  Regardless	
  of	
  the	
  specifics	
  of	
  the	
  internship,	
  the	
  following	
  
1	
  
	
  

learning	
  goals	
  should	
  be	
  addressed:	
  
1. Assist	
  the	
  student	
  in	
  the	
  development	
  of	
  employer-­‐valued	
  skills	
  such	
  as	
  teamwork,	
  
communications,	
  and	
  attention	
  to	
  detail.	
  
2. Expose	
  the	
  student	
  to	
  the	
  real	
  business	
  environment	
  and	
  the	
  expectations	
  of	
  work	
  
performance.	
  
3. Expose	
  the	
  student	
  to	
  professional	
  role	
  models	
  and	
  mentors	
  to	
  help	
  support	
  career	
  
development.	
  
4. Develop	
  a	
  commitment	
  to	
  ethical	
  conduct	
  and	
  social	
  responsibility.	
  
5. Expand	
  network	
  of	
  professional	
  relationships	
  and	
  contacts.	
  
The	
  Department	
  shall	
  determine	
  the	
  number	
  of	
  credit	
  hours	
  granted	
  to	
  an	
  intern	
  using	
  the	
  following	
  
criteria	
  to	
  determine	
  the	
  number	
  of	
  credits	
  earned:	
  
1.
2.
3.
4.

academic	
  rigor	
  of	
  the	
  internship	
  experience;	
  
the	
  reputation,	
  if	
  known,	
  of	
  the	
  internship	
  site;	
  
the	
  range	
  and	
  quality	
  of	
  	
  the	
  intern	
  duties,	
  tasks	
  and	
  responsibilities;	
  and	
  
the	
  number	
  of	
  hours	
  on-­‐site.	
  

	
  
E. Teaching	
  Methodology:	
  
	
  
1)
Traditional	
   Classroom	
   Methodology	
   includes,	
   but	
   is	
   not	
   limited	
   to:	
   lecture,	
   case	
  
studies,	
   in-­‐class	
   discussions,	
   multi-­‐media	
   presentations,	
   analysis	
   of	
   readings,	
  
reflections,	
   individual	
   projects,	
   group	
   projects,	
   peer	
   student	
   comments,	
   and	
  
incorporation	
  of	
  Internet	
  resources.	
  Emphasis	
  will	
  be	
  placed	
  on	
  engaging	
  the	
  learner	
  
for	
  involvement	
  and	
  active	
  participation	
  in	
  the	
  learning	
  process.	
  
	
  
2)
Online	
  Methodology	
  –	
  Not	
  applicable	
  
F. Required	
  text	
  
	
  
No	
  text	
  required;	
  however,	
  the	
  internship	
  site	
  may	
  require	
  certain	
  materials.	
   	
  
	
  
G. Assessment	
  Activities:	
  
	
  
The	
  following	
  recommended	
  assessments.	
  Individual	
  instructors	
  may	
  customize	
  the	
  
assignments.	
  

	
  

DAILY	
  JOURNAL	
  
1.

2.
3.

List	
  projects,	
  duties,	
  activities,	
  and	
  training	
  experiences	
  for	
  the	
  day.	
  
a. Because	
  you	
  will	
  routinely	
  and	
  daily	
  repeat	
  various	
  jobs,	
  do	
  not	
  list	
  them	
  after	
  the	
  first	
  
day.	
  	
  Once	
  the	
  routine	
  is	
  set,	
  a	
  simple	
  note	
  that	
  you	
  completed	
  the	
  routine	
  is	
  sufficient.	
  
b. Note	
  any	
  new	
  or	
  different	
  jobs/projects	
  you	
  work	
  on.	
  
Describe	
  your	
  efforts	
  and	
  opportunities	
  to	
  network.	
  
Evaluate	
  the	
  events	
  of	
  the	
  day	
  by	
  writing	
  a	
  paragraph	
  addressing:	
  	
  
a. new	
  ideas,	
  skills,	
  or	
  information	
  you	
  learned	
  
2	
  

	
  

4.
5.
6.

b. the	
  value	
  of	
  your	
  work	
  -­‐-­‐	
  for	
  the	
  organization	
  and	
  for	
  yourself	
  
c. observations	
  of	
  how	
  others	
  in	
  the	
  workplace	
  approach	
  the	
  job	
  
d. observations	
  of	
  how	
  your	
  work	
  prepares	
  you	
  for	
  a	
  career	
  
e. describe	
  how	
  the	
  duties	
  match	
  or	
  support	
  goals	
  for	
  this	
  internship.	
  
Note	
  any	
  problems	
  or	
  concerns	
  you	
  may	
  have.	
  Personal	
  details	
  may	
  be	
  omitted	
  and	
  
communicated	
  in	
  another	
  way	
  to	
  the	
  internship	
  coordinator.	
  
Save	
  the	
  daily	
  journal	
  in	
  a	
  computer	
  file	
  to	
  be	
  printed	
  out	
  at	
  the	
  end	
  of	
  the	
  internship.	
  
Send	
  an	
  electronic	
  copy	
  every	
  two	
  weeks	
  to	
  the	
  Faculty	
  Internship	
  Coordinator	
  via	
  email,	
  or	
  as	
  
otherwise	
  instructed.	
  

DISCUSSION	
  BOARD	
  
Post	
  WEEKLY	
  on	
  course	
  D2L	
  shell	
  about	
  your	
  internship	
  experience	
  that	
  week.	
  Aim	
  to	
  learn	
  one	
  new	
  
thing	
  per	
  week	
  about	
  your	
  organization,	
  its	
  industry,	
  the	
  kind	
  of	
  job	
  you	
  may	
  want	
  to	
  pursue.	
  These	
  can	
  
become	
  part	
  of	
  the	
  journal	
  and/or	
  can	
  be	
  shared	
  in	
  a	
  Discussion	
  Board	
  posting.	
  Comment	
  on,	
  or	
  raise	
  
questions	
  about,	
  the	
  postings	
  of	
  others.	
  
PORTFOLIO	
  
Interns	
  will	
  develop	
  an	
  electronic	
  portfolio	
  (using	
  multi-­‐media	
  as	
  appropriate)	
  that	
  will	
  be	
  submitted	
  at	
  
the	
  end	
  of	
  the	
  internship.	
  The	
  portfolio	
  can	
  be	
  broadly	
  defined	
  as	
  physical	
  evidence	
  or	
  examples	
  of	
  an	
  
intern's	
  work.	
  This	
  will	
  be	
  used	
  as	
  one	
  of	
  the	
  main	
  evaluation	
  methods	
  of	
  this	
  course.	
  It	
  should	
  be	
  
professional	
  in	
  appearance,	
  well	
  organized,	
  and	
  creatively	
  presented.	
  It	
  will	
  include	
  the	
  following	
  items:	
  
1.
2.
3.

4.

5.

Table	
  of	
  contents	
  
Daily	
  journal	
  reports	
  
Materials	
  you	
  have	
  worked	
  on,	
  such	
  as:	
  
a. written	
  assignments	
  	
  
b. planning	
  documentation	
  
c. meeting	
  reports	
  
d. promotional	
  materials	
  
e. photographic,	
  video,	
  or	
  audio	
  materials	
  
f. computer	
  generated	
  materials	
  (brochures,	
  flyers,	
  etc.)	
  
g. web-­‐site	
  creation	
  and/or	
  maintenance	
  	
  
h. email	
  exchanges	
  
i. any	
  written	
  evaluations	
  from	
  your	
  on-­‐site	
  supervisor	
  
Collected	
  and	
  organized	
  materials	
  published	
  by	
  the	
  host	
  organization	
  that	
  were	
  used	
  or	
  
referenced	
  during	
  your	
  internship.	
  	
  Make	
  sure	
  to	
  get	
  approval	
  before	
  you	
  collect	
  the	
  materials.	
  	
  
Materials	
  will	
  include,	
  but	
  are	
  not	
  limited	
  to	
  brochures/flyers,	
  reports,	
  and/or	
  video	
  or	
  audio	
  
recordings.	
  
Photographs	
  of	
  the	
  internship	
  site,	
  people,	
  remote	
  sites,	
  Interns	
  are	
  encouraged	
  to	
  take	
  
photographs	
  of	
  the	
  internship	
  site	
  and	
  people	
  with	
  whom	
  you've	
  worked	
  to	
  give	
  the	
  Internship	
  
Coordinator	
  and	
  prospective	
  interns	
  an	
  idea	
  of	
  what	
  the	
  site	
  and	
  people	
  looked	
  like.	
  	
  Make	
  sure	
  
to	
  get	
  verbal	
  and/or	
  written	
  permission	
  prior	
  to	
  taking	
  the	
  photographs.	
  	
  Include	
  shots	
  such	
  as:	
  
a. exterior	
  shots	
  of	
  the	
  facility	
  
b. interior	
  shots	
  of	
  your	
  workplace	
  
c. people	
  you	
  worked	
  with	
  on	
  a	
  daily	
  basis	
  
d. remote	
  sites	
  you	
  visited	
  or	
  worked	
  at	
  
3	
  

	
  

6.

7.

8.

e. people	
  you	
  worked	
  or	
  visited	
  with	
  on	
  special	
  occasions	
  	
  
Interns	
  will	
  write	
  a	
  one-­‐page	
  letter,	
  informal	
  in	
  style,	
  addressed	
  to	
  a	
  student	
  investigating	
  an	
  
internship	
  at	
  your	
  site.	
  	
  Focus	
  on	
  things	
  you	
  now	
  know,	
  having	
  nearly	
  completed	
  the	
  experience,	
  
you	
  wish	
  you	
  had	
  known	
  prior	
  to	
  beginning	
  the	
  internship.	
  What	
  advice	
  would	
  you	
  give	
  
regarding:	
  
a. Work	
  place	
  assignments/duties	
  expectations?	
  
b. Work	
  place	
  personnel	
  expectations	
  (people	
  to	
  look	
  for,	
  and	
  to	
  look	
  out	
  for)?	
  
c. Work	
  place	
  performance	
  expectations	
  (appearance,	
  hours,	
  etc.)?	
  
d. Work	
  place	
  facility/location	
  of	
  intern's	
  work	
  site	
  
e. Cost	
  of	
  residence,	
  travel,	
  food,	
  things	
  to	
  do?	
  
f. Best	
  way	
  to	
  travel	
  to	
  the	
  internship	
  site?	
  
g. Interesting	
  places	
  to	
  visit,	
  eateries,	
  attractions,	
  etc.?	
  
Summary	
  Essay:	
  Students	
  will	
  compose	
  a	
  final	
  summary	
  essay	
  of	
  3	
  –	
  4	
  pages	
  (12	
  point	
  font,	
  
double-­‐spaced,	
  1”	
  margins,	
  plus	
  a	
  cover	
  page)	
  in	
  which	
  they	
  review	
  their	
  experiences	
  both	
  on-­‐
site	
  and	
  in	
  terms	
  of	
  the	
  Desire2Learn	
  component	
  of	
  the	
  internship	
  course.	
  Students	
  should	
  
consider	
  addressing,	
  among	
  other	
  things,	
  the	
  following	
  questions:	
  
a. What	
  have	
  I	
  learned	
  about	
  my	
  own	
  strengths	
  and	
  weaknesses	
  as	
  an	
  aspiring	
  
communication	
  professional?	
  As	
  a	
  person?	
  
b. What	
  kind	
  of	
  work	
  ethic	
  did	
  I	
  demonstrate	
  and/or	
  develop?	
  
c. Did	
  I	
  make	
  the	
  most	
  of	
  networking	
  opportunities?	
  If	
  so,	
  how?	
  If	
  not,	
  why	
  not?	
  
d. What	
  did	
  I	
  learn	
  about	
  myself	
  as	
  a	
  member	
  of	
  a	
  team	
  or	
  task	
  group?	
  
e. How	
  did	
  my	
  internship	
  experience	
  add	
  to	
  or	
  extend	
  my	
  classroom	
  experiences?	
  
f. How	
  did	
  my	
  classroom	
  and	
  extra	
  curricular	
  experiences	
  prepare	
  me	
  for	
  my	
  internship?	
  
g. Would	
  you	
  recommend	
  any	
  changes	
  to	
  the	
  curriculum	
  to	
  better	
  prepare	
  students	
  for	
  a	
  
similar	
  internship	
  experience?	
  
h. How	
  did	
  my	
  experience	
  change	
  or	
  reinforce	
  my	
  perspective	
  about	
  my	
  chosen	
  career	
  
field?	
  
i. What	
  was	
  the	
  main	
  benefit	
  of	
  the	
  internship?	
  
j. What	
  issues	
  or	
  concerns	
  did	
  I	
  confront	
  that	
  might	
  help	
  make	
  future	
  internships	
  more	
  
valuable?	
  
Additional	
  items	
  as	
  required	
  by	
  the	
  Internship	
  Coordinator.	
  
	
  
	
  
H. Accommodations	
  for	
  Students	
  with	
  Disabilities:	
  

	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  OSD	
  
Revised	
  April	
  2014	
  
STUDENTS	
  WITH	
  DISABILITIES	
  
Students	
  with	
  disabilities:	
  
•	
  Reserve	
  the	
  right	
  to	
  decide	
  when	
  to	
  self-­‐identify	
  and	
  when	
  to	
  request	
  accommodations.	
  
•	
  Will	
  register	
  with	
  the	
  Office	
  for	
  Students	
  with	
  Disabilities	
  (OSD)	
  each	
  semester	
  to	
  receive	
  
accommodations.	
  
4	
  
	
  

•	
  Might	
  be	
  required	
  to	
  communicate	
  with	
  faculty	
  for	
  accommodations	
  which	
  specifically	
  involve	
  the	
  
faculty.	
  
•	
  Will	
  present	
  the	
  OSD	
  Accommodation	
  Approval	
  Notice	
  to	
  faculty	
  when	
  requesting	
  accommodations	
  
that	
  involve	
  the	
  faculty.	
  
Office	
  for	
  Students	
  with	
  Disabilities	
  
Requests	
  for	
  approval	
  for	
  reasonable	
  accommodations	
  should	
  be	
  directed	
  to	
  the	
  Office	
  for	
  Students	
  
with	
  Disabilities	
  (OSD).	
  Approved	
  accommodations	
  will	
  be	
  recorded	
  on	
  the	
  OSD	
  Accommodation	
  
Approval	
  notice	
  and	
  provided	
  to	
  the	
  student.	
  Students	
  are	
  expected	
  to	
  adhere	
  to	
  OSD	
  procedures	
  for	
  
self-­‐identifying,	
  providing	
  documentation	
  and	
  requesting	
  accommodations	
  in	
  a	
  timely	
  manner.	
  
Contact	
  Information:	
  
•
•
•
•
•

Location:	
  
Phone:	
  
Fax:	
  
Email:	
  
Web	
  Site:	
  

Azorsky	
  Building	
  –	
  Room	
  105	
  	
  
(724)	
  938-­‐5781	
  
(724)	
  938-­‐4599	
  
osdmail@calu.edu	
  
www.calu.edu	
  (search	
  “disability”)	
  

	
  
*************************************************************	
  
	
  
I. Supportive	
  Instructional	
  Materials,	
  e.g.	
  library	
  materials,	
  web	
  sites,	
  etc.	
  
	
  
http://www.internships.com/educator/resources	
  
	
  
https://www.looksharp.com/guides/student	
  
	
  
http://www.calu.edu/current-­‐students/career-­‐services/internships/index.htm	
  
	
  
business-­‐ethics.com/	
  (the	
  Magazine	
  of	
  Corporate	
  Responsibility)	
  
	
  
	
  
Additional	
  Information	
  for	
  Course	
  Proposals	
  
	
  
J. Proposed	
  Instructors:	
  
Any	
  faculty	
  deemed	
  qualified	
  by	
  the	
  Business	
  and	
  Economics	
  department.	
  
	
  
K. Rationale	
  for	
  the	
  Course:	
  
	
  
The	
  competition	
  for	
  good	
  jobs	
  continues	
  to	
  increase.	
  Job	
  seekers	
  no	
  longer	
  have	
  to	
  simply	
  be	
  more	
  
qualified	
  than	
  the	
  person	
  next	
  to	
  them;	
  they	
  have	
  to	
  be	
  more	
  qualified	
  than	
  countless	
  others	
  all	
  around	
  
the	
  world.	
  Internship	
  experiences	
  greatly	
  enhance	
  classroom	
  learning	
  by	
  giving	
  real	
  world	
  experience.	
  
Internships	
  also	
  strengthen	
  a	
  student’s	
  portfolio	
  or	
  resume	
  and	
  generate	
  valuable	
  industry	
  contacts	
  that	
  
can	
  be	
  essential	
  to	
  landing	
  a	
  job	
  upon	
  graduation.	
  	
  They	
  also	
  allow	
  students	
  to	
  get	
  a	
  better	
  
5	
  
	
  

understanding	
  of	
  what	
  working	
  in	
  a	
  particular	
  job	
  or	
  profession	
  is	
  like.	
  
	
  
See	
  also	
  the	
  great	
  discussion	
  at	
  http://www.quintcareers.com/internship_importance.html.	
  
	
  
L. Specialized	
  Equipment	
  or	
  Supplies	
  Needed:	
  
None	
  
	
  
M. Answer	
  the	
  following	
  questions	
  using	
  complete	
  sentences:	
  
	
  
1. Does	
  the	
  course	
  require	
  additional	
  human	
  resources?	
  (Please	
  explain)	
  
This	
  course	
  requires	
  no	
  additional	
  human	
  resources.	
  
2. Does	
  the	
  course	
  require	
  additional	
  physical	
  resources?	
  (Please	
  explain)	
  
This	
  course	
  requires	
  no	
  additional	
  physical	
  resources.	
  
3. Does	
  the	
  course	
  change	
  the	
  requirements	
  in	
  any	
  particular	
  major?	
  (Please	
  explain)	
  
This	
  course	
  does	
  not	
  change	
  the	
  requirements	
  for	
  any	
  particular	
  major.	
  
4. Does	
  the	
  course	
  replace	
  an	
  existing	
  course?	
  (If	
  so,	
  list	
  the	
  course)	
  
This	
  course	
  does	
  not	
  replace	
  an	
  existing	
  course.	
  
5. How	
  often	
  will	
  the	
  course	
  be	
  taught?	
  
This	
  course	
  will	
  be	
  taught	
  every	
  other	
  semester.	
  
6. Does	
   the	
   course	
   duplicate	
   an	
   existing	
   course	
   in	
   another	
   Department	
   or	
   College?	
   (If	
   the	
  
possibility	
  exists,	
  indicate	
  course	
  discipline,	
  number,	
  and	
  name)	
  
This	
  course	
  does	
  not	
  duplicate	
  an	
  existing	
  course	
  in	
  any	
  other	
  department	
  or	
  college.	
  
7. What	
  is	
  the	
  recommended	
  maximum	
  class	
  size	
  for	
  this	
  course?	
  
Not	
  applicable.	
  
	
  
N. If	
   the	
   proposed	
   course	
   includes	
   substantial	
   material	
   that	
   is	
   traditionally	
   taught	
   in	
   another	
  
discipline,	
  you	
  must	
  request	
  a	
  statement	
  of	
  support	
  from	
  the	
  department	
  chair	
  that	
  houses	
  that	
  
discipline.	
  
Not	
  applicable.	
  
	
  
O. Please	
  identify	
  if	
  you	
  are	
  proposing	
  to	
  have	
  this	
  course	
  considered	
  as	
  a	
  menu	
  course	
  for	
  General	
  
Education.	
   If	
   yes,	
   justify	
   and	
   demonstrate	
   the	
   reasons	
   based	
   on	
   the	
   categories	
   for	
   General	
  
Education.	
   The	
   General	
   Education	
   Committee	
   must	
   consider	
   and	
   approve	
   the	
   course	
   proposal	
  
before	
  consideration	
  by	
  the	
  UCC.	
  
	
  
This	
  course	
  satisfies	
  the	
  Special	
  Experience	
  goals.	
  	
  See	
  menu	
  application	
  for	
  discussion.	
  
	
  
P. Provide	
  Approval	
  Form	
  (electronically).	
  

6