Students enrolled in the 3-2 or two-year formats of the MACC program have the opportunity to participate in a cooperative during the first part of the Spring semester (January – March) of their first year in the program* (see footnote). The cooperative enables the students to intern and gain real-world experience. The cooperative is planned for the first part of the Spring semester and coincides with the "busy season" in both public and corporate accounting. To gain academic credit, students are required to complete a written research report under the supervision of a faculty member.

The cooperative program provides students with an opportunity to combine their classroom knowledge with an exposure to the accounting professional environment. This "real world" experience is invaluable for students’ development and will benefit them throughout their long-term career.

Participation in the cooperative is contingent on the student’s ability to secure an internship with one of the participating firms.

Students seeking admission to the one-year program are encouraged to participate in other opportunities for experiential learning.

Qualifying for Cooperative

Cooperative is a program available to MACC students in the 3-2 or two-year formats who are interested in enhancing their learning experience in a real-world accounting environment. Students must satisfy all the rigorous requirements posed by the participating firm to secure their cooperative an internship position.

Schedule Requirements

Cooperative students are required to work full time for the first part of the spring semester.

University status during a Cooperative

Students maintain full-time status with the University during each Cooperative experience.

Job opportunities

Cooperative jobs can now be developed in accounting firms in the metropolitan St. Louis area as well as throughout the United States. Internships are currently offered by KPMG, Ernst & Young, PriceWaterhousCoopers, Deloitte and Touche and Rubin-Brown.

Salary and Benefits

Salary and benefits are negotiated between the student and the employer, although we ask employers to pay a fair wage for a student's time and labor.

Evaluations

Employer and student evaluations are completed at the end of each work assignment.

Currently, the employers who provide cooperative internship opportunities to MACC students are the following public accounting firms.

• Ernst & Young
• Eisner
• Deloitte
• KPMG
• PriceWaterhouseCoopers
• RubinBrown

We are currently exploring future internship opportunities from a wider variety of other accounting experiences including corporate accounting. Interested employers may contact us here.

Winter work experience

We believe that providing students with an opportunity to participate in a winter internship in the accounting industry is very important and distinctive. The first months of the calendar year are typically the busy season in the accounting industry, in both corporate and public accounting. Thus, a winter internship provides a great opportunity to students to experience what accounting work is like during the peak season. Compared to a summer internship, in a winter internship the firms are more likely to assign interns to more meaningful tasks that mimic closely the tasks that a future employee will take on. Further, accounting firms are in the greatest need for interns during this busy season. We believe that providing the winter internship is beneficial to both students and accounting firms.

Obtain job experience

The Cooperative program will allow you to gain work experience while you pursue your studies. What you learn in the classroom and apply in your job will quickly take on added meaning because of perspectives you developed in the workplace. Because you will be dealing with complex problems and diverse people, your Cooperative job will improve your interpersonal and communication skills, test your judgment and increase your maturity. Moreover, by returning to the classroom after your cooperative experience, you will gain different insights drawing from your recent experience.

Expand your professional network

While you Cooperative, you will be developing networks of people who may become valuable to your career. For instance, your Cooperative employers can provide exceptional job references and help you get the job you want, or even hire you for a full-time position.

Gain career confidence

Your participation in a Cooperative means that you will have already laid the foundation for a professional position in your career field. You will be particularly valuable to employers as you interview for permanent positions. Moreover, you will enhance your employment opportunities by demonstrating your professional aptitude.

Preview a career path

Cooperative education makes sense for employers as well. It provides companies with highly motivated students who are prepared to undertake special projects, pre-professional assignments and demanding tasks. In addition, it affords both students and employers a trial period to intelligently assess prospects for permanent employment.

Take a break from studying and get paid

Cooperative's requirement of spending the first half of the spring semester with a company means that you will be taking a break from classes during this time period. That means that you will be paid a salary.