FACC 6850 Questions of Students Interested in Taking the Course
- Why is FACC 6850 called a “practicum” course rather than an “internship”?
Because the word practicum at York has the additional meaning of “for credit”, our practicum is an internship for credit. FACC 6850 involves classes as well as employment. Until 2016, a grade could only be awarded at York if the practicum was voluntary. Now both paid and unpaid practicums are allowed at York.
- Is there any flexibility concerning the time over which the course is taken and the number of hours per week?
Yes. The minimums are 10 hours per week for 22 weeks (part time option) or 30 hours per week for 10 weeks (full time option). Most internships exceed these minima and may be for as many as four terms. Switches and combinations of full and part time are possible with the permission of the instructor. You may be able to stop out your degree for a work term or terms to qualify for co-op. We have expert assistance available to help international students navigate visa and permit regulations. Please note that international students normally require a coop permit even if the work is unpaid and that this permit may take over four months to obtain.
- What has been the experience of students taking the course?
The first offering of the course was Summer/Fall 2018 and 6-15 students have been taking the course at any time. When we last checked, eighty percent of students were international. So far as we are aware, all students who were prepared to accept unpaid assignments have been able take the course. Approximately a quarter of students obtained paid assignments in for-profit organizations (in publicly listed companies as well as SMOs through their own efforts and those of the Career Centre), the remainder had unpaid assignments in mainly non-profit organizations (for example a publisher, bistro, energy cooperative, community centre, two international development agencies, social services and a foundation). All employment involved financial accountability.
Recently, students have been able to do their practicum with the MFAc Internship Advisory Board (MIAB). MIAB internships do not require a co-op permit and some students choose to work in MIAB and then move to other employment after receiving their permit.
Assignments vary between full-, part- and flex-time. They may be on-site or remote and many assignments span more than one term. Classes are normally held on weekends or after the end of the working days at times chosen so that students may attend sufficient classes. Students typically may attend classes before, during and after their period of employment. Classes comprise mainly of presentations by students and associated questions. Students acquire a considerable knowledge of working for Canadian employers through the classes. Student and employer satisfaction appear to be high as we consistently receive superior evaluations from students and employers.
- Can I count this course as my elective?
Yes. FACC 6850 is a full course so is equivalent to two other courses in the program. It can be counted as your only elective or you can choose to take this as an additional course and count another combination as a second elective. Provided you complete all your courses within the required period, there is no additional fee for taking extra courses. Once you have registered for the course, you do not need to reregister in subsequent terms.
- Why must I find my own practicum?
For many reasons, including:
1. Because of student, program and course financial resources. Co-op type internships involving dedicated staff are expensive and are deemed too high a cost for the University and/or students to bear
2. To help you develop job search skills
3. To enable a potentially better matching to your aspirations with those of the practicum host.
4. To have commonality with DEMS 5080 which has existed for longer and is the practicum course of the Masters of Disaster and Emergency Management program. The two programs use common systems and staffing to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. DEMS 5080 also has similar internship requirements.
5. To encourage and facilitate discussion with the MIAB, the course professor and practicum host prior to being enrolled in the course.
However, the Career Centre, LinkedIn and MIAB provide substantial resources, and there is FACC6850 Pre-Registration Orbis Platform (FACC6850 PROP) which is designed to assist you.
- What is the window during which I can enroll in and complete this course?
You can apply to take the course prior to joining the program. International students normally require a coop permit which can either be applied for at the time you apply for your graduate student visa or as soon as possible after you arrive. It is important to apply as early as possible. Coop permit applications need to be accompanied by a letter from the School of Administrative Studies which can be issued upon request to pevans@yorku.ca.
You can take the course anytime. FACC6000 is normally completed in advance. If applicable, you must obtained your coop permit valid to the time you graduate. FACC6100 is also required that may be taken at the same time. Those who express an interest in the course can enroll in the FACC6850 PROP and work with MIAB and the Career Centre on finding a suitable practicum host. You may have the option to extend your graduation in order to complete the course.
- When is the last date I can enroll in the course prior to graduation?
You can enroll and complete the course in up to the last of your four terms. For full-time students, the second or third terms are recommended so that you are not rushed at the end. The latest you can start the course without delaying graduation and paying an additional fee is soon after the beginning of your last term. You can enroll before this and commence your practicum up to four months before the start of the term. Normally, you may continue to work until a few weeks after the end of your final term and will be able to graduate as if you had completed the term on time.
The course is unusual in that it is a full course that normally spans two terms. You must therefore sometimes enroll in the course of the terms before or the terms after a term in which you are working. We will advise you of the term in which to enroll at the time you are approved to register.
- Why must I first enroll in FACC6850 PROP?
The FACC6850 PROP has the following advantages:
1. Facilitates locating and making arrangements with your practicum host.
2. Enables you to explore taking the course without enrolling in it.
3. Guides you and provides all the necessary forms and documents that must be completed during the process of arranging your practicum.
4. Provides a means of collaboration among students and with the professor for those seeking entry into the course.
5. Greater flexibility for you and your professor in how they communicate and receive information.
6. Effective dissemination of information and news.
7. A secure password-protected environment.
8. Ensures you have access to the latest information in conjunction with the MIAB website.
- How do I enroll in the FACC6850 PROP?
Send an e-mail to miabstud@yorku.ca. You will then be asked to supply information sufficient to enroll you in the FACC6850 PROP. Once the information you provide has been processed you will be notified by email. Please send a repeat request if you do not receive a reply within three days.
- Do international students require a work permit?
International students normally require a co-op work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Full details can be found in the following link: https://miab.info.yorku.ca/co-op-work-permit/. You can apply for this permit at the same time as you apply for your student visa, after you arrive in Canada or at the time of renewing a visa. MIAB internships do not require a co-op permit and may enable you to work unpaid while you wait to receive one.
- What assignments have students been working on for their internships up to the present?
The course has been offered every term since Fall 2018. Employer and student satisfaction appears to be very high. The following table gives some of the practicums which have been completed to date.
| Practicum Host | Description | Paid |
| All Nations International Development Agency | Devise a performance management system/ Sustainability based on performance measurement, risk and governance. | No |
| Adopt4Life | Leading and developing the preparation of the organization's first annual report to stakeholders. | No |
| Corporate Knights (ranks companies' effectiveness in dealing with environmental issues) | Assist with ranking of companies' environmental effectiveness / Whether large corporations should have an Environment, Health and Safety Committee. | No |
| Accounting Plus Financial Services | Bookkeeping and updating outdated risk assessment Analysis and assessment of risks. | Yes |
| Doctors for Doctors | Improving recording and reporting of financial transactions. | No |
| Royal Bank of Canada | Qualitative and quantitative assessment of corporate governance and enterprise risk management within a division of the Bank. | Yes |
| Toronto Foundation | Recording, analyzing and reconciling accounts / risk management assessment. | No |
| Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative (specilizes in facilitating social financing) | Various accounting tasks / Risk analysis based on a study of two TREC projects. | No |
| Stelco Holdings Inc. | Providing Independent assurance about an organization’s compliance, governance and risk protocol. | Yes |
| Warden Woods Community Centre | Bookkeeping and updating outdated risk assessment and assessment of risks faced by the company. | No |
| Quality Online Education Group (International online educator) | Advise and implement risk management strategy. Assist in all aspects of video production. | No |
| Power Career Education and Technology Inc. (Career coaching) | Using fundamentals of accounting principles to perform tasks like effective payables and receivables management. | Yes |
| VirgoCX (Blockchain and bitcoin facilitator) | Assisting with exploration and implementation of potential blockchain and bitcoin applications, and assessment of internal controls and viability | Yes |
| Ministry of Infrastructure (Government of Ontario) | Assisting with assessment of infrastructure projects. | Yes |
| Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative (specializes in facilitating social financing) | Involvement in daily accounting activities of the company backed by a risk analysis approach. | No |
| New Field International Education | Curate ways by providing ideas related to business development. Analyzing the risk of each project to determine which project is viable and which is not. | Yes |
| Scotiabank | Preparing corporate security risk reports, assisting with GRID requests and liaising with law enforcement agencies. Providing advice to both internal and external stakeholders. | Yes |
| OpenText Corporation | Evaluating and analyzing outcomes for various decisions the company makes and being able to make investment recommendations. | Yes |
| Global Smart Education Alliance Corp. | Providing guidance to varied group of individuals through effective communication and marketing capabilities. | Yes |
| CCUE Finance | Work alongside senior level managers to assist them with basic financial analysis, administrative, clerical duties and bookkeeping. | Yes |
| Canadian Angel Investment Foundation | Tapping the target market and attracting various groups of clienteles to help boost sales and revenue of the company. | No |
| HungryPanda Tech Ltd. | Undertaking the company's expansion project, marketing, creating promotion plan, keeping tabs on budget needs | Yes |
| Toronto Hydro | Validating Wholesale settlement statements and helping employees by performing regular database updates; opportunity to familiarize yourself with the energy market. | Yes |
| BMO | Understanding Dispute Resolution mechanism, approving customer lending assignments, completing training relating to money laundering and governance. | Yes |
| PointA | Track and analyze all aspects of Point A's market potential, being able to analyze contributors to financial growth. | Yes |
| New Matrixus Consulting Inc. | Auditing commissions of various agents and daily balance sheets. Experience with Trading and Fraud. | Yes |
| Unilever Canada | Managing various functions like Risk, Tax and Financial Accounting of the organization; member of the financial excellence team. | Yes |
| Point A | Creating reports to analyze how the Shuttle program meets sustainability standards. Working with customer surveys and KPI's to maximize customer retention. | Yes |
| Ontario Energy Board | Assisting in analyzing financial and operation information, tracking processes and procedures of regulated entities for performance measure. | Yes |
| MRKT 360 | In-depth understanding of the digital marketing industry, understanding the outreach of paid advertising platforms. Involvement in the creating of marketing campaigns. | Yes |
| CBRE | Responding to routine enquires from clients, create and manage documentation for A/P, A/R and the payroll department; calculating commissions issued. | Yes |
| Travelers Insurance | Responsibilities include mail sorting, working on register letters, data-entry for change to policy types, communicating with customers. | Yes |
| HSBC | Helping clients with transactions, provide service to internal/external contacts & providing guidance to operations and risk mitigation departments | Yes |
| MaisonBrison Communications | Participating in different research projects, helping colleagues prepare info for clients like investor relations, presentations, IR board paper, face sheets. | Yes |
- Can I use regular part-time off-campus employment to be enrolled in the FACC 6850?
According to the policy of course FACC 6850, students applying for an off-campus internship must make sure that the LA&PS internship office approves. Students must therefore complete MIAB Form 2Z which may be obtained from PEvans@yorku.ca. As part of this process, students must arrange to have a supervisor or person in charge who provides the school with relevant interim and final report assessments, otherwise they will not be allowed to enroll in the course.
- What should I do if my prospective employer does not agree to sign a contract or provide reports for my internship?
Suppose a student realizes that internship report assessments from the employer will not support his or her internship. In that case, he or she may choose to work part-time for the off-campus employer while working part-time in a MIAB position, thereby allowing the school to obtain interim and final report assessments from MIAB.
