UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The first graduating class of the Penn State Smeal College of Business One-Year Master of Accounting (MAcc) Program has announced both a 100 percent internship placement rate and a 100 percent job placement rate at graduation. The students received their diplomas at Penn State’s summer 2013 commencement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 10.

The graduating class of more than 20 students interned over the spring semester for companies including Ernst & Young, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Deloitte and Grant Thornton.

“The internship was a great learning experience,” said Matthew Hickey, who interned at Deloitte in Pittsburgh, and subsequently accepted the firm’s full-time job offer. “Interning during busy season really allowed me to learn and do a lot of important work. Every week was a new challenge, and I even got to work face-to-face with various employees of the client, including the chief financial officer of the company.”

Like Hickey, many of the students converted their internships into full-time job offers. Before graduation, all 23 graduating students had accepted full-time offers in their field.

“I now know what to expect as a new hire since the work I did during my internship mirrors the work I will see as a first-year associate,” said Carlene Murdy, who accepted a full-time position with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Boston after completing her internship there.

The One-Year MAcc Program is intended for recent college graduates who need to complete the required 150 credit hours necessary to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.

“The material in our courses is all relevant to our future as accountants, and our teachers focus our learning on material that will help us in our careers and with passing the CPA exams,” said Hickey. “The courses are challenging, but students are provided with every resource possible to be successful.”

In addition to the core courses in accounting, which include classes in accounting information systems, forensic accounting, taxes, and business planning and financial statement analysis, the program includes coursework in business law and finance, and requires an internship experience. MAcc students also complete the same leadership communications training that has been a hallmark of the Penn State Smeal MBA Program for decades.

“The Smeal faculty have always gone above and beyond for students in helping them reach their career goals. They are willing to work one-on-one with you to get you to where you want to be after graduation,” said Murdy. “All the resources I knew I needed, such as exposure to the Big Four (public accounting firms) and career fair opportunities to a disciplined classroom curriculum that would prepare me for the CPA, were all there for me to take advantage of.”

About the One-Year MAcc ProgramThe Smeal College of Business' One-Year MAcc Program is delivered in an executive format and is designed for high-potential college graduates from Penn State or elsewhere who require additional coursework to be eligible for CPA certification. The One-Year MAcc Program spans the fall, spring and summer semesters and culminates with the granting of a master of accounting degree in August.