Business Internship or Workplace Project

For the business internship or workplace project, you have the option to complete the BA 495A requirements at your current place of employment; however, you will need to be assigned additional duties or projects that apply to the skills learned in this major.

A semester prior to when you are ready to schedule BA 495A, you will need to submit your proposed internship or workplace project to the BA 495A coordinator for approval. The BA 495A coordinator will have the course added to your schedule. This should be covered in your BA 420 course.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the internship option, you should contact Gina Whalen at [email protected] or Erin Brennan at [email protected].

BA 495A is a senior-level experience that provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency within their selected degree option. The purpose of BA 495A is to work within a professional environment and apply the concepts that were learned in upper-level course work. It requires the assumption of professional duties under the guidance of a mentor.

Students should recognize this as a way to open doors to a new career by obtaining professional experience within the chosen discipline. For students without experience, BA 495A will enable students to validate a level of expertise. For students who are currently working, BA 495A will provide a mechanism to assume additional responsibilities that could lead to a promotion.

BA 495A is a graduation requirement for the Bachelor of Science in Business degree.

BA 495A is offered every semester: fall, spring, and summer.

Yes, the student should obtain an internship or additional workplace project that will best fit the career goals and needs of the student.

While the student can contact Career Services, it is the responsibility of the student to search for and obtain the internship or additional workplace project. Students should search for the BA 495A internship or workplace project with the same determination as obtaining a job. The BA 495A work arrangement provides professional experience and can also open doors and lead to permanent employment offers.

Because you are receiving senior-level credits for this course, you will pay tuition for the course.

Internships and/or additional workplace projects may be paid or unpaid, depending on the company and its policies regarding internships. Often, students can obtain a paid position that meets the criteria of BA 495A. However, some internships and additional workplace projects are unpaid and completed at not-for-profit organizations that are willing to assign professional responsibilities to students because they lack the funds to hire additional staff.

The BSB degree requires the completion of 6 credits within this category. Students can meet this requirement by completing BA 495A for either 6 credits OR 3 credits AND an additional 400-level, 3-credit course within their degree option.

The difference between the 3-credit and 6-credit courses is the number of hours required to be completed. The 3-credit offering of BA 495A requires 150 hours of professional experience during the semester, and the 6-credit offering requires 300 hours of professional experience during the semester.

All the hours must be completed during the semester in which the student has registered for BA 495A/ACCTG 495.

ACCTG 495: Students who are completing the Accounting option may be able to take ACCTG 495 in lieu of BA 495A if their internship or additional workplace project requires them to perform accounting-related duties for their internships. ACCTG 495 follows the same course requirements and hour commitments as BA 495A and will provide accounting students with additional upper-level accounting credits toward professional credentials. The internship or workplace project must be within the accounting discipline and apply accounting skills in a professional position in order to request the ACCTG 495 option on the BA 495A proposal. Both the 3-credit and 6-credit ACCTG 495 courses are offered each semester.

Prerequisites: It is important that students organize their course program of study and follow the recommended academic plan. The prerequisites for BA 495A are completion of BA 321, BA 322, BA 420, and a minimum of 6 credits of upper-division course work in the degree option of the student. It is preferred that the student be in the final year of the degree program so that the student has completed significant advanced course work that will enable the student to demonstrate proficiency in the field. For example, if the intent is to intern in human resources, it is recommended that the student has at least completed MGMT 341.

  • The prerequisites are not waived. The student is representing Penn State and the BSB degree program, and the prerequisites ensure that the student has met the minimum qualifications to uphold the standards of quality and competence that is expected of Penn State students as they enter their profession.

Measurable Deliverables: BA 495A requires the assumption of professional responsibilities with an employer who is willing to mentor you and supervise your progress. The internship or additional work project requires that you complete "measurable deliverables" that can be evaluated objectively and that are expected of a professional within the discipline. These are specific goals that will be completed over the course of your work during the semester.

Journals: The course requires that students submit a journal every week that describes the experiences during the prior week’s workdays. Every day that the student puts in hours toward BA 495A, the student is required to reflect on that day’s experiences. The daily journal entries are then submitted as one Word document each week. Details about the expected journal content are specified in the course materials. Failure to submit the journals by the deadline listed in the course syllabus will result in the hours for that week not being counted toward the BA 495A hours requirement.

Presentation: In addition to the weekly journal submissions, students are required to submit a 15-minute recorded presentation that discusses their BA 495A work experience, the application of their course work, and their career goals. Details about the presentation are specified in the course.

Because this is a professional, senior-level work experience, the student is expected to be mentored by a professional in the discipline. The supervisor should treat the student as any other employee under his or her supervision. The supervisor must complete a midterm evaluation and a final evaluation of the student’s performance and submit these directly to the instructor. These evaluations are provided in the course.

You cannot be supervised by a close friend, a member of your family, or a soon-to-be member of your family (including parents, spouses, in-laws, etc.). This is a standard practice in the business world and likewise for BA 495A. Being supervised by a close friend, family member, or soon-to-be family member has inherent biases associated with the evaluation of performance and as such will be prohibited.

  • Midterm Evaluation: The student should schedule a meeting with the supervisor as the completed hours approach the midway mark to discuss his or her performance in meeting the agreed-upon deliverables. This does not necessarily coincide with the midterm of the semester but is based upon the hours completed. The purpose of the midterm evaluation is to provide the intern with feedback and suggested improvements for successful completion of the BA 495A work experience.
  • Final Evaluation: The student should schedule a meeting with the supervisor as the completed hours approach the final requirement. The purpose of this evaluation is for the supervisor to discuss the student's performance and provide the student with suggestions to guide the student as they move into a professional career.

No, prior work cannot be used to meet this graduation requirement. 

All the required hours for BA 495A must be completed during the semester in which the student is registered for the course.

Most of our students are adults with full-time positions. BA 495A is an opportunity for the student to demonstrate advanced skills in the profession. The reason that most students are completing this degree is to obtain a position in their chosen discipline or to qualify for a promotion.

If you are employed, you cannot use your current position to satisfy the requirements of BA 495A. You must assume new responsibilities or a position that will demonstrate your expertise in your degree option. Students should speak with their management to identify a project they can undertake to complete this requirement.

  • Wish List Project: Every company has a wish list of projects that it would like to complete but is lacking the human or financial resources for. By assuming the responsibility to complete one of these projects, the student will be able to provide the company with a benefit while fulfilling this graduation requirement. Often, this involves project management skills and indicates to management that the student has developed advanced skill sets.
  • Assumption of New Responsibilities: The student can discuss with management the willingness to take on additional responsibilities within the current department or to assist in another department.

Many of our students hold professional positions and have found that the BA 495A work experience enabled them to revisit their careers and re-invent themselves or advance their careers.

  • A regional VP at Merrill Lynch became an “intern” at a different office and realized that he had lost touch with the fundamentals as he had climbed the ladder. The result was that he instituted new programs at his regional offices to refresh his advisers and maintain their skills.
  • A marketing manager at a pharmaceutical company asked to assume full responsibility for the marketing of a new product. The result was a promotion to director of marketing at the corporate office.

If a student can demonstrate that they currently hold a managerial position in the desired discipline/industry with a minimum of 5 years of managerial experience, then the student may potentially qualify for an exemption.

Students must submit proof of management experience via an online form: BA Exemption Request Form

The BSBIC leadership team will review the submitted information and make a determination. If you wish to consider this option, please note the following items before proceeding:

  • Misrepresentation or falsification of information to gain an exemption from a required course would be considered a serious violation of the University’s academic integrity policy and will result in academic sanctions.
  • Titles alone on a résumé will not automatically qualify for an exemption. The BA 495A requirement will only be waived if it is determined that the student has had direct reports in the capacity of a managerial role for a MINIMUM of 5 years. Some titles contain the word "manager," yet they are not responsible for direct oversight of individuals. For example, project managers focus on managing tasks, timelines, and resources rather than managing people in the traditional sense of direct reports. The exemption is specifically designed for individuals experienced in directly managing employees, making personnel decisions, and developing team members. These responsibilities are critical for the skills we aim to develop through this program. Individuals who manage people have authority over the long-term development, performance reviews, or day-to-day management of employees. This distinction is why, for example, a project management position would not meet the criteria for a managerial exemption in our program.
  • Supervisory roles are not equivalent to managerial roles. Supervisor roles, while involving oversight and leadership, differ from managerial roles in terms of decision-making authority, strategic leadership, and the scope of responsibility for teams and organizational outcomes. This is why the five-year managerial threshold is in place for waivers.
  • If a student is approved for an exemption, they must work with their adviser to determine the additional 400-level course work that is required to be taken in its place.

You cannot schedule BA 495A. The course can only be scheduled by the BA 495A coordinator after the student’s BA 495A proposal has been approved.

The process begins with the Intent to Enroll in BA 495A form, followed by the submission of the BA 495A Proposal form. When the proposal is approved, the student will be registered for BA 495A. Both forms are provided to students in BA 420.

Intent to Enroll in BA 495A form: The student should submit this form to the BA 495A coordinator, who will then provide the student with additional information concerning BA 495A and the BA 495A Proposal requirements.

BA 495A Proposal form: This document describes the work that will be performed as part of BA 495A. It includes the name of the company, the position being assumed, the duties and responsibilities of the position, the name and contact information of the supervisor, and the measurable deliverables upon which the student will be evaluated.   The Proposal must be submitted to the BA 495A coordinator for consideration. Upon approval, the BA 495A coordinator will register the student for the requested course.

  • Deadlines: The BA 495A Proposal deadlines are July 15 for fall enrollment, November 15 for spring enrollment, and April 15 for summer enrollment.

BA 495A Proposals may be rejected if they do not meet the criteria set forth by the BSBIC program. Please note, entry-level positions such as filing or clerical work will not be approved. Also, positions that consist mainly of cold-calling for sales will not be approved. While every position might include occasionally performing these duties, the bulk of the responsibilities must be those that require a level of expertise in the discipline.

BA 495A Proposals may be denied if there are no measurable deliverables stated. Measurable deliverables do not include vague or subjective statements such as "works well with others," "acts professionally," and "improve knowledge." Those are expected of all employees regardless of level, and they are very hard to objectively measure. Very often, these types of goals lead to frustration since management may have a different standard than you have. While you believe you are meeting the expectations, you may be in for disappointing evaluations. Measurable deliverables are not only goals that can be accomplished but are objective and specified so that there are no surprises.

If your BA 495A Proposal has not been approved, you will be informed why and what must be done to meet the requirements for BA 495A.

There are opportunities everywhere; you just have to search for them. Every organization has a wish list of things that they would love to tackle but can't because they lack the time, human resources, or finances needed. While you may prefer a paid position in a recognized corporation, do not overlook small businesses in the area or volunteer organizations.

  • One of the prior interns coordinated the Girl Scout Cookie Sale in Philadelphia, which required significant project management skills and human resource management skills. That project resulted in a very highly paid position with the Girls Scouts of America organization as an HR manager.
  • One adult student, who was an executive in the banking industry, decided to build a school in his former village in Africa. He worked with the U.S. Foreign Affairs office and obtained funding for the project and managed the project while dealing with all the government agencies.
  • Students have worked with local schools and developed “after school” programs in their localities, worked with local recreation and parks departments to start youth athletic summer camp programs, worked with drug addiction clinics, worked with the local Chamber of Commerce to create job fairs in a poverty area, created websites for churches, established a youth club, and worked with a professional soccer team in the marketing department creating a Spanish newsletter and social media releases.

These types of work arrangements often provide more experience because the organizations value your skills and will give you a higher level of responsibility than the corporate entity. Try identifying your career goal and your passion and use those to find your BA 495A work experience, because the skills you demonstrate may move you into your dream job.

You should always discuss your situation with your academic adviser, who can counsel you about the degree program and requirements. You can also contact World Campus Career Services about available resources. The World Campus BA 420 course contains information about locating a BA 495A opportunity. You can also contact the BA 495A coordinator with questions.