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ACIS Experience Courses

Both the ABA and ACIS majors require students to select at least one 3-credit ACIS Experience course:

  • ACIS 3714 - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Experience
  • ACIS 3754 - Undergraduate Internship in Accounting
  • ACIS 4714 - Justice for Fraud Victims Project Experience

Pamplin+ requires all students in the Pamplin College of Business to complete 2 experiences, an "internship" experience and an "other" experience.  Students majoring in ABA or ACIS will complete one ACIS Experience in place of the Pamplin+ "internship" experience.  The Pamplin+ "other" experience is still required, but students may choose any qualifying experience to meet this college-level requirement.

While students may participate/volunteer in these ACIS Experiences multiple semesters, enrollment in these courses will be limited to one semester per course.  

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Experience (VITA) - ACIS 3714

VITA is a course that combines classroom learning with hands-on service-learning experience where students assist taxpayers from Blacksburg and surrounding communities with the preparation of their income tax returns.  Students gain an introduction to basic income tax preparation including tax law and regulations, tax preparation software, and professional ethics issues.  Training prepares students for the IRS Tax Preparer Certification exams.  After certification, students interview selected tax payers and help prepare their returns.  All work is supervised by ACIS faculty. 

This course is offered only during the Spring semester to coincide with tax filing deadlines.  While the course has no prerequisites, students are encouraged to wait until the Spring of their junior year to enroll in this course.

Undergraduate Internship in Accounting - ACIS 3754

Students who wish to earn credit for an accounting internship may seek approval from the Department of Accounting & Information Systems to enroll in this course.  Interships will be evaluated for sufficient duration and rigor to warrant credit.  Students should seek enrollment authorization no later than the semester following the completion of the internship.  As part of the course requirements, students will reflect on their internship experience as it relates to their career goals.

Students are responsible for securing their own internship.  Students often find these opportunities by participating in Business Horizons and ACIS Student Organizations.  Qualifying internships may be paid or unpaid. 

Justice for Fraud Victims Project Experience (JFVP) - ACIS 4714

JFVP is a service-learning course in which students use the tools and techniques of accounting and data analytics to evaluate and build cases to aid victims of alleged white-collar crimes.  Students experience the real-world application of accounting and business knowledge, and analytics in forensic accounting, litigation support, and fraud investigation.  Students conduct hands-on work under supervision to complete case intake and strategic planning; apply fraud investigation and forensic accounting techniques; examine legal documents for purpose and content, document procedures, analysis, and findings; and communicate results to stakeholders.

In addition to the prerequisites for this course, ACIS 2116 and (ACIS 2504 or BIT 2406), students must also seek approval from the course coordinator, Stacey Ferris, prior to enrollment in this course.