Center for
Internal Auditing & Cybersecurity Risk Management

Fueling the talent pipeline is just one way the world's premier internal audit program addresses business needs.

The LSU Center for Internal Auditing & Cybersecurity Risk Management helps students in any academic discipline develop both a philosophical and functional understanding of internal auditing, compliance, and risk management at an enterprise scale.

Established in 1985, as the LSU Center for Internal Auditing, the program was the world's first university-based internal auditing training program and has served as the model for numerous universities. In 2023, the program was renamed the LSU Center for Internal Auditing & Cybersecurity Risk Management (LSUCIA&CRM) in recognition of a growing focus on cyber threats.  

4,000+

growing international network of LSUCIA&CRM graduates

80%

of LSUCIA&CRM graduates move into management with four years

Jumpstart your career.

Learn how any LSU student can benefit from the LSUCIA&CRM program.

 

 

Program Details

The LSUCIA&CRM program begins in January and ends in December. It follows a continuous improvement model that seeks new ways to deliver academic instruction and bring real-world best practices to its students. Instruction consists of activity-based learning that can: 

  • Add value
  • Facilitate change
  • Assess risk
  • Enhance corporate governance
  • Improve business processes

The Center for Internal Auditing & Cybersecurity Risk Management consists of three-to-five courses with an emphasis in internal auditing. Students must take a minimum of three courses to be considered as qualifying for the specialization designation. Several departments have differing course requirements for an internal auditing specialization. Contact lsucia@lsu.edu for specifics. 

Learn about the program at an upcoming info session to be held on the following dates at 5:30 p.m. in the BEC Auditorium (1510).
Tuesday, Oct. 22 
Wednesday, Nov. 6 

LSUCIA&CRM's unique and dynamic curriculum emphasizes tactical, strategic, and operational auditing as a value-added consultative function. 

In order to receive a specialization or minor in internal auditing, completion of the program is required. The first course takes place in the spring, and the last course is offered in the fall. Students planning on earning a graduate degree at LSU can also begin the program as undergraduate students and complete the program as graduate students. 

Undergraduate Program

Semester Course
Spring ACCT 3233 Internal Auditing I
Summer ACCT 4233 Case Studies in Internal Auditing
Summer ACCT 4333 Internship in Internal Auditing*
Fall ACCT 4234 Internal Auditing II
Fall ACCT 4237 Governance, Risk & Controls

 

Graduate Program

Semester Course
Spring ACCT 7333 Graduate Internal Auditing
Summer ACCT 7232 Case Studies in Internal Auditing
Summer ACCT 7333 Internship in Internal Auditing*
Fall ACCT 7234 Operational Auditing
Fall ACCT 4237 Governance, Risk & Controls

 

*Internship course is offered in the Spring, Summer and Fall semester.

For course descriptions, please refer to the LSU General Catalog

  • Undergraduate students: enrollment is open to students in any major; a minimum 3.0 GPA or 3.0 in the last 30 hours is required

  • Graduate students admitted to any LSU graduate program are eligible to register for the program

  • Practitioners are welcome in either the graduate or undergraduate program

  • To register, a student needs to be enrolled at LSU, Baton Rouge as a full-time student or non-degree seeking student

The LSUCIA&CRM has a highly successful internship program. Through an internship, students receive on-the-job training which provides valuable learning experience in the field of internal auditing while earning academic credit toward graduation. Each summer, 100-150 students work on internal audit staffs across the country. The internship program has been expanded to include fall and spring internships. As of 2024, more than 2,900 LSUCIA&CRM students have been placed in internships.

Salary and Travel
LSUCIA&CRM interns receive paid internships and generally earn between $10 and $32 an hour, depending on location and company policy. The 2021 intern class earned $24 per hour on average. The amount of travel depends on the organization and the type of audit engagement. Internal auditors are typically expected to travel 25 percent of the time on average. Most auditors travel domestically; however, there are opportunities to travel internationally.

Many highly recognized and prestigious local and international companies recruit from the LSUCIA&CRM program every fall. These companies seek to hire interns and full-time employees throughout the year, and the LSUCIA&CRM program facilitates the connection to recruiters. Recent companies that hired LSUCIA&CRM interns include: 

 

  • Amedisys

  • BlueCross BlueShield

  • Caesars Entertainment

  • Crowe Horwath LLP

  • Deloitte

  • EisnerAmper

  • Entergy

  • Ernst & Young

  • Fannie Mae

  • Ferguson

  • Fidelity Investments

  • Goldman Sachs

  • Grant Thornton

  • Halliburton

  • KPMG

  • Lamar

  • LWCC

  • Marathon Petroleum

  • Moss Adams

  • Nabors Industries

  • Nestlé-Purina

  • PWC

  • Protiviti

  • Quanta Services

  • Royal Bank of Canada (RSB)

  • Schlumberger Limited (SLB)

  • Stinnett & Associates

  • Synchrony Financial

  • Vulcan Materials

  • Weaver

LSUCIA&CRM has no formal application process and is open to any student who meets the program requirements. Interested students are encouraged to speak with an LSUCIA&CRM representative; you can do so by attending one of the informational sessions held each fall or emailing lsucia@lsu.edu to request a meeting.
 
Undergraduates who wish to pursue the specialization or minor must register for the spring LSUCIA&CRM course (ACCT 3233) during the advance course scheduling period in the fall. To declare the minor, please consult an academic advisor or counselor in your senior college. 
 
Graduate students who wish to pursue the specialization should speak with their faculty advisor. 

A Career in Internal Audit

Internal auditors take a holistic look at companies to minimize risk, drive efficiency, ensure compliance, and maximize effectiveness.

These professionals provide independent consulting and assurance that organizational governance, risk management, and control processes operate effectively. The curriculum has evolved to include a focus on cybersecurity risks, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, and the implications of artificial intelligence. Internal auditors are known for professionalism, objectivity, and the value-added impact they can have on an organization's success.

LSUCIA&CRM students receive career placement assistance during college and throughout their careers. Beyond internal auditing, alumni have opportunities in consulting, information technology, and risk service. Experiences gained through internal auditing provide an excellent overview of operations and business processes, which can lead to management positions. Eighty percent of our graduates move into management within four years. 

LSUCIA&CRM has placed around 200 students from numerous academic disciplines in rewarding careers in the last five years. A new focus on cybersecurity and ESG will strengthen these impressive outcomes. Students can also count on a worldwide network of alumni.

 

Putting the cred in credentials

One of the main focuses of the LSUCIA&CRM program is certification. Internal audit courses offer valuable preparation for the IIA’s Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam, which full-time students may take before graduation. Professional certifications significantly enhance marketability and provide a head start on career development.

LSUCIA&CRM offers preparation for the following certification exams:

  • Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
  • Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  • Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)
  • Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA)

 

 

 

Students present about cybersecurity, they refer to a slide and gesture as the crowd listens.

 

LSU CYBERSECURITY CLINIC

The LSUCIA&CRM program supports the LSU Cybersecurity Clinic, a collaborative effort between the university and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center, funded by the NSA. In addition to providing free consulting services and seminars to small businesses, the clinic offers select CIA&CRM students opportunities to enhance their cybersecurity education, gain experience, and earn professional certifications.

 

 

 

Flores MBA Specialization in Internal Audit

LSU offers the unique opportunity to complete a Flores MBA Program while receiving a specialization in internal auditing.

Your career opportunities will be significantly enhanced since you can interview with organizations that recruit Flores MBAs, as well as, the significantly larger group that recruits for internal auditing. Flores MBA placement is very high for both internships and full-time placement. Approximately 30 percent of the Flores MBAs at LSU select internal auditing as their specialization, the majority of which also receive internships through the program.

Undergraduate students majoring in business and immediately entering the One-Year MBA program can enroll in the CIA&CRM program during the spring semester of their senior year. This allows students to take the CIA&CRM case studies and an internship the summer after graduation and complete the CIA&CRM program in the fall semester of the MBA program. 

 

 

Alumni Testimonials

LSUCIA&CRM's greatest endorsement is the success of its alumni. You will find these professionals leading departments and organizations around the globe. 

 

Why internal auditing at LSU?

Internal Auditing Education Partnership (IAEP) in blue on a white background

LSU was the first university to offer an internal auditing program and was designated as the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Pilot School in 1985. LSU's program was the first at a university to obtain “Center for Internal Auditing Excellence” status, which is the highest level of participation in the Internal Auditing Education Partnership (IAEP) program. The IIA established the IAEP to coordinate internal auditing education efforts worldwide, and the LSUCIA&CRM serves as its model for internal audit education programs.

Photo of students and recruiters at an event, the image is taken from above

During the spring and fall semesters, students benefit from weekly practitioner visits.  More than 100 practitioners from approximately 70 organizations visit annually.

 A female CIA&CRM student stands outdoors in front of a sign indicating an office of Deloitte, where she is interning.

CIA&CRM students receive internship and career placement assistance during the program and throughout their careers. They can also tap into a thriving alumni community.

Lydia Lafleur stands at the front of the classroom and talks about the program's benefits.

The Case Studies course covers 100 internal audit topics in a team presentation format. The course instills attributes that recruiters seek in entry-level internal auditors -- communication skills, teamwork, creativity, integrity, and analysis.

Students wear professional attire as they sit around the table, smiling and talking during a study break.

Hundreds of CIA&CRM students have enhanced their marketability and earning potential by completing professional certifications before graduation.

 

Contact Us

Center for Internal Auditing & Cybersecurity Risk Management
4000 Business Education Complex
501 South Quad Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
225-578-6221
lsucia@lsu.edu 

Follow Us

Keep up with the LSUCIA&CRM activities on our social channels. 

LinkedIn logo in white
Instagram logo in white
Facebook logo in white
 

Invest in Us

Give to the Glenn Sumners Center for Internal Auditing Excellence Fund to support scholarship, activities, and more.

Give Now