What is an internship?
An intentional supervised learning experience in which the ultimate goals is to increase a student’s knowledge and sharpen skills within a work or services environment. Students choose to participate in internships for a variety of reasons. An internship is a good way to check out your interest in a possible career field. Not only will you have the opportunity to build your knowledge base and test your skills by doing your internship, but you will have the opportunity to be exposed to the work of others within the organization and find out about additional job possibilities.
Criminal Justice Internship Requirements
- Student must be in good academic standing.
- Students cannot be on academic probation.
- Application packet must be complete prior to registration.
- Student is responsible for identifying and applying to agency for internship. The internship program coordinator can assist in making suggestions.
- All forms in packet must be completed and signed. The included liability waiver must be notarized by a notary public.
- Students cannot complete internship with agency that is also their full-time employment or performing the same duties as their full-time employment within that agency/organization.
- Any student in the same agency/organization, but performing different duties must have prior program coordinator approval.
- Students must complete 100 hours with the agency during the semester enrolled for CRIJ-4331 “CJ Field Experience”. Students cannot complete the 100 hours prior to enrollment.
- Once the application packet is completed and returned to the CJ internship program coordinator, students can register for “CRIJ-4331 CJ Field Experience”, the associated course for internships in the CJ Department.
- Complete all course work/assignments for CRIJ-4331 “CJ Field Experience”
- Optionally, if students are completing the Crime Analysis Certificate, complete CRIJ-4332 Field Experience in Crime Analysis.
Example Agencies
- Any law enforcement agency:
- Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Constable, etc.
- Courts: Any city/county/state/federal court
- Attorney’s Office: This includes county District Attorney’s Offices, Public Defender’s Office, or private law firm.
- Non-government organizations (NGO) or Non-profits (501c3). Must be criminal justice related and approved by internship program coordinator.