INTERNSHIPS

General. The School of Criminal Justice offers academic credit for approved internships. Internships offer undergraduate students the opportunity to gain pre-professional experience in criminal justice. Credit for approved
internships is granted through the course numbered 202:499 (3 credits). (top)

Academic credit. In general, three hours of academic credit may be earned for 150 hours of internship experience. The course is graded pass/fail. (top)

Eligibility. Juniors or seniors (64+ credit hours) with a minimum grade point average of 3.3 are eligible to take an internship course. (top)

Application procedures. Interested students must first contact their Academic Advisor to determine their eligibility for an internship. Eligible students must complete the internship application form and meet with the SCJ internship instructor, the SCJ Director of Community Outreach. (top)

The internship application form includes a sheet completed by a potential supervisor. It includes the following: (1) the nature and extent of internship responsibilities; (2) dates and hours during which work is to be performed;
(3) the specific results are expected of the intern; (4) professional and other skills the intern is expected to develop; (5) the professional contacts available to the intern; and (6) the resources the intern will be able to use.

The internship application form also includes a sheet completed by the student. It includes the following: (1) the learning the intern expects from the experience; (2) how this experience will relate to the student’s
academic study in criminal justice; (3) how the internship will relate to the student’s career plans; (4) resources the intern expects to use in completing their internship and academic responsibilities; and (5) specific
written reports (term paper, case study, journal, or similar) the intern will produce.

Completed application forms must be signed by the student and internship supervisor and submitted to the SCJ Director of Community Outreach. The Director must approve the internship before the student will be permitted to
register for the internship course.

Completed forms must be submitted to the SCJ Director of Community Outreach for approval no later than the final day of the add/drop period for the Fall and Spring semesters. Internship opportunities are not offered
during the summer or winter for credit hours. (top)

Approval. Students must have approval from the SCJ Director of Community Outreach in order to register for the course. A special permission number is required. (top)

Work plan. Within two weeks after beginning an internship, students must submit a work plan to the SCJ Director of Community Outreach. The plan should describe specific tasks the intern will be performing throughout the
semester. The SCJ Director of Community Outreach must approve the work plan before academic credit can be awarded. (top)

Internship class structure. The SCJ Director of Community Outreach is the instructor of record for the course. The Director may require that everyone registered in the course meet as a class at various points in the semester (e.g., first week orientation, mid semester check-in, end of semester) Internship assessment. The quality of internships–both the degree of professional experience gained by students, and the quality of work they perform–will be assessed at the mid-point and end of each semester.

Interns will complete rating forms that document their experience (Midterm and Final Internship Rating). Internship supervisors will complete forms that rate intern performance (Midterm and Final Supervisor Evaluation).

These forms serve two purposes. First, supervisor ratings of interns are considered in deciding whether intern performance warrants a satisfactory grade. Second, intern ratings guide decisions of whether to approve future
internship applications with the sponsoring agency.

Interns must submit written products as specified in the internship contract before the end of the semester in which they are enrolled. An earlier date may be specified, at the discretion of the SCJ Director of Community Outreach. Failure to submit Internship Ratings, Supervisor Evaluations, or specific written products when due will be cause for a
failing grade. (top)

Restrictions. Internships are intended to integrate pre-professional and academic experience. Because of this, credit may not be awarded retrospectively. That is, students may not apply for internship credit for work performed at some previous time. For example, a student may not request credit during the Fall semester for an internship completed over
the previous summer. Similarly, students may not receive internship credit for normal duties performed through pre-existing employment. (top)

Internship planning. Students seeking internships may consult with the Career Development Center also known as the CDC located in Hill Hall 309/311 or SCJ. The SCJ Director of Community Outreach often receives information about internships in local, state, and federal justice agencies. Also, students sometimes learn of internship opportunities themselves.

Arranging an internship requires careful planning and work beyond the normal classroom experience. Please visit the School of Criminal Justice to obtain forms and additional information. Note, some internships may require a background check, so please plan accordingly. (top)