Criminal Justice Internship: CRJS 4970
An undergraduate criminal justice internship holds significant importance in a student’s academic and career development. It serves as a bridge between classroom learning and real-world application, allowing students to put theoretical knowledge into practice. During an internship, students have the chance to work alongside professionals in the field, gaining invaluable insights into the intricacies of the criminal justice system, law enforcement, or related areas. This hands-on experience not only enhances their understanding of the subject but also provides a platform to develop crucial skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and effective communication. Moreover, internships often serve as a networking opportunity, enabling students to establish connections that may prove beneficial in securing future job opportunities. Ultimately, an undergraduate criminal justice internship equips students with the practical experience and professional connections necessary to launch a successful career in this important and dynamic field.
Students should make arrangements for their internship at least one semester prior to their enrollment in CRJS 4970. Most students complete their internship in the summer between their junior and senior years.
Prerequisites include: the completion of major required courses, a major GPA of 2.25, and overall GPA of 2.00 and consent of the internship coordinator.
The internship can either be taken for six credits (200 hours), nine credits (300 hours) or twelve credits (400 hours), and it is graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
If you have any additional questions, please contact the internship coordinator or department chair.
Tips
- Start looking for an agency early. Usually, agencies will only accept one intern a semester and you may be competing against not only students from BSU, but from other universities across the state.
- Don’t be shy about asking your potential agency questions, such as what you will be allowed to do, what their expectations are, schedules, equipment, etc.
- Be professional when contacting potential internship opportunities. An internship is the entry into your profession, and you want to make a good impression.
- Address any concerns you may have early so they do not grow into a larger issue.
- Utilize the internship coordinator. Feel free to ask questions and seek input when choosing an internship agency.
Forms & Information
Students must fill out attachment A document and submit it to the internship coordinator. Once this is filled out your internship agency will be sent a memorandum of agreement electronically via docusign. They must sign this agreement. The purpose of this Memorandum of Agreement is to outline the terms of the training/internship experience for the student at the College/University and to identify the responsibilities of the College/University and the Facility.
FAQ's
It’s never too early to start thinking about where you want to do your internship. We recommend that you give serious consideration to your internship at the start of your junior year.
Find a position with a criminal justice agency that you and the internship coordinator determine will provide you with a meaningful experience. We suggest researching a position within an agency most like the one you would like to work for when you graduate. Remember that your internship experience and the positive connections you make may prove valuable when seeking a position after graduation.
We advise completing your internship the summer between your junior and senior year. Internships are offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
- Attend the mandatory internship orientation meeting. This is held at the end of September for spring interns and again the beginning of February for summer and fall interns. The meeting dates and times will be posted at least two weeks before the scheduled date. Students can attend in person or via zoom remotely.
- Contact the agency you wish to intern with and see what positions they have to offer. It’s not a bad idea to have an alternative agency in mind in case your primary choice doesn’t work out.
- Once you have a verbal agreement with the agency, contact the Internship Coordinator to pick up the necessary forms you will need to have completed.
- Have all forms signed and returned by the application deadline. The application deadline for the fall internship is July 1st, spring internship is December 1st and the deadline for the summer internship is April 1st.
- Once all of the paperwork has been filed and approved, work with your internship agency to set your schedule.
Dr. Amber Laffin.
Yes, a list of agencies has been developed that have accepted BSU criminal justice majors in the past, along with the contact information for those agencies. Feel free to research the agencies on the list. You may also wish to contact Career Services, as they have additional resources that you may find useful.
Yes, generally there is at least one on-site visit along with telephone contacts and correspondence via email.
Yes, there is one written assignment that is styled as a journaling project due by the end of the academic semester after you complete your internship. The written assignment requirements will be provided to you by the coordinator. You will also be required to respond to weekly discussion postings with your peers.
Generally internships are not paid positions, although some are available.
It is very possible that if you have a criminal history or past behaviors that appear to be detrimental to the criminal justice profession, you will experience difficulty in securing an internship. However, there are some exceptions. Please discuss this with the internship coordinator before seeking out agencies for an internship. You must be honest with the internship agency about any criminal history.
Generally, no. An internship is an opportunity to learn new responsibilities and gain fresh experiences.