Criminal Justice
Department of Criminal Justice
Education Arts
Phone: (218) 755-3734
Fax: (218) 755-3787
Mailing Address:
1500 Birchmont Drive NE, #35
Bemidji, MN 56601-2699
Internships
Criminal Justice Internship: CRJS 4970
If you are pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice a 400 hour internship is required. This internship is a full-time supervised field instruction in a public or private criminal justice agency. The student is expected to demonstrate his/her acquired knowledge and skill to the criminal justice practice. Students should arrange for this internship at least one semester in advance of the semester of enrollment. The internship is twelve (12) credits and as such it makes you a full-time student for purposes of financial aid and graduation planning. The internship is graded as Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory. The prerequisites are the completion of major required courses along with a major GPA of 2.25; overall GPA of 2.00 and consent of the internship coordinator. Generally most students complete their internship the summer between their junior and senior years. Internships are not available during fall semester. If you have any additional questions please contact the internship coordinator or department chair
Internship Scholarship Opportunity
The Penny Fellowship is a scholarship program for Minnesota State College and University (MnSCU) students participating in low or unpaid community and public service internships. The Penny Fellowship awards semester stipends of up to $1,500 for internships in Minnesota and $2,500 for internships in Washington D.C. to MnSCU students participating in service-related internships that offer little or no pay to offset the cost of living. Additional information can be found at the website.
For more information you can contact:
Kari Winter,
Associate Director of Development and Alumni Outreach
E-mail: Development@msusa.net
Frequently asked questions
When should I start thinking about my internship?
It is never too early to start thinking about where you want to do your internship. It is recommended that you give serious consideration to your internship at the beginning of your junior year.
How do I select an appropriate internship?
Find a position with a criminal justice agency that you and the internship coordinator agree will provide you with a meaningful experience. A suggestion is to locate a position within an agency most like the one you would like to work for when you graduate. Remember that your internship experience may prove valuable when seeking a position after graduation.
When can I take my internship?
It is advised that you take your internship the summer between your junior and senior year. Internships are offered during the spring and summer semesters. Internships are not offered during fall semester.
What are the steps in arranging my internship?
Attend the mandatory Internship Planning Meeting! This is usually held at the end of September for spring interns and again January for summer interns. The meeting dates and times will be prominently posted.
Contact the agency you wish to intern with and see what they have to offer. It is not a bad idea to have an alternative agency in mind in case your primary choice does not 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 spring internship is December 1st and for summer internships April 1st.
Once all of the paperwork has been filed and approved, work with your internship agency to set your schedule.
Who is the internship coordinator?
Dr.Michael Herbert
Is there a resource available that can help me in choosing an internship agency?
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. You may feel free to examine the list. You may also wish to contact Career Services, as they have additional resources that you may find useful.
Will I be contacted during my internship by the Coordinator?
Yes, generally there is at least one on-site visit along with telephone contacts and correspondence via email.
Are there any written assignments for the internship?
Yes, there is one written assignment that is styled as a journaling project due by the end of the academic semester that you complete your internship. The written assignment requirements will be provided to you by the Coordinator.
Are internships paid positions?
Generally internships are not paid positions, although some are available.
Will a criminal record or other past behaviors affect my ability to secure an internship?
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 probably experience difficulty in securing an internship.
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 within the state.
- Don't be shy about asking your potential agency questions such as what you will be allowed to do and what their expectations are, schedules, equipment, etc.
- Be professional! This is the start of your entry into the profession and you want to make a good impression.
- Address small concerns early as opposed to waiting for them to grow past your control.
- Utilize the internship coordinator! Feel free to ask questions and seek input when choosing an internship agency.