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Internships

Our criminal justice department provides you the opportunity to participate in an internship as part of your program. The internship enables you to earn three credits during a given semester upon successful completion of all requirements. We encourage you to find an internship that will afford you the opportunity to translate theory into practice, to apply and gain knowledge, and to experience first-hand the operations and functions of a criminal justice agency. The internship may help you to clarify career goals and explore future employment opportunities. Professional associations and contacts made during the internship may help you as you embark upon a career in the criminal justice or a related field.

The following agencies participate in the criminal justice internship program:

•     Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies
•     Courts (superior and district)
•     Probation departments
•     Clerk magistrate offices
•     District attorney offices
•     Law firms
•     Public defender services
•     Mediation programs
•     Victim/witness programs
•     Correctional institutions
•     Alternative sentencing programs
•     Community-based programs
•     Juvenile facilities
•     Youth services
•     Private and corporate security
•     Loss prevention programs
•     Task forces
•     Regulatory commissions
•     Other related agencies

Alternatives to Internships

The department of criminal justice strongly encourages students to choose the internship option as part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, but we do offer two alternatives to an internship to meet the needs and interests of all students.

The two alternative options for students are discussed below:

Criminal Justice Capstone

This course provides students with an opportunity to reflect broadly upon their education at 51³Ô¹Ï and apply course materials to organizations in the criminal justice system. Specific learning acquired through academic experiences will be applied to the various agencies in criminal justice. The course emphasizes the connection between theory and research to current practices in the field of criminal justice. One and a half lecture hours and 6 hours of field work per week.

Directed Study in Criminal Justice

An individualized program involving study in depth of some aspect of Criminal Justice management or research under direction of the Criminal Justice faculty. Research paper required. Students must present a proposal for approval and subsequently defend the research paper at a meeting with the Criminal Justice Committee.