How do I go about getting an internship approved?
The first step is to see the faculty member for you area of interest (see the list above). You’ll complete an internship registration form and get them to sign it. Then, bring that form back to the main office, and we will register you for the course. NOTE: Faculty are not required to approve every internship—it is at their discretion.
I have a general area of interest, but I don’t know what internships are out there. What should I do?
You have several options. If you’re a criminology major, the undergraduate coordinator periodically send messages on the criminology listserv which often include internship opportunities. You can also contact agencies directly, to see what internships might be available. Finally, you can also consult with the faculty member for your internship area, to see if they have some suggestions for you.
Can I do more than one internship?
Yes, but you can only count 3 hours of CCJ 4940 toward your graduation requirements. That means you could split those hours up between more than one internship, or that you do you second internship for the experience and not for course credit.
Do I have to do an internship locally?
No, you can intern wherever you make arrangements. If you live in South Florida, for example, and would like to go home over the summer to do an internship, that should be no problem.
When do I have to register for the internship?
Since we do the registration, you can apply to us for registration any time before the final “add” date of a semester. Sooner is always better, of course.
I messed up, and forgot to register for course credits for an internship I completed. What can I do?
See the undergraduate coordinator. In some instances, we may be able to register you for an internship you’ve already completed.
What steps do I follow once I have decided to do an internship?
- Decide what component of the criminal justice you are most interested in (law enforcement, corrections, juveniles, victim services, legal services, courts?).
- Decide when you will do your internship (fall, spring, or summer)
- Meet with the professor who oversees internships in your area of interest.
- Decide where you would like to internship. To find an internship you can search the internet, explore the agencies provided here, review our list on the internships page, or speak with a professor. It might take you some time to find an internship so you must be will to devote time to this task.
- Once you have located a place you would like to intern at, contact the agency to see if they have an internship coordinator or director or if they accept student interns. If they work with student interns inquire about their application process.
- Once you have completed their application process (i.e., interviewed at the agency) and are hired, you need to have the internship supervisor sign the department’s required form.
- You also need to obtain the signature of the faculty member who oversees internships in your area of interest. This form should then be submitted to the department’s front office. After you submit this form the department will register you for the course.