The Opportunities Seem Endless
An internship is an excellent way to investigate career possibilities and expand your knowledge of all the careers available in the criminology and criminal justice fields.
Internship Program
The internship program gives students work experience that counts as academic credit. For the designated semester, students work 40 hours per week for a criminology or criminal justice affiliated agency and complete academic requirements outlined in the orientation session. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn 15 credit hours: 3 credit hours toward major requirements and 12 toward general electives.
An internship in criminology can be used to satisfy the College's requirement for a minor in another department or program.
Students also have the option of working part-time for 20 hours per week for a criminology of criminal justice affiliated agency and complete academic requirements outlined in the orientation session. Upon successful completion of the program for 8 credit hours: 3 credit hours toward major requirements and 12 toward general electives. A part-time internship does not satisfy the College's requirement for a minor in another department or program. Also, the possibility of working part-time is ultimately up to the agency. Some agencies will not take part-time interns.
Most internships are unpaid positions; however, students gain valuable experience and develop professional relationships with potential employers.
Eligibility
Students must meet the following requirements to qualify for the program:
- Criminology major
- Junior or Senior
- Complete the three core courses with a grade of C or better: CCJ 2020, CCJ 3011, CCJ 4700.
- Minimum GPA of 2.0
Registration
To participate in an internship, you must complete the following.
- Meet all eligibility requirements (see above)
- Decide what area of the field you are interested in or which specific agency you would like to intern with
- Meet application deadline and complete all required forms
- Register for CCJ 4940 (Internship)
- Attend a mandatory orientation session
- Meet the University's deadline date for fee payment
Deadlines
- Spring 2012: August 3rd - October 21st (Federal Applications by Sep. 23rd)
- Summer 2012: January 9th - March 9th (Federal Applications by Feb. 3rd)
- Fall 2012: April 9th - June 22nd (Federal Applications by May 25th)
Application
Employers
The employers are a wide variety of agencies and organizations. Past participating organizations have included local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies as well as legal firms, private security services, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. We ask employers to provide interns with a well-rounded view of an agency by assigning them to a variety of projects across the agency.
You can intern with any agency regardless of geographic location. A list of potential agencies can be found under 'Sponser Agencies' tab. You may also come in to discuss options with the internship coordinator. The list provided is not an exhaustive list; students can find positions at other criminology and criminal justice related agencies, but to receive academic credit for the internship, you must get approval from the College's internship coordinator.
Contact Information
For further information on the internship program and process, please contact the Internship Coordinator:
Christi Falco
Phone: (850) 645-5691
Fax: (850) 644-9614
csf07c@fsu.edu
Spring Office Hours:
Tuesday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Wednesday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Agency Requirements
Requirements vary from agency to agency. Be prepared to face interviews, psychological exams, physicals, polygraphs, background investigations, and drug screenings. Each agency will determine whether you pass or fail their required tests.
Academic Component
In addition to the work performed at the internship, students are required to complete academic assignments. These may take the form of an activity log, special assignments, academic papers, or formal research projects.
Since interns are located in a multitude of locations, most of the communication between the faculty and interns is conducted electronically, via e-mail and Web-based instruction. Thus, a working knowledge of these media is necessary.
