Internship Program
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.
The internship program gives students work experience that counts as academic credit. For the designated semester, students work 40 hours per week for a criminal justice or criminal justice affiliated agency and complete academic requirements outlined in the orientation session. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive 15 semester hours of University credit.
Due to budget limitations, most criminal justice agencies are not in a position to offer wages to interns. But in addition to gaining resume-building experience, students have a chance to make a good impression on a potential employer.
Eligibility
Students must meet the following requirements to qualify for the program:
- Criminology major
- Completed the three core courses (CCJ3011, 4700, with a "C" or better).
- Minimum GPA of 2.0
Registration
To participate in an internship, you must complete the following.
- Meet application deadline and complete all required forms
- Decide what area of the field you are interested in or which specific agency you would like to intern with
- Register for CCJ 4940 (Internship)
- Meet the University's deadline date for fee payment
- Pass all sections of the CLAST exam
FALL Mandatory Internship Orientation
July 28th & August 25th at 4pm - Hecht
House Conference Room
Hecht House conference room.
If you are unable to attend, contact Robin Richardson, rlr03f@fsu.edu.
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 agencies with existing agreements with Florida State University can be picked up at the intern office. 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 director.
For more information, contact the Criminology and Criminal Justice Intern Office, 850- 645-5691, rlr03f@fsu.edu.
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.