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 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.
Most internships are unpaid positions; however, students gain invaluable experience and develop professional relationships with potential employers.
Eligibility
Students must meet the following requirements to qualify for the program:
- Criminology major
- Completed the three core courses (CCJ 2020, CCJ 3011, CCJ 4700, with a "C" or better).
- Minimum GPA of 2.0
- Pass all sections of the CLAST exam
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
- Attend the internship orientation session
Application
Internship Application Deadlines:
Fall 2008 April 14 - June 27th
Federal applications by May 30th
Spring 2009 Aug. 4 - Oct. 17
Federal applications by Sept. 30th
Summer 2009 Jan. 12 - Mar. 13th
Federal applications by Feb. 2nd
Mandatory Internship Orientation for Summer 2008 Interns
April 15th at 5:00 p.m. or May 8th at 5:00 p.m.
Hecht House Conference Room
If you are unable to attend, contact Rhonda Cupp, CrimInternshipCoordinator@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 Rhonda Cupp at the Criminology and Criminal Justice Intern Office by phone at 850-645-5691 or e-mail Rhonda Cupp, CrimInternshipCoordinator@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
The internship program offers students an opportunity to gain marketable experience while earning three credit hours toward their major requirement and 12 hours as elective credit.
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.