CRMJ 2396 Criminal Justice Internship is a three-credit-hour course that provides students with an opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience in a criminal justice-related workplace. At Vol State, this type of internship experience is also known as Work-Based Learning (WBL).
The course combines supervised experience at an approved internship site with academic coursework designed to connect what you have learned in your Criminal Justice courses with real-world professional experience.
How can CRMJ 2396 Apply Toward My Degree?
CRMJ 2396 may be used as an elective toward the:
- Criminal Justice Technical Certificate
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Criminal Justice
- Associate of Science (AS) in Criminal Justice
- Associate of Arts (AA) in Criminal Justice
Students should consult with their academic advisor to confirm how CRMJ 2396 applies to their specific degree or certificate requirements.
Internship Hour Requirements
A total of 135 internship hours are required for this course.
Students must complete a minimum of 67.5 hours at or working directly with their approved internship placement. These hours consist of practical, hands-on experience with the internship agency or organization.
The remaining 67.5 hours consist of direct instruction and course-related academic work. These hours may include assigned readings, videos, discussions, written assignments, reflections, research, and other instructional activities associated with the internship course.
Together, the 67.5 placement hours and 67.5 direct-instruction hours equal the required 135 total hours for the course.
Internship Eligibility Requirements
To participate in CRMJ 2396 Criminal Justice Internship, students should meet the following requirements:
- Be a full-time student, or a part-time student with approval from the Criminal Justice Internship Coordinator.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Have successfully completed at least 9 credit hours of Criminal Justice (CRMJ) coursework with a 2.5 GPA or receive approval from the Criminal Justice Coordinator.
- Demonstrate good attendance, responsible work habits, professionalism, and a positive attitude.
- Be able to perform the duties and responsibilities required by the internship agency or organization.
- Receive a recommendation or approval from the instructor.
- Receive all required College approvals for participation in the internship.
- Be enrolled in a program-related internship that provides an opportunity to develop appropriate professional competencies.
- Pay all required College fees by the applicable deadlines.
- Agree to follow the policies, procedures, and regulations of both the internship agency and Vol State.
- Maintain appropriate professional conduct and a strong work ethic throughout the internship.
- Complete and submit all required internship and Work-Based Learning documentation.
- Agree to the terms and conditions established in the applicable Work-Based Learning agreements and policies.
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee placement with a particular agency. Internship agencies may establish additional requirements, such as an application, interview, background check, orientation, or other screening process.
How Do I Find an Internship?
There are two primary ways to obtain an internship placement.
Option 1: Find Your Own Internship Site
You may identify a criminal justice-related agency or organization where you would like to complete your internship.
If you already have a location in mind, you are responsible for contacting the agency and determining whether it is willing to accept you as an intern.
Once an agency agrees to consider you for an internship, the required internship/Work-Based Learning paperwork must be completed and approved.
Registration for CRMJ 2396 requires department approval and a registration permit. You will not be able to register for the course until approval has been granted and the permit has been issued.
Internship hours cannot begin until your placement has been approved and you have received authorization to begin.
Many criminal justice agencies have their own requirements. Depending on the placement, you may be required to complete an application, interview, background check, orientation, confidentiality agreement, or other agency-specific requirements.
Option 2: Ask for Help Identifying a Potential Internship Site
The Criminal Justice Program has worked with agencies and organizations that have hosted our students in the past and may be able to recommend potential internship opportunities.
To help identify an appropriate placement, you should consider what area of criminal justice interests you. Examples include:
- Law enforcement
- Corrections
- Probation and parole
- Courts
- Juvenile justice
- Victim services
- Investigations
- Forensics
- Security
- Loss prevention
- Fraud investigation
- Other criminal justice-related fields
A recommendation does not guarantee placement. The agency ultimately determines whether it is able and willing to accept a student as an intern.
Student Responsibility
Regardless of how an internship site is identified, it is the student's responsibility to contact the agency, follow through with the placement process, and ensure that all required paperwork is completed.
Because agency approval, background checks, interviews, and paperwork may take time, students are strongly encouraged to begin looking for an internship site well before the semester in which they plan to enroll in CRMJ 2396.
Why Complete an Internship?
A Criminal Justice Internship provides an opportunity to:
- Gain practical, hands-on experience in a professional setting.
- Apply concepts learned in Criminal Justice courses to real-world situations.
- Explore a career before deciding whether it is right for you.
- Develop professional skills and workplace experience.
- Build professional contacts and potential references.
- Strengthen your résumé.
- Learn how criminal justice agencies and organizations operate.
- Discover career opportunities you may not have previously considered.
You do not have to know exactly what criminal justice career you want before completing an internship. The experience itself can help you identify the areas of criminal justice that interest you most.
Interested in CRMJ 2396?
Contact the Criminal Justice Internship Coordinator:
Kevin Marcus Cook
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
kevin.cook@volstate.edu
In your email, please provide:
- Your name
- Your V#
- The semester you are interested in completing the internship
- The area or areas of criminal justice that interest you
- Whether you already have a potential internship site in mind
The Internship Coordinator will work with you to discuss your interests, possible internship opportunities, eligibility, required paperwork, and the approval and registration process.
Important: Registration for CRMJ 2396 requires approval and a registration permit.
