An Agency's Perspective

Eligibility Criteria for Students

Participants must:

• Be second semester juniors, seniors, or graduate students
• Be enrolled in the Criminal Justice program
• Have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5
• Be approved by their academic advisor, who determines if the prerequisite course work has been completed
• Have discussed placement options with the internship coordinator to ensure congruency with career goals
• Register and pay for 3 to 12 elective credits
• Sign an insurance and liability form releasing agencies and the University from any responsibility for possible injuries sustained during an internship

Expectations for Interns

• Be prompt and timely in their work
• Perform all assigned tasks to the best of their ability
• Follow all agency rules and regulations
• Conduct themselves as professionals
• Submit required internship assignments (e.g., learning objectives, weekly reports, and a final paper)
• Spend the required amount of time with the agency

History

MSU's School of Criminal Justice is one of the oldest and largest criminal justice programs in the country. It is an established unit within the College of Social Science. It offers a Bachelor of Arts program and graduate program at the Master's and Doctoral levels. A Master of Science is offered to forensic science students. Since the School's beginning in 1935, the internship program, originally known as field study, has been a part of the curriculum - combining academic teaching with the knowledge and talents of practitioners.

Primary Purpose

The criminal justice internship program is an integral component and extension of the academic offerings of MSU's School of Criminal Justice. It is designed to enhance the student's total academic experience through a planned program of observation, study, and participation in a selected criminal justice agency. It is viewed as a "capstone" to the student's academic experience.

Agency Benefits

• Access to highly qualified candidate pool for anticipated vacancies
• Minimize recruiting costs and training time
• Observe potential employees under actual working conditions without long-term commitment
• Establish connections to University resources
• Meet personnel demands during peak periods and for special projects

Student Benefits

• Explore personal career choices
• Develop professional work habits and improve communication skills
• Gain hands-on work experience
• Acquire new skills while applying classroom knowledge
• Network with professionals in the field
• Improve employment potential

Compensation

Agencies are not required to compensate the student. Most agencies reimburse for mileage and related costs incurred in the performance of agency duties. Where stipends or salaries are provided, details are worked out between agency and student.

Types of Participating Agencies

District Courts
State Government Agencies
Federal Government Agencies
Juvenile Delinquency Detention & Treatment Facilities
Local, County & State Police Departments
Probate Courts
Crime Laboratories
Corporate Security Divisions
Private & Governmental Law Offices
Correctional Facilities
Private Security Consultants
Probation Enhancement Programs
Circuit Courts

For more information e-mail, Tim Homberg, Internship Coordinator and