This content is designed to assist students who want to obtain internship credit (CJ 490) to fulfill elective hours toward their criminal justice and criminology degree.

Internships are the best way to sample a particular occupation before making it a career. (Note: CJ 490 is only offered during the summer term)

The internship experience will allow students to:

Network with other criminal justice agencies
See how the criminal justice system works first-hand
Make connections and acquire additional references
Develop a career path and career opportunities

Internship Types, Credit Hour Options & Course Requirements

Paid or non-paid 3 credit hour internship (most internships do NOT pay)
For 3 credit hours, interns are expected to complete 135 hours of service with the criminal justice agency, meet with the internship director (as needed), submit 8 journals (3 pages, double-spaced), evaluation from the agency, evaluation, a career services profile.

Professional internship (i.e., current CJ employment)
In a professional internship the student must demonstrate that he/she is involved in a different division within the current occupation or go beyond the current job requirements by taking on new or additional responsibilities in order to qualify. In addition to the requirements stated for Type A, the student seeking a professional or graduate level internship is required to complete a term paper.

Graduate internship (CJ 590)
In a professional internship the student must demonstrate that he/she is involved in a different division within the current occupation or go beyond the current job requirements by taking on new or additional responsibilities in order to qualify. In addition to the requirements stated for Type A, the student seeking a professional or graduate level internship is required to complete a term paper.

4-6 credit hour internship
Students seeking a 4 credit hour internship or higher are required to complete additional hours, additional journals, plus a term paper. For example, a 4 credit hour internship involves 180 hours of service, 11 journals, and a term paper, in addition to the agency evaluations and career services profile.

Getting Started: The Internship Process

Contact the internship director about your interest and attend the internship orientation session. Be sure to acquire an internship handbook.

Secure an internship with a local agency or agency in your hometown; it is your responsibility to locate/contact an agency on your own. Remember professionalism counts when contacting an agency for internship. As a student, you represent not only Marshall University but the criminal justice program as well.

Complete an Internship Application via MU’s Handshake.

Wait for approval and if approved, the Internship Director will contact you for further instruction about how to register for the course.