The internship is a course designed to help students enhance their personal and professional development through on the job training. This course offers students an opportunity to integrate classroom theory and knowledge with the practices of the criminal justice system and social services agency. The real-world experiences that internships provide will help: students develop work competencies for a specific profession; to integrate the student’s educational experience with some real practical experience; provide challenging and valuable work experience in an environment conducive to learning; and prepare students for future careers in the field of sociology and/or criminal justice.
Course Objectives
The objectives for this course are for students to:
- Acquire new experiential skills while applying classroom knowledge.
- Complete assignments that encourage in-depth reflection of the internship experience.
- Receive experience training and development in the workplace under professional guidance and supervision.
- Garner hands-on work experience while developing professional work habits and skills.
- Be able to identify or clarify their career interest.
- Have an opportunity to explore future careers and to develop a network of job contacts for future employment.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will have the opportunity to apply knowledge and theories learned in sociology and/or criminal justice courses to an applied setting.
- Students will have an opportunity to gain valuable work experience as well as relevant knowledge which will add to their overall understanding of the fields of sociology and/or criminal justice.
- Students will receive supervision and feedback from a professional with expertise and background in the selected field of study.
Course Requirements
Internships offer students an opportunity to integrate classroom theory and knowledge with the practices of the criminal justice system and social services agency. Course requirements are designed to get the most out of this opportunity: Requirements include the following:
The Internship course requires that 50 hours per credit hour of on-site activity, with an approved organization, be completed.
All interns are required to keep a daily log of your activities for each day worked. When writing journal entries for each work day, please consider some of the following things to discuss:
What was your role for each day – did you work on an particular projects or assignments and what did you contribute?
- Did any problems arise during a workday, and if so, how were they resolved?
- What feelings did you have while you engaged in your required tasks?
- Discuss what you have learned from the work completed for the day, how have you benefited, and any potential recommendations that you have for improvements or changes.
All interns are required to submit a mid-term and final performance evaluation completed by the direct supervisor. The evaluation form which must be signed and should be sent to the attention of the Internship Coordinator. This evaluation can be faxed by the supervisor, mailed by the supervisor, e-mailed by the supervisor, or placed in a sealed envelope with a signature from the supervisor and delivered to the Internship Coordinator by you.
All interns are required to complete a research portfolio that draws on academic knowledge to correlate theory with practice and assess the internship experience.