Internship and Independent Study Programs

At this time when we, as a country, collectively examine the criminal justice system and advocate for critical reforms, students should continue to complete for-credit internships at a variety of related sites, including criminal justice agencies. As students reflect on the history of these organizations and consider organizational missions, policies, and practices, students will acquire insight into the macro- and micro-level changes that should be implemented to ensure fair and just treatment under the law. An internship is an important opportunity for our students, tomorrow’s criminology and criminal justice leaders, to take their academic knowledge, imparted in their major and liberal arts courses, and acquire real-world experience on how to improve the system and its responses.

Internships are typically for one academic unit. A one academic unit internship requires 135 hours for work under the direct supervision of your internship agency/organization. Over the course of a fifteen-week semester, this equates to an average of ten hours per week. Internship sites are typically flexible and allow you to arrange a work schedule that fits into your class schedule. Additionally, internships require that you devote 45 hours to research, which culminates in an 8 to 10 page paper. Internships for more or less than one academic unit can be arranged – the work requirements are prorated, depending on the number of units taken. Tuition is charged based on the number of academic units being taken.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required. Students are eligible to enroll in a for-credit internship when they have successfully completed three units at TCNJ. Students may earn no more than three units of internship credit. A maximum of two units of internship can be earned at any one site. Students are encouraged to apply for an internship as soon as they know that they are interested. Nearly all internship agencies require that applicants undergo a criminal background check as part of the application process. These background checks typically take a minimum of at least six weeks, and often nearly three months.

Dr. David Holleran is the Department of Criminology’s Interim Internship Coordinator. You should copy Dr. Holleran on all emails applying for an internship. Dr. Holleran can also answer any questions that you have about internships.

Students intending to complete an internship should still register for a full schedule of courses. If accepted and approved for an internship, students will submit an Internship Enrollment form and a Department Internship Proposal Form to Dr. Holleran the Criminology internship Coordinator. Special attention should be paid as to how the internship experience will meet the stated learning goals. On the internship enrollment form, you should indicate which course you want Records and Registration to drop and replace with the internship on the TCNJ Internship Enrollment Form. Records and Registration will replace that course with CRI 399, the internship, on your schedule during the add/drop period at the beginning of the semester. Until your internship is approved and you are registered for CRI 399, you are not assured of receiving academic credit for your internship.

How to Apply

For all emails write “Student Internship Application – Spring/Fall/Summer/Winter 20XX” in the subject line. Even if you attach a cover letter and resume, write a brief email explaining that the attached documents are in support of your student internship application and indicate which term you are applying for (e.g., fall, spring, summer, or winter and the year). After departmental approval, you will upload the documents in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Internship Course Application.