What can I gain from a criminal justice internship?

  • First-hand knowledge about the field of criminal justice you would like to enter.
  • An opportunity to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to a professional field setting.
  • Useful criminal justice experience that can improve your employment potential after graduation.
  • The chance to explore possible career choices.
  • Valuable references from professionals in the field.
  • An opportunity to develop new job-related skills.
  • Contacts at an agency at which you would like to work.
  • Chance to learn of job openings in your field.

What is a criminal justice internship?

A planned program of observation, study and work in criminal justice agencies. The experience supplements your classroom study with constructive participation in the criminal justice system and broadens the educational experience by giving you an opportunity to work closely with practitioners in the field.

Internship Qualifications

To qualify for a criminal justice internship, you must:

  • Be a criminal justice major or minor pursuing a bachelor's degree.
  • Must have junior status (3rd year student)
  • Complete the following classes: 
    • CJ 110 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
    • Eight additional CJ credits
  • Have at least a 2.7 overall grade point average.
  • Apply for a criminal justice internship.
  • Attain permission of internship coordinator, who will register you for the appropriate credits (4-16) of CJ 491 - Internship.
  • 4 credits of CJ491 can be counted towards the criminal justice major or minor. Additional CJ491 credits earned may be counted as general elective credits. 
  • Work 40 hours per credit of CJ 491.
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"If it were not for my internship experience I would have never been able to apply Criminal Justice concepts that I learned in the classroom into real life. By completing an internship I am able to focus on what path in the Criminal Justice field that I want to pursue after graduation. My internship had given me more direction for my future which I would have not gotten in the classroom."

Shannon Kritz

Criminal Justice Alum

Applying For an Internship

When to apply for an internship?

  1. Criminal justice internships are usually arranged one semester prior to the actual start of the internship.
  2. Contact the criminal justice internship coordinator for details early to start the application process.

How to apply for an internship?

  1. Complete the Criminal Justice Internship Application form and print it out.
  2. Download a copy of your most current transcripts from MyNMU and attach it to the application form. 
  3. Prepare an up-to-date resume. (Assistance in preparing a resume is available from Career Services.) 
  4. Contact the department secretary at 906-227-2660 to make an appointment to discuss your internship with the internship coordinator.
  5. Bring the completed application form, your transcripts and resume to the appointment with the internship coordinator.

If you qualify for an internship

  1. The internship coordinator will arrange the internship with the agency of your choice during the semester of your choice.
  2. You will be referred to a contact person at the agency to work out the specific details of your internship (starting dates, work schedule, assignments, etc.).

After you begin work at your internship agency

  1. You will submit daily journals to the internship coordinator for each 40-hour period that you work at the agency.

When you have completed your hours at the agency

  1. You will prepare a final paper describing your internship experience.
  2. The internship coordinator will establish your deadline for the final paper.
  3. The internship coordinator will send an evaluation form to the agency to describe your performance as an intern.

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Internship Coordinator - Christopher J. MacMaster

Department of Criminal Justice
Northern Michigan University
Jamrich 2500
1401 Presque Isle Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855

Phone: 906-227-2660
Fax: 906-227-1754
E-mail: cmacmast@nmu.edu