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Students in the Department of Sociology and Criminology are strongly encouraged to complete an internship while working towards their undergraduate degree. The benefits of doing an internship are numerous and include:

• Earning academic credit  

• Invaluable networking and resume building opportunities

• The opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to practical work experience

• Earning Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) credit

To learn more about internships in each program, click on the navigation bar to the left for your major. If you’re interested in doing an internship, please consult the undergraduate internship coordinator Susan Kunkle, or the Sociology Academic Advisor. 

Positive feedback from our Criminology & Justice Studies students on Internship (CRIM 46792)

• Gabrielle C., Intern at U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, Criminology & Justice Studies major, Corrections concentration

I completed my internship with the Federal Probation Office of the Northern District of Ohio. I wrote collateral responses for other districts, attended a wide variety of hearings, interacted with offenders weekly, attended multiple Reentry Court sessions and New Offender Orientations, visited Oriana halfway house, attended a search and seizure course set up by Cleveland Police, participated in an active shooter scenario run by the U.S. Marshals Service, and requested documents from surrounding districts, courts and police departments.

I would definitely recommend an internship to anybody. You get experiences that you can't understand or fully grasp from a classroom setting no matter how many articles you read or videos you watch.  It also helps you network and looks good on a resume. 

• Katherine B., Intern at Victim Assistance, Criminology & Justice Studies major, General concentration

I completed an internship with the Victim Assistance Program of Summit County.  While interning, I was expected to perform duties similar to those of full time advocates including arriving on-scene during a crime when called by law enforcement, providing crisis intervention and advocacy to victims of crime and trauma, answer crisis hotline calls, engage in cold calls to victims listed on police reports, and provide court advocacy to walk in victims.

My internship helped to provide me with a different view of law enforcement and the criminal justice system.  At Victim Assistance I was able to educate myself more on victimology, crisis intervention, and conflict management.  I was able to learn the ins and outs of the effects of crime and trauma on others and help those who were at their most vulnerable state.  While assisting victims, I was also able to look in-depth at the court process including the difference between civil, domestic, and criminal court, the difference between a felony and misdemeanor court process, and the controversy of victimless prosecution.

After completing my internship, I realized just how confusing the criminal justice field can be.  I learned that laws and statutes vary by state and by county, and I learned that a crime being committed does not necessarily lead to prosecution.  I learned that the justice system is not easy to navigate as a crime victim and that those victims need someone to remind them of their rights too. Lastly, I learned just how important it is for organizations and agencies within a community and/or county to work together in order to create a safe atmosphere for those within the community.

I would recommend this internship to a fellow Criminology and Justice Studies student because Victim Assistance provides a glimpse of all aspects of the Justice system.  Although victim advocates primarily work with victims of crime and trauma, insight into the arrest and arraignment process, court proceedings, sentencing process, state laws and statutes, etc. is also provided.  The advocates begin to learn the ins and outs of the legal system, which I believe is important for anyone thinking of a career in the Criminal Justice field.