Supervised experience in an administrative setting that provides the opportunity to integrate theory and practice in criminal justice-related agencies. Students must perform at least 150 hours of service at an approved agency. All hours must be completed during the semester in which the student is enrolled in CRJ 4933. Please see the relevant academic calendar for semester start and end dates.
May be repeated for credit in a subsequent semester at a separate agency, but no more than 6 semester credit hours will apply to a bachelor’s degree.
The undergraduate internship program (CRJ 4933) is available to criminal justice majors who have 90 earned hours and have passed the following prerequisite classes:
Additional prerequisites may apply to specific internship agencies. Consult the department’s Internship Coordinator for more information.
Early coordination with the CJ Internship Coordinator and the selected agency is critical. Agencies often require an extended period of time to approve an internship application.
For the semester or term in which the course is taken, students must register in accordance with the registration dates published in the UTSA Registration Calendar. Students may not register late. It is highly recommended that students begin preparing for the internship selection/registration process one (1) semester prior to the term in which the course is actually taken.
Students must have an internship offer in place from an approved internship agency before registering for CRJ 4933.
The Directory of Internship Placements is the list of all the approved agencies. Once a student has completed the agency’s application procedures and been offered an internship by the agency, the student must complete the Internship Information Form with the agency.
What if I want to intern at an agency that is not on the list?
If you wish to intern at an agency that is not on the directory, that agency will have to be approved by the Internship Coordinator, the Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, and the provost of the university. There are extensive legal agreements that have to be reviewed and signed. This increases the amount of time it takes to approve your internship. Agencies must be willing to meet the learning objectives of CRJ 4933. They must be willing to assign meaningful duties to interns. They must also be criminal justice related agencies in the judgment of the internship coordinator. They must be willing to sign the legal agreements drafted by the UTSA Legal Affairs Office. Interning at an agency that you have a personal connection with is discouraged. When you graduate and enter the job market, you will have to contact agencies that you are unfamiliar with and inquire with them about how to seek employment. Going through this exercise now will better prepare you for that experience.
It is the student’s responsibility to contact the agency person-of-contact (POC) and inquire about the application requirements. Agencies are unique and each agency has its own preferred process. Sometimes a simple email with suffice. Other times a phone call may be required. Sometimes, students will have to go in person to the agency. Applying for an internship is similar to applying for a job. Applicants who show determination and motivation are usually more successful. The agency wants interns, but personnel are often busy and an email from a student about an internship doesn’t always have the highest priority. Persistence pays off.
Every agency has their own application and screening processes. Background investigations by agencies are routine in virtually all student internships. Some agencies may require only a brief interview. Many agencies require fingerprints. Other agencies may ask students to submit a very thorough screening process that takes several months to complete.
Agency application requirements can include, but are not limited to:
Students can enroll in CRJ 4933 only with approval of the Internship Coordinator. The Internship Coordinator will verify that students have the prerequisite classes, have earned 90 hours, and have been offered an internship opportunity by an approved agency.
To receive approval to register for CRJ 4933, follow these steps:
All of this must be completed by the registration deadline for the semester. Do not wait until the last minute. Students who receive financial aid and scholarships that are depending on full time registration should start this process early enough to ensure their aid is not jeopardized.
You must complete 150 hours with your agency. All training sessions and agency orientations count toward the 150 hours. Driving from home to the agency and meal breaks will not be counted as internship hours. “On call” hours will not count towards the 150 hours unless you are actively responding to a call. Meet with your agency to establish your schedule; which days of the week you will work and what times. The schedule you arrange is between you and the agency as long as you reach 150 hours by the end of the semester.
There are several required writing assignments for CRJ 4933. Requirements are listed in the course syllabus.
Your agency supervisor will complete an evaluation of your performance. The evaluation form will be available on Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the evaluation form to their supervisor. The supervisor will complete the form and email it directly to the Internship Coordinator. The evaluation accounts for a significant portion of the student’s final grade.
For more information, contact:
Mr. Chris Booker
Internship Coordinator
Durango Building 4.112C
210.458.2624 voice
210.458.2680 fax
christopher.booker@utsa.edu
Spring 2020 Office Hours:
Monday & Wednesday: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Tuesday: 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Thursday: 10:00am – 12:00pm in MS 2.02.45 on Main Campus
Friday 11:00am – 2:00pm
Unless otherwise noted, Room 4.112C of the Durango Bldg., Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Downtown Campus or by appointment.
Please email when you intended to visit the office to confirm the Internship Coordinator will be present.