Master of Criminal Justice Internship/Field Study Information Package and Forms Revised:08/06/14 1
Objective for MCJ Field Study/Internship Students who have not had the equivalent of at least one year of professional experience in the field of criminology and criminal justice are required to enroll in Field Study/Internship in Criminal Justice (CRJU 6910). In this class, students work part-time or full-time as graduate interns for local, state, or federal criminology/criminal justice or juvenile justice agencies. The internships may be paid or unpaid, depending upon the agency involved. Objectives of the Internship are: 1. To expose MCJ students to the challenging career opportunities within the field of criminology and criminal justice. 2. To enable agencies and organizations related to criminology and criminal justice to attract good students as potential employees, thereby improving the overall quality of criminology and criminal justice related agencies and organizations. 3. To provide MCJ students with practical work experiences to allow them to link classroom materials with praxis in organizations and agencies related to the criminology and criminal justice disciplines. 4. To enhance students experiences and allow them to make informed career decisions. 5. To socialize students regarding how to interact professionally with clients, colleagues and supervisors in a professional setting. This includes engaging in proper dress, engaging in reliable, responsible and ethical work-related behavior, and the use of appropriate oral and written communication. Completing Your Internship/Field Study in Eight Easy Steps The following steps offer a summary of how to engage in your capstone. These steps are provided for your convenience. It is strongly advised that you read the details regarding the internship/field study in this document. Eight Steps: Step 1: Read all documentation provided to you in this packet. Step 2: Second, the student must determine if they are required to enroll and complete the MCJ Internship/Field Study. Revised:08/06/14 2
Your admission letter to the program identifies whether you are or are not required to enroll and complete the internship/field study. If you cannot locate your admission letter and are unsure if you must enroll, check with your Student Service Coordinator. Step 3: Ascertain if you are eligible to enroll in the Internship/Field Study course. In order to be eligible to enroll in the Field Study/Internship course, a) you must be fully admitted into the MCJ program, AND b) you must have an approved degree plan completed, AND c) you must have SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED a minimum of 18 semester credit hours of MCJ course work, AND d) you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Step 4: Chose your Internship Agency/Organization. If you are required to do the Internship/Field Study Course and you are eligible to enroll in the Internship/Field Study Course, your next step is to select the agency/organization for which you will intern. The student is responsible for identifying potential internship opportunities. See the additional information regarding selecting internships in the body of this packet. Step 5: Fill out the a) Special Processing Form, and b) Internship Learning Agreement (including the Internship Learning Objectives) forms found in this packet. Please note that these forms have components that the student will fill out, that the MCJ Program Director will fill out, and that the Field Study/Internship Client will fill out. ALL FORMS MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED TO THE STUDENT SERVICE COORDINATOR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS. It is the student s responsibility that they set aside enough time to get the forms completely filled out prior to the first day of classes. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INTERNSHIP REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF 240 HOURS OF INTERNING FOR THE AGENCY/ORGANIZATION. Once these forms are completed, signed and provided to the Student Service Coordinators, the student will receive a permission number that is required in order to register for the internship course. Step 6: Engage in and complete the internship. Step 7: Upon completion of the internship, BOTH the Internship Client and the student are required to complete an evaluation form assessing the internship experience. These forms - The Student Evaluation of Internship Experience and the Employer Evaluation of Internship Experience forms are located in the body of this packet. These forms are due to your Student Service Coordinator by the last day of class. Revised:08/06/14 3
Failure to get this documentation to the Student Service Coordinator prior to the last day of class will result in an I being awarded for the course. Step 8: The student must submit a comprehensive term paper to The MCJ Program Instructor by the end of the semester. Information on this important paper can be found in this packet. This paper must be completed and turned into the MCJ Program Director two weeks prior to the end of the semester. It is the student s responsibility to know when that due date it. Failure to submit this paper on time will result in a failing grade being awarded to the student for this class. Detailed Application and Administration Procedures The internship/field study course involves the participation of four individuals: Student Student Service Coordinator (assigned based on student s last name) MCJ Program Director Internship Client/Supervisor/Employer The basic requirements for beginning an internship are that the student (a) be fully admitted to the MCJ program, (b) has an approved degree plan, and (c) has completed a minimum of 18 semester credit hours of criminal justice course work with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (exceptions to this last requirement must be approved by the MCJ Program Director. Please note that exceptions are very rare). Requests for interns from criminology and criminal justice agencies and organizations are available online at the SPA web page under career services and job and professional experience portal. Students may use information found at this location to identify potential positions. Alternatively, they may contact agencies not in these files to determine their interest in an internship relationship. The student is responsible for identifying potential internships, contacting the agencies/organizations, and arranging for interviews. MCJ faculty may help facilitate this process through referrals and recommendations. Another approach is to learn about MCJ faculty areas of interest, and approach them regarding potential internship/field study clients. The final responsibility for the internship placement lies with the student. Students must be aware of registration dates and deadlines for the semester they are planning to complete their internship through SPA. Getting registered for CRJU 6910 requires the completion of the UC Denver Special Processing Form, the Internship Learning Agreement (including the Internship Learning Objectives) forms. These forms are found in this packet. Revised:08/06/14 4
When the student has initially established an internship relationship with an agency or organization, the intern s client/supervisor will need to fill out and sign the Internship Learning Agreement form (which is included in this document). The requirements of the internship/field study are established and documented on this form. The written agreement must be approved by the MCJ Program Director. In order to earn three semester credit hours, students must complete a minimum of 240 internship hours. The work period can be for an academic semester, during the summer, or in certain circumstances a combination of both. Students determine their internship work schedules with their interning/field study client at their agency. At the completion of the internship/field study, both the employer and the student will be required to complete an evaluation form assessing the internship experience. The Student Evaluation of Internship Experience and the Employer Evaluation of Internship Experience forms are included in this document. Finally the student must submit a comprehensive term paper to the MCJ Program Director. Detailed information on this term paper is provided in this packet below. A letter grade will be assigned for the internship/field study class. Failure to complete all requirements will result in an unsuccessful completion of CRJU 6910. Request To Waive Internship Requirement Students who have worked in the field of criminology and criminal justice for at least one year may formally request a waiver of the internship requirement from the MCJ Program Director. The Request to Waive the Internship Requirement form can be obtained from the Student Service Coordinator or may be downloaded from this page: http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/spa/academics/programs/criminaljustice/master/ Pages/index.aspx. Students should submit the completed form, a current resume, and a written description documenting the applicable work experience relevant to the waiver request. All materials will be reviewed by the MCJ Program Director. If the waiver is approved, the internship credit hours are filled with a CRJU elective course. CRJU 6910 Field Studies/Internship Term Paper Requirements Basics. This paper should be 15-20 pages long, double spaced, have standard margins and written as a formal college-level paper. Please note that the precise content of this paper depends somewhat upon the nature of the internship. Nonetheless, there are elements that must be included in each term paper, regardless of the nature of the internship. Introduction. Your paper should include an introductory section. Like all introductory sections yours should introduce the reader to this topic, why it is important and provide a road-map of the remaining sections of the paper. Revised:08/06/14 5
Summary of the Organization/Agency. The next section should provide a comprehensive overview of the field agency you are working with. Inform the reader about the mission, purpose and importance of the agency/organization. What activities does this agency/organization routinely engage in? Ensure the reader has a full understanding of your agency and what it does in the field. Synthesis of MCJ Program and Internship/Field Study experiences. Tie in the work of this agency/organization to academic knowledge gained in the MCJ program. In other words, synthesize how what you ve learned in the program is or is not reflected in the work of this agency/organization. Comment specifically on the intersection of theory and academic findings and this real-world experience. Refer to specific texts/courses whenever possible to support your thoughts. Summary of your experience. At the beginning of the semester, you had to identify the Internship learning objectives. Did you achieve those objectives? Explain how you did, or why you failed to achieve them. What precisely did you do as an intern for this group? How did you assist the client and how did this experience help you? Were any classes in particular especially helpful to you in this experience? Were there knowledge/skills you felt you needed to be better prepared for your internship? How have you changed as a result of this experience? How does this experience affect the likelihood that you will continue pursuing a career in the criminology/criminal justice related field? Conclusions section. Write a standard concluding section of your term paper. Figures, Appendices, References. All papers require the Time Log Appendix. This should clearly identify the hours you worked and demonstrate at least 240 hours were completed. Depending upon your particular internship, you may have additional figures or documents to include. In addition, please ensure you provide a reference section of your document. The references must comport to APA or 20 points will be deducted from the total score. Required Forms Provided Below Revised:08/06/14 6
INTERNSHIP LEARNING AGREEMENT This agreement must be filled out completely by the student, signed by appropriate parties, and returned to the appropriate Student Service Coordinator before the first day of classes. Clear definition of the client/employer s expectations and the student s learning objectives will maximize the internship experience for both parties. Please write legibly. STUDENT INFORMATION Student ID# First Name Last Name Phone ( ) - Email @ucdenver.edu Address City State Zip Emergency Contact: Name Relationship Phone INTERNSHIP INFORMATION Semester: Fall Spring Summer Year: Start Date Onsite Hours per week End Date Position Title Revised:08/06/14 7
INTERNSHIP TYPE Paid Only: Pay rate/hour $ Credit Only: # credits Credit & Paid: # credits Pay rate/hour $ INTERN CLIENT/EMPLOYER INFORMATION Organization Intern Client/Supervisor Phone ( ) - Email Address City State Zip INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION Describe the nature of the position and your duties. List specific projects or tasks as well as the required skills. Attach a job description if available. The client/employer supervisor and student complete this section together. Revised:08/06/14 8
INTERNSHIP LEARNING OBJECTIVES What do you hope to learn from this experience that advances your understanding of coursework concepts? How does this internship contribute to your ability to enter a career with experience? List 3-8 specific educational, professional, and personal goals that are observable, measurable, and able to be evaluated by your faculty sponsor and site supervisor. Begin bullet list with words such as assist with, learn how to, expand knowledge of, understand the process of. Include any special training programs, workshops, etc. Revised:08/06/14 9
TO BE COMPLETED BY THE MCJ PROGRAM DIRECTOR MCJ Program Director Name Phone ( ) - Email Office Location Campus Box Internship Course Number Course Title Number of Credits Grading: Letter grade Academic requirements: Term Paper/Project Time Log Due Date Due Date Client Evaluation Due Date Student Evaluation Due Date Meeting Date(s)/Time(s) Other Assignment Descriptions: All components must be turned in for a grade to be awarded. Revised:08/06/14 10
RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT The student, intern client/supervisor/employer, and MCJ Program Director agree to assume the responsibilities outlined below for the duration of the student s internship placement. INTERN CLIENT/SUPERVISOR/EMPLOYER RESPONSBILITIES: Provide an orientation, including any precautionary safety instructions to the intern. Provide training and ongoing supervision for the intern to perform assigned tasks and duties. Provide regular feedback to the intern regarding performance. If the student is paid, understand the responsibility for providing Workers Compensation and liability insurance in accordance with Colorado State Law, and agree to provide said coverage. Comply with Federal Laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and/or disability. Notify the School of Public Affairs of problems arising during the internship.. Complete a final written evaluation of the student s performance. Site Supervisor Signature Date STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES: Perform tasks and responsibilities assigned by my intern/client/supervisor as outlined in the Learning Agreement. Conduct myself in an ethical and professional manner and act as a positive representative of UC Denver. Complete a minimum of 240 hours on the job and record on a time log to be turned in at the end of the semester in the term paper. Keep in contact with the MCJ Program Director during the semester on progress. Fulfill to the best of my abilities the Learning Objectives stated in this agreement, along with the academic activities assigned by my faculty sponsor. Notify the MCJ Program Director of any changes that I need to make to this Learning Agreement or of any problems that develop during the internship placement. Complete the required research paper. Notify the MCJ Program Director of any problems encountered during the internship promptly. Complete the evaluation of my internship experience (evaluation form is available in this packet). Ensure the client has completed the evaluation of the internship experience (evaluation form is available in this packet). Ensure that evaluation is turned it at the end of the semester. Student Signature Date MCJ PROGRAM DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES: Determine that the proposed internship is relevant to the student s educational objectives and merits academic credit. Assist the student in formulating concise and clear learning goals and obligations for the internship Discuss with the student how the internship experience fits in with student s curriculum. Determine academic assignments, monitor student progress, and provide final evaluation/grade. Assist the student and the site supervisor in resolving any problems that may arise. MCJ Program Director Signature Date Revised:08/06/14 11
STUDENT EVALUATION OF INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE Name Semester Agency Client/Employer/Supervisor s Name MCJ Program Director Please rate your work performance: Academic Knowledge: I had sufficient academic knowledge to contribute to the organization. I understand concepts and applied my knowledge on the job. Technical Skills: I have the technical skills needed for the job. Planning and Organization: I organize and prioritize assigned tasks. Quality of Work: I complete tasks accurately and thoroughly. Initiative: I consistently demonstrate a proactive nature. I take appropriate action without constant direction and know when to seek prior approval. Communication: I express verbal and written ideas effectively. I interact well with others and resolve conflicts. Analysis & Judgment: I demonstrate the ability to analyze and discern facts. I apply skills appropriate for carrying out tasks and solving problems I make sound decisions. Professionalism: I exhibit self-confidence and maturity. I project a professional appearance. Accountability: I am punctual in attending work, meetings, and appointments. Strongly Strongly Disagree Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 Revised:08/06/14 12
Please provide an overall rating of your internship experience: Poor Excellent 1 2 3 4 5 6 What do you think are the three most important abilities/skills/characteristics that you developed as a result of your internship? 1. 2. 3. Revised:08/06/14 13
CLIENT EVALUATION OF INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE This form is used to evaluate the performance of our student as an intern in your organization and to help us determine the overall effectiveness of the internship program. Please complete the form as completely as possible and add comments where appropriate. This form will become part of the student s permanent files at the University. Student s Name Agency Client/Employer/Supervisor s Name Please check the column which best describes the student s performance. Below Average Average Above Average Category 1 2 3 4 5 6 Quality of work produced Effectiveness in preparing & organizing work Accuracy Thoroughness Writing skills Oral skills Judgment Initiative Information technology skills Leadership skills Quantitative skills Ability to organize and prioritize assigned tasks Analytical & research ability Please provide an overall rating of your internship experience with this student: Poor Excellent 1 2 3 4 5 6 Comments Revised:08/06/14 14
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