Getting an internship
Helpful information for NAU students within the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice
We receive and share information about internships from agencies in Flagstaff, Coconino County, and throughout the state of Arizona for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminology or criminal justice.
All students seeking internship opportunities are encouraged to actively seek internship positions with agencies offering learning opportunities that align with their academic and professional interests.
The CCJ Internship Program Coordinator and the NAU Office of Career Development can offer additional advice for students seeking CCJ internships.
Important steps to follow
Getting an internship approvedAccordion Closed
You and the internship agency are responsible for making an internship placement formal. You must:
- meet the requirements for the internship
- complete the online application
- once you have been pre-approved, you can begin the process of contacting agencies to set up interviews and discuss potential internship placements
Permission from the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice or the Internship Program Coordinator does not guarantee you an internship. Most often, you will need to interview with the sponsoring agency for the internship position.
After you get an internship approvedAccordion Closed
When you get an internship, you must:
- complete, with the agency supervisor, the internship approval form and learning contract
- make three copies of the form and contract for:
- the internship Program Coordinator
- the agency supervisor
- yourself
- once the form and contract are completed, return both to the Internship Program Coordinator within a week
- develop, with the agency supervisor, a schedule that:
- fulfills the number of work hours required for the number of credit hours
- is sensitive to the needs of the agency
- does not interfere with your class schedule
Registering for the internship classAccordion Closed
After completing the above steps, you’ll register for the internship class (CCJ 408) by contacting the Internship Program Coordinator.
Internship class fee
Participation in CCJ 408 requires a $20 fieldwork fee to cover the department’s internship-related costs. The fee will be added to your LOUIE account after you register.
During the internshipAccordion Closed
When the internship is in progress, it is your responsibility to inform the Internship Program Coordinator of any changes in the conditions of the internship agreement; the coordinator may need to approve some changes.
You are also responsible for contacting the coordinator with problems or difficulties during the internship.
You must e-mail your weekly journal entries to the Internship Program Coordinator once a month. You are required to inform the coordinator of the status and progress of the internship every two weeks via any of the following:
- telephone
- fax
- personal visit
If your internship is terminated
If you fail to live up to the expectations of the internship agency, the agency has the right to terminate the internship. If this happens, you may not get credit for the internship.