Internships
Internships are important items for your resume and can boost your application for graduate education and professional schools. Because internships require you to put many hours per week into the field, they help employers and admission staff know that you have good time management skills because you can hold on to your GPA, do field work, and possibly even work part-time. If you are interested in an internship, see the information below for internship description and requirements.
Criminal Justice Majors
The Criminal Justice Internship is a cooperative effort between the Criminal Justice program at the University of West Florida and public or private criminal justice agencies. The purpose of the internship is to give students the opportunity to apply their education to actual work situations. The student works under the supervision of the criminal justice professional. Students receive academic credit and pay the required credit hour fee as they would a regular course.
Requirements: Students must have 1) the permission of the Internship Coordinator to enroll; 2) a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in the Criminal Justice major and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 as calculated by UWF; and 3) successfully completed at least 12 hours in criminal justice courses (6 hours from core). There are also several factors considered by the Internship Coordinator in determining whether a student qualifies for a particular internship opportunity. Those factors include, but are not limited to: 1) the number and type criminal justice-related courses completed before the semester the internship is scheduled; 2) the nature of the internship; and 3) perceived ability of student to successfully complete the internship.
Partnering Agencies for Criminal Justice Students
Legal Studies Majors
The Legal Studies Internship is a cooperative effort between the Legal Studies program at the University of West Florida and a public or private law-related office. The purpose of the Internship is to give students the opportunity to apply their education to actual work situations. The student intern works under the overall supervision of a licensed attorney in a traditional paralegal internship or other legal professional in a non-traditional paralegal internship.
Requirements: Students must have 1) the permission of the Internship Coordinator to enroll; 2) a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the Legal Studies major and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 as calculated by UWF; and 3) successfully completed CCJ 3060-Ethics and Justice System, PLA 4263-Evidence, PLA 4204-Civil Procedure and PLA 4103-Legal Research and Writing. There are also several factors considered by the Internship Coordinator in determining whether a student qualifies for a particular internship opportunity. Those factors include, but are not limited to: 1) the number and type of law-related courses completed before the semester the internship is scheduled; 2) the nature of the internship; and 3) perceived ability of student to successfully complete the internship.
Partnering Agencies for Legal Studies Students
Internship Application Process
If you meet the above requirements and would like to be considered for an internship please follow the instructions below:
Internship Semester Application Deadline: Fall-May 1/ Spring-October 1/ Summer-February 1*
*For internships with federal agencies the application must be submitted a year in advance of the semester you plan to intern.
The following documents are required for internship placement. Please read the internship syllabus (above) for requirements before applying.
1. Application Form: Internship Application (PDF).
2. Current Resume
3. Personal Statement
All main campus internship application materials should be turned in to Kimberly Crow. All Fort Walton Beach internship questions should be directed to Dr. Kathrine Johnson. Internships will be filled on a first come/first serve basis and depend on availability from the agency, firm, or organization.
Internship Forms
Once you are successfully placed with an agency the following forms will be required as per the internship syllabus.
Placement Contract
This form must be completed IN FULL and returned to the Internship Coordinator after your initial interview with the internship site, and prior to beginning your internship.
Internship Form and Contract (DOCX)