Undergraduate

Internship Program

Internships are an exciting and valuable component of a college education and significantly contribute to student success after graduation. They provide real-world experience, help develop professional skills, build confidence and personal character, create mentoring and networking opportunities, and assist students in preparing for future employment. Many students are offered a job with agencies upon completing their internship. 

We encourage all students to take advantage of the opportunity to intern. Junior and senior Criminology majors who are in good standing and have at least 12 hours in the major can apply to intern and earn up to 9 hours of Criminology elective credits. We offer internships with approximately 100 agencies, and there are countless unique opportunities because most agencies offer internships in various departments/programs. These include: our internship-to-hire programs, where the agency plans to hire the student after the semester/graduation; in-person (or virtual) internships in Washington D.C. with dozens of agencies through the University鈥檚 partnership with The Washington Center; and internships with a variety of local, state, and federal agencies.

For example, our students have had experiences in:

  • Corrections 鈥� jail & detention facilities, probation (juvenile, state, and federal), re-entry and work release programs, and juvenile assessment/residential facilities.
  • Legal/Court 鈥� state attorney (prosecutors) and public defender offices, clerk鈥檚 offices, wrongful conviction units, juvenile diversion programs, and justice advocate divisions.
  • Law Enforcement 鈥� local, state, and federal agencies; patrol, major crimes, economic crimes, and cybercrime divisions; postal inspection; and crime scene investigations
  • Social Services 鈥� child protection investigations; victim advocacy; behavioral health intervention teams; community treatment agencies; child welfare; and domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking agencies
  • Others 鈥� consumer protection, wildlife agencies, and emergency management

Criminology interns receive academic credit for their training and must register for Internship Class during the semester(s) they intern. Class is guided by course and individual learning goals and reflective assignments. The course helps students think critically and constructively about their internships and how the experience integrates into their academic, personal, and professional development and career goals.

Tampa Campus

  1. All internship information - including requirements, prerequisites, the process, available internships, and how to get a class permit for Internship Class - can be found on the Criminology Canvas page for Tampa Criminology Majors, under the "Internships - Getting Started" module.
  2. Students MUST use the Internship Checklist (which is on the homepage and it is the first item in the "Internships - Getting Started" module).
  3. All internships should be confirmed and start the first week of classes each semester (Summer Internships are only offered during Summer C). All internships must be from the approved list in Canvas.
  4. Students who intern must also be registered for Internship Class (CCJ 4940) which starts the first day of classes each semester. Be sure you are registered for the appropriate number of credit hours. To avoid late registration charges, you must be registered the Friday before classes start.

Please contact crimadvise@usf.edu with questions regarding the internship program.

St. Petersburg campus

Information Coming Soon. Until then, please contact your home campus Criminology Advisor.

Sarasota-Manatee campus

Information Coming Soon. Until then, please contact your home campus Criminology Advisor.