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JS 170 Internship Information

Introduction to the Internship Program:

The internship is an integral part of the Justice Studies undergraduate program.  As of Fall 2006, all JS majors are required to complete a THREE unit internship course unless a waiver is approved (see waiver eligibility and procedure below). The internship experience is designed to provide a broad exposure to the operations of a variety of justice-related agencies and organizations, including courts, law enforcement agencies, law offices, nonprofit organizations and community based programs. The internship student gains knowledge of the structure, goals, and work procedures of the agency/office by participating in activities and observations in the internship setting, and applies that knowledge to the completion of a paper on the internship experience that bridges theory and practice.  Students are required to spend a minimum of 120 hours in the internship setting. For the specific requirements, view the JS 170 syllabus. The internship is limited to Justice Studies Department majors and minors.

Steps To Entering the Internship Program

  1. JS students should begin thinking about the kind of internship setting they would like to work in by the beginning of the junior year, and should begin the process of applying for specific internship opportunities during the semester before they intend to enroll. To find an internship placement, review the internship binder and internship files in the JS office, check the internship bulletin board on the 5th floor of MacQuarrie Hall, meet with the internship advisors, attend internship informational meetings/lectures and/or contact agencies directly to volunteer to intern. Those students interested in working with agencies that require extensive background checks (such as most federal agencies and many state agencies) should start the application process at least six months before they plan to register.

  2. Complete JS 170 Pre-registration form [pdf] also found on the website. Students must obtain the signature of the agency supervisor at the internship on that form prior to receiving faculty advisor approval for enrollment.

  3. Submit the completed pre-registration form to a JS 170 faculty advisor (see below for Fall 2009, JS 170 faculty advisors). To receive an add code, Internship students must meet with an advisor within the first 2 weeks of the semester.   Students must enroll immediately with the add codes, and before the “last day to add” for the term. Late adds will not be accepted and enrollment is limited in all sections.

  4. Fulfill all of the requirements of the internship, as described in the syllabus. Students should continue to meet with their faculty advisors during posted office hours to discuss the internship and requirements, or to address any questions or issues.

RESPONSIBILITY OF INTERNSHIP STUDENTS

By accepting the internship arrangement, the students agree to fulfill several responsibilities.


  1. Conduct themselves in a manner which reflects credit upon the agency, themselves and the Justice Studies Department of San José State University

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  2. Students are expected to comply with all university rules and regulations that would apply if they were on campus; and, in addition, to all policies, rules and regulations of the participating agencies.

  3. IT IS ESPECIALLY CRUCIAL THAT INTERNSHIP STUDENTS DO NOT VIOLATE THE PRIVACY OF ANYONE AFFILIATED WITH THE AGENCY OR COMPROMISE THE SECURITY OF THE AGENCY IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. STUDENTS MAY NOT POST ANYTHING ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP SETTING ON PUBLIC WEBSITES (i.e., MY SPACE SITES) OR DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL AGENCY MATTERS WITH ANYONE, INCLUDING FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES. Violation of this policy may, at minimum, result in no credit for the internship course.

WAIVER OF JS 170

  1. Students who have recently worked at least half-time with a public sector justice-related agency or organization MAY be eligible to waive JS 170. The work experience must be sufficiently extensive and must be more than an entry level position with few responsibilities to qualify for the waiver.

  2. To petition for a waiver, submit the following to an internship faculty advisor or to the department chair: A letter with original signature on company letterhead from your supervisor that outlines your length of employment, the average number of hours you work(ed) per week, your job title and your specific duties in that job. Make sure that contact information is provided by your supervisor for any follow-up or verification of information that may be needed. You must get final approval from the department chair to waive JS 170.

  3. If you waive JS 170 you must take another upper-division JS course in its place.

INTERNSHIP ADVISORS

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