Hosting Internships for students in criminal justice, public administration and public service programs
ABOUT INTERNSHIPS Internships provide students the opportunity to apply the concepts learned in the classroom to workplace settings. Most students who pursue a degree in the School of Public Affairs are required to complete an internship, which generally involves substantive part-time work undertaken during the course of one semester. Internships also allow the School of Public Affairs to develop closer partnerships with public agencies and nonprofit organizations. In turn, our partner organizations can use internships to attract good students to their organizations and to improve the overall quality of public administration and criminal justice. To be considered for an internship for academic credit, students must meet minimum credit and pre-requisite requirements while being in good academic standing. The School of Public Affairs works with employers and the CU Denver Experiential Learning Center to ensure that internship opportunities will meet campus requirements for granting academic credit. Internship opportunities will be posted on Handshake, the university’s job board, and students will be directed to follow the employers’ application instructions. The selection of an intern is at the employer’s discretion. Internships can be either paid or unpaid. While the arrangements regarding the terms of employment (work schedules, payment, assignments, etc.) are negotiated between the intern and the employer, students must complete a minimum of either 240 work hours (graduate students) or 135 work hours (undergraduate students) to receive academic credit. Interns must be involved in meaningful tasks while on the job and should be encouraged to participate in staff meetings and other professional development activities. After the internship is completed, the Experiential Learning Center will gather evaluation information from the employer, and the School of Public Affairs faculty will confer the appropriate grade to the student for the internship experience.
Kimberly Luna (BACJ ’19)
Spring 2019 Outstanding Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Student
“I believe that my internship experience at the Colorado Innocence Center benefitted me in many ways. As a clinical intern, my job was to investigate cases that have been sent to the Center that claim an individual has been wrongfully convicted. This is the type of work that I hope to do in my future as a criminal lawyer, so I was beyond excited to get that real-life experience. Reading about a case in a textbook is very different than actually reading a letter from an inmate’s perspective as to what events occurred and collaborating with attorneys and determining whether the Center is able to take on a case. I now understand the importance of internships and couldn’t thank the School of Public Affairs enough for making this a required aspect of the BA in Criminal Justice program!”
Kate Bishop (MPA ‘19)
“My internship with Heart & Hand led to a full-time Development Coordinator offer from the organization. The work that I completed during my internship allowed me to demonstrate the knowledge I have gained in the master’s program and grow my skills in nonprofit development, data analysis and administration. In addition to increasing my professional skills, I was able to develop meaningful relationships with staff and learn from their experience.”
For more information on hosting internships for students at CU Denver School of Public Affairs, please contact Joan Fishburn at spa.jobs@ucdenver.edu or visit publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/partner-with-us.
As the top-ranked public affairs school in Colorado and among the best in the nation, the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs is creating the next generation of visionary leaders in government and nonprofits. Let our students put their skills to work for you by hosting an internship. U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT 2019 BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS RANKINGS
#19
BEST Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT 2020 BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS RANKINGS
#25
BEST Public Affairs Programs
INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS HAVE INCLUDED • Boulder Crime Lab
• El Sistema
• City and County of Denver
• Museo de las Americas
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
• National Civic League
• Colorado Governor’s Office • Denver Center for the Performing Arts • Denver Police Department
• National Conference of State Legislatures • Scholars Unlimited • Western Governors’ Association
University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs 1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 500 Denver, CO 80204 publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu