Applied Research & Field Experience Courses
All CJS majors are required to complete an internship or field experience course with an attached internship, service-learning, or applied coursework component.
Information for Fall 2024: The following information details each of these courses, including class meeting times, course modalities, and instructions to apply. We encourage students to read about all of the options before selecting a course. Students should only apply to one internship or field experience course to allow us to process applications smoothly.
To apply for one of the below CJS Internships, you must complete the Fall 2024 Internship Application or visit the site.
For specific questions regarding internships and field experience courses, contact the CJS Internship Coordinator at cjs.internships@csun.edu.
Students enrolled in CJS 494 A/AA is designed for students who would like to learn more about the law enforcement field and profession. Students will complete 120 hours (approx. 8 hours/week) in-person at the LAPD-Valley Bureau police station. Students will be randomly assigned to a station regardless of where they live. Students will need to fulfill a Live Scan/background check to be enrolled in this course.
Students enrolled in CJS 494 B/BB will learn about the law and courts. Students will complete 120 hours (approx. 8 hours/week) at an internship site. Students can choose from pre-established internship sites including Teen Court, the Neighborhood Legal Services Self-Help clinic, and the Post-Conviction Legal Project. Students may also secure their own internship at a legal office, courthouse, or an organization that provides legal support to community members upon approval from the course instructor.
This class will meet on Tuesdays from 7:00 PM to 9:45 PM.
Students enrolled in CJS 494 E/EE will learn about working at advocacy, community-based, and non-profit organizations rooted in social justice or criminology. Students will complete 120 hours (approx. 8 hours/week) at an internship site. Students are responsible for finding and applying to an internship site, which can be remote or in-person. Students are also welcome to find their own internship site, but this must be approved by the CJS Internship Coordinator.
This class will meet online on Fridays from 10:00 to 11:40 AM.
Students enrolled in CJS 410CS will be trained as a part-time MOSAIC youth mentor, working in small groups directly with local youth to build self-efficacy. Student mentors will work approximately 50 to 60 hours (5 to 6 hours/week) during the hours of 8:30AM and 3:30PM from Monday through Friday. Please note that you must have all your vaccinations up to date to be a MOSAIC mentor per LAUSD requirements.
This class will meet on-campus every Wednesday from 7:00 PM to 9:45 PM.
Students enrolled in CJS 452ME will serve as peer mentors to first-year CJS students. Students will complete mentoring in-person and over Zoom. Students are expected to meet with mentees outside of scheduled class time.
This class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 AM to 12:45 PM.
Students enrolled in CJS 454AC will take a critical look at current issues related to the field of corrections. This course does not require internship or service-learning hours, instead students will engage in field research.
This class will meet on Tuesdays from 7:00 to 9:45 PM.
Students enrolled in CJS 454PY will work with the LAPD Pals (Police Activity League) program in Hollywood. Students will complete 60 hours of volunteer work while completing a research project based on this experience. The service-learning work with LAPD Pals will take place in-person during business hours (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM). Students must successfully complete a background check to enroll in this course.
The class will meet on Mondays from 5:00 to 7:45 PM.
Information forthcoming.
Students interested in this course do not need to complete the internship application above as the course does not require a permission number. Feel free to self-enroll via SOLAR.
The class will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:45 PM.
This course will provide students applied research experience either in a criminal justice-related agency or with crime data. The course will focus on the practice of research in the field of criminology and justice studies, the development and writing of empirical research papers, and content related to the specific agency or data project to which students are assigned.
Students can also enroll in internship/field experience courses outside of the CJS department. These courses have different requirements for enrollment and hours required. We encourage students to review the information provided by these departments for more information. Any student who enrolls in an internship course outside of the CJS department must contact Dr. Vickie Jensen at vickie.jensen@csun.edu for approval and substitution in your DPR. These opportunities include:
- The Judicial Internship through the Political Science Department
- The D.C. Internship through the Political Science Department
- The Jewish Studies Non-Profit Internship
- Africana Studies Field Work Class
For students who are looking for and applying to internship sites, we encourage you to visit the Career Center. The Career Center can help in searching for internships, creating/revising resumes, and preparing for interviews. The Career Center is open, offering virtual services during remote learning.