INTERNSHIP/COOP COURSE POLICY AND SYLLABUS

Dr. V.J. Brown, Jr. and Prof. Tom Patterson

I. Introduction

The Sociology and Criminal Justice Programs requires internship experiences for the Criminal Justice
students and highly recommends the internship for students who are majoring in the traditional
Sociology program. Internships enrich a college education by enabling the student to integrate
theory and practice. In addition, prospective employers are likely to view internships as a form
of employment experience. The Co-op course is the same structurally as the internship course,
however, the enrollment procedure is different and the student can be paid while participating
in the course.




II. Learning Objectives

1. Academic-Cognitive Learning Objectives

A.
To demonstrate the capacity to utilize the fundamental concepts of sociology and/or criminal justice
(i.e., culture, social structure, social status, social roles, social processes, social change, due process,
probable cause, etc.) to analyze and increase the student’s understanding of the social organization
in which they are working.

B.
To demonstrate an ability to do organizational analysis of the work site, utilizing the analytical framework(s)
from a variety of textbooks from the courses in sociology or criminal justice that they have so far completed
in the program.

C.
To demonstrate a capacity to compare and contrast the relative merits of at least two different major
theoretical orientations (i.e., functionalism, conflict, symbolic interaction) in explaining the “way things are”
with regard to the organization.

D.
To demonstrate an ability to utilize/apply the theories and concepts from the previously taken sociology
and criminal justice courses to the issues and problems which the organization is attempting to address in
its mission and with its resources.



2. Skill Development Learning Objectives

A.
To demonstrate an ability to utilize and apply at least one research skill in the analysis of a problem/issue of
importance to the organization or department where the student is placed or working.

B.
To increase the capacity to utilize the quantitative and qualitative research skills of sociology as a way to
critically analyze and think about the organizational environment and the problems/issues which the
organization or department focuses upon.

C. 
To demonstrate an ability to identify the appropriate and/or needed data in a given situation and the
ability to collect the data.

3. Personal Learning Objectives

A.
To increase their understanding of the options which sociology and/or criminal justice offers them
for careers and their personal futures.




III. Requirements

1. Terms of Agreement

A. 
Participants must meet agency or organization policies and requirements. For example: a background
check may be mandated by the agency or organization for all interns and coop students
to determine their qualifications.

B.
Participant’s tasks and activities will be determined by the agency or organization supervisor. The
participant must comply with these requirements unless there are legitimate reasons not to do
so. The legitimacy of such refusal will de determined by the sociology and/or criminal justice faculty.



2. Participant Hours

A. 
The three-hour course will require a minimum of 120 hours of internship/coop participation in an
agency or organization recognized and approved by the faculty. Such recognition will be based
on the relevance of the activities of such agency or organization to the course content of the
sociology/criminal justice curriculum.

B. 
Participant’s schedule will be arranged and determined by the student and the sociology faculty. 
This schedule is, however, subject to the approval of the concerned agency or organization.

C. 
There will be an introductory meeting Wednesday, January 15 from 3:10 to 5:00 in room 109 of
White Hall. There will be two or three meetings during the semester, which will be scheduled during
the first meeting. Also, during the first meeting each member and three placement will be introduced
to the class. During the semester meeting each student will give a report on the organization they
have been involved with during their internship. There will be a final oral report on the Wednesday of
final week, Tuesday, May 7, 2002 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. All meetings will be in 109 of White Hall. 
Between these two dates, two or three Wednesdays or Thursdays will be chosen by the group to
present progress reports. The text for criminal justice students will be Careers in Criminal Justice,
by W. Richard Stevens Jr. The text for the traditional tract students is Careers in Sociology,
by W. Richard Stevens Jr. 



3. Student Evaluations


The student’s final grade for the course will be based on:

A. 
The quality of a daily log kept by the student throughout the internship or coop.

B. 
A written evaluation of the student’s activities submitted to the sociology faculty academic
supervisors by the site supervisor.

C. 
A student may be penalized for failing to keep the schedule time for internship participation
without informing the site supervisor and sociology faculty supervisor at least one day in
advance. The legitimacy of the excuse will be determined by the sociology faculty.

D. 
All interns will be required to present their daily log entries to other sociology students and
faculty at a time designated during the semester and final week. The discussion should reflect
the program objectives outlined in the previous sections of this document and the integration
of knowledge from the text.

Shepherd University Sociology Department