ARE YOU CONSIDERING

AN INTERNSHIP IN
CRIMINOLOGY?

A Guide to Planning and Obtaining an

Internship

Internship Coordinator
Amy Schmoeller
als63@psu.edu
814-863-0453
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Table of Contents

Page

Objectives and General Information ....................................................................................2

Eligibility and Admission ....................................................................................................2

Finding an Internship ...........................................................................................................3

Procedures for Finding an Internship ...................................................................................3

Academic Credits/Expectations ...........................................................................................4

Research Internships ...........................................................................................................5

Assignments .........................................................................................................................5

Grading ................................................................................................................................6

Professionalism ....................................................................................................................6

Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................6

Résumés ...............................................................................................................................9

Cover Letters ......................................................................................................................13

Final Notes .........................................................................................................................17

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So You’re Considering an Internship in Criminology

We’re pleased you’re thinking about completing an internship! The internship program provides
students with structured work experience related to crime and the Criminology major. To
complete the internship, you fulfill a time commitment in the work setting, compile field notes
recording your experiences, and complete several brief writing assignments in which you
systematically analyze that setting and your experience. The assignments are designed to merge
what you’ve learned in the classroom with the work you’re completing on the internship. Many
of you will find this experience invaluable for testing (and sometimes revising) your career goals
and for establishing credentials and contacts that aid in finding a permanent position after
graduation. The internship is highly recommended for all Criminology majors, regardless of your
long-term career goals. This document provides all of the information needed to arrange the
internship, including requirements, how to find a placement, and how to write a cover letter and
résumé.

The objectives of the CRIM internship are:

 to give students the opportunity to apply classroom learning in an agency setting;

 to encourage the development of a professional identity and appropriate professional
skills;
 to give students the opportunity to develop networking skills.

Many students will complete their internships in core agencies of the justice system, such as law
enforcement, prosecution, probation, and corrections, but placements need not be limited to
these. It is equally relevant to work in affiliated organizations, such as law offices, community
prevention programs, and halfway houses. There are also pertinent opportunities in private
industry, such as security and loss prevention or accounting work devoted to detecting white-
collar crime. Because the internship in Criminology must be devoted to crime, law, and criminal
justice, Criminology majors who wish to complete internships on other topics should consider
the general Liberal Arts internship program.

Eligibility and Admission to the Internship

Any CRIM student may apply for an internship, providing that he/she can fulfill the following
criteria:

 Students applying for an internship must be in good academic standing

(GPA of 2.0 or better).
 All students taking an internship must have earned at least a C in CRIM 250W
(Research Methods). Students who take 250W prior to their scheduled internship and
do not earn a C or above must retake this course before they may enroll for internship
credit.
 Students must obtain formal approval from the internship coordinator(s) prior to
registering for the internship. This approval will only be granted after a personal
advising session between the student and the internship coordinator(s). Students must
have completed and submitted necessary internship forms by the deadlines set by the
internship coordinator(s). Students who begin actual internship work without meeting
this requirement may not be allowed to receive credit for their experience.
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 Because internships are intended to provide practical experience relevant to issues

previously studied, it is suggested (but not required) that students should have
completed the basic CRIM 100 course and a course directly related to the
employment setting in which they intend to accept an internship. For example,
students planning on working in the legal field should have completed CRIM 467;
students who wish to work in policing should have completed CRIM 435; students
planning on working in correctional institutions should have completed CRIM 430;
and students wishing to work with a victim services agency should have completed
either CRIM 421 or CRIM 423.
 Students who have secured an internship but do not meet the department's internship
course eligibility requirements may want to consult the LA 495 internship course
information on the Career Enrichment Network website and request registration for
the non-departmental/college section of LA 495. To request registration, complete
and submit the information form on the website, and the course instructor will review
your request and determine whether or not your internship is appropriate for academic
credit.

Finding an Internship

You are free to select your own internship; however, you do not have to go through the process
alone. The advisers in the Criminology major are available to assist you in locating internships
and in negotiating with prospective supervisors. Internship lists with contact names, addresses,
and telephone numbers are available outside 316 Oswald Tower, in the advising offices and on
the departmental website. The Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network also posts a variety of
internship opportunities via Network Symplicity. To learn more about potential sites, you can
read through intern newsletters posted on the bulletin boards or on the internship Web site at
http://sociology.la.psu.edu/undergraduate/internships

Many students decide to complete internships near their hometowns so they can live at home to
defray living costs. There are also a limited number of internships in the State College area for
students preferring to remain in the University Park vicinity. One word of caution: we don’t
recommend being so location-focused that you lose sight of the quality of your prospective
internship site. Some students are so concerned with obtaining an internship in their hometown;
they settle for an internship that is mediocre at best and give up the possibility of completing an
internship with a stellar agency.
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Procedures to Follow

Planning for your internship should begin early in the semester prior to the one in which you
plan to intern.

1. Read through this guide and check to be sure that you meet all requirements. If you are
confused about the requirements, please contact the internship coordinator or your advisor.

2. Begin to think realistically about your potential internship position.

What are your goals?
What kinds of experiences will be most beneficial to you?
What do you hope to learn?
What do you have to offer a potential sponsor?

3. Meet with the coordinator or advisors who will answer any questions you have about
paperwork and/or the process, work with you on clarifying internship goals and expectations,
and assist you in developing an internship search strategy.

4. Prepare a résumé and sample cover letter. For assistance with your resume, we encourage
you to register for a Network Symplicity account through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment
Network. You will be able to see sample resumes and cover letters under the Resources tab
in your account, and you also can upload draft versions of your documents and receive
feedback and suggestions from a Network staff member. You also can seek resume and
cover letter advice from Career Services (Bank of America Career Services Building)
A later section of this guide includes sample resumes and cover letters.

5. Within the first three weeks of the semester prior to the start of the internship, send a letter
with a résumé to contact persons at three possible internship sites. You can get ideas of
possible sites from the internship list available from the internship coordinator, through the
internship postings in Network Symplicity, and through your own research and personal
networks.

Note: some agencies require reference forms, letters or confirmation of student standing.
If your agency requires additional information please contact the internship coordinator.

6. E-mail the names and addresses of the contact persons at these three sites to the internship
coordinator(s).

7. By the ninth week of the semester finalize your internship site placement. This is done by
contacting the internship coordinator. Departmental expectations and instructions regarding
students’ internship duties/activities will be sent to supervisors at the agency.

8. Attend a required seminar at the end of the semester prior to your internship experience. This
seminar, facilitated by the internship coordinator and attended by all students enrolled in the
internship for the following semester, will cover issues pertaining to organizational entry,
socialization, expectations, and course requirements. You will receive a copy of the
internship handbook prior to the meeting so that you are familiar with the course
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requirements and expectations. The handbook also includes all the forms needed for the
internship.

9. Confirm registration for the internship. You must contact the internship coordinator in
order to register for the course. If you do not complete all necessary steps or are unable to
obtain an internship position, your name will be dropped from the class list and you will no
longer receive emails about the internship process and NOT be registered for internship
credit.

Academic Credits/Expectations

Credit
Students may enroll in LA 495 for up to 9 credits. Up to 3 of these credits may be used to fulfill
degree requirements toward a 400-level course, beyond the core 400-level course requirements.
The remaining internship credits will be used as electives. The number of credit hours earned
depends upon the number of hours worked. Students earn 1 credit for each 50 hours they work
at their internship. Therefore, students enrolled for 3 credits must arrange to work at least 150
hours, those registered for 6 credits must work a minimum of 300 hours, and so on.

Each student must decide whether she/he will complete the work associated with a 1-9 credit
internship. This decision will determine the number of hours worked weekly, the total number of
weeks, the length of logs, and the number of topic papers to be written (see below for specifics
about your topic papers).

Students may arrange to work full-time (forty hours/week) for a shorter time or part-time (e.g.,
twenty hours/week) for a longer period. Students may not arrange to work less than ten hours per
week. You are encouraged to work with your internship supervisor to arrive at a work schedule
that best fits your needs and the agency’s schedule.

Some model schedules are as follows:

3 credits
12.5 hours/week for twelve weeks
18.75 hours/week for eight weeks
37.5 hours/week for four weeks

6 credits
25 hours/week for twelve weeks
37.5 hours/week for eight weeks

To ensure that you are completing your weekly work hour requirements, you will be expected to
log the number of hours you work each week. The weekly hour log sheet is included in the
internship handbook that you will receive at a later date. Your internship supervisor will sign this
form each week and you will return the log sheet to the coordinator(s) at the conclusion of your
 6

internship. If you fail to meet your minimum hour requirement, your grade may be lowered
based on the number of hours you did not complete.

Research Internships

Students may also arrange to complete a research internship. Students interested in this option
must obtain a faculty adviser and plan an independent research project to be completed under the
faculty adviser’s direction. Further, they must complete a research internship approval form, and
obtain the signed approval for the project by the faculty advisor, the undergraduate director, and
the internship coordinator. For more information on this option, see the internship coordinator.

Assignments

LA 495 has several academic requirements. You will be required to complete weekly logs of
your activities and observations on the internship. You will also be required to complete several
topic papers; the number of these will depend upon the number of internship credits for which
you are registered.

Grading

Your grade in LA 495 will be determined by your logs, papers, and satisfactory performance on
the job, as assessed by your agency supervisor. The following is a breakdown of the grading
system for the internship:

Topic Papers (35%)

Logs (30%)
Log 1 (10%)
Log 2 (10%)
Log 3 (10%)
Performance Evaluation (25%)
Intern Newsletter ( 5%)
Thank You Letter ( 5%)
Total (100%)

As noted above, failure to complete the required hours will result in grade reductions.

Professionalism

You might wonder what we mean by professionalism and why it’s so important. The definition
of professionalism means individuals who exhibit professionalism conform to the technical or
ethical standards of a profession. This means that each agency has certain regulations,
procedures, and expectations that you will need to follow. We expect you to act professionally
and to avoid any violations of confidentiality or the misuse of information. Furthermore, you
may not act as an undercover narcotics operative, make drug buys, or engage in any other
behavior we have defined as unacceptable.

We fully expect that our student interns will follow professional standards of conduct.
Accordingly, your supervisor will assess your demonstrated ability to act professionally.
Specifically, your attendance, punctuality, dependability, work habits and attitudes, ability to
 7

build effective relationships with staff and clients, ability to learn, and to accept constructive
criticism will all be evaluated. All students must sign a form indicating their understanding of
what is deemed professional behavior and the consequences of failing to meet those standards
before they will be permitted to complete their internship. Anyone who acts inappropriately
(including unethical conduct or breaches of departmental expectations) may be asked to leave by
the agency or by the department and receive a grade of withdraw failing (WF). More detailed
information about professionalism will be discussed at the mandatory seminar the semester
prior to your internship.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What resources are available to help students find an appropriate site?

There are a variety of resources to aid students in selecting a practicum site suited to their
needs. Internship placement lists are available outside 316 Oswald Tower, from the
advising offices and on the departmental Web site at
http://sociology.la.psu.edu/undergraduate/internships. New internship opportunities are
regularly posted on the bulletin board outside 316 Oswald and on the student list-serv.
Through discussions with faculty members, students can also learn about additional
practicum opportunities and widen their network of potential contacts.

The Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network also posts a variety of internship
opportunities via Network Symplicity. Internships are posted as sites provide the
information to the Network, and postings are taken down as application deadlines pass
each semester. For students interested in working in federal agencies, please note
application deadlines are well in advance of the start of the internship (i.e. early fall
application deadlines for internships for the following summer).

2. Why must I plan my internship a semester in advance?

Most internship programs at Penn State, including Criminology, require you to plan
ahead in order to complete an internship for credit. There are several reasons for advance
planning on your part. Although not all students who indicate their intent to complete an
internship actually participate, we need your cooperation in meeting your internship
deadlines to ensure that all students are properly supervised and to make sure we have
enough instructors available. It’s easier to remove your name from the list than to add it
on at the last minute! Second, many agencies require prospective interns to complete
applications and interview for positions, and may conduct background investigations on
prospective interns. All these steps take time. If you wait until the last minute to look for
an internship, you may find that agencies will not be able to process your information for
the next semester and/or will have already filled any available positions with interns from
other programs and universities who applied earlier. Some federal agencies require
prospective interns to apply almost a year before they plan to intern. Not only do agencies
have a great deal of paperwork to complete, but the CRIM program does as well. We
need to have enough time to send information regarding the internship to prospective
agencies and to deal with questions and student paperwork before the internship begins.
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3. How long does the internship last?

The internship length ranges from 50 to 600 hours, depending upon the number of credits
for which you register. You must notify your agency supervisor in advance as to the
number of hours you plan to work. You and your supervisor should work out a schedule
that is mutually agreeable so that you may complete the hour requirement for the
internship. You may work full-time or part-time to complete the internship; however, you
may not work less than ten hours per week.

4. What should I do if I have questions about the practicum, or if problems arise

during the internship?

You should contact your Penn State supervisor and/or the internship coordinator.

5. Are interns typically paid?

No. We believe interns provide meaningful service to their supervising agencies.

However, many organizations view the time and effort they devote to training interns as
compensation for the learning opportunities gained by the students.

If your organization is unwilling to provide a salary, consider exploring other creative

options: tuition reimbursement at the end of the internship, a stipend, parking, conference
registration and travel, lodging, etc. It is frequently easier to tap into a fund for some
small compensation than it is to put someone on salary. You need to understand,
however, that any decision to compensate you is at the discretion of your supervising
agency.

Students participating in unpaid internships are encouraged to report their internship and
apply for Liberal Arts enrichment funds via the Career Enrichment Network to provide
partial support of their enrichment experience.

6. If I become sick or injured while on my internship, who will pay my medical bills?

This is a complicated question. Some interns become employees of their agency and,
therefore, by law may be covered under Worker’s Compensation laws for the state in
which they are interning. If, however, your internship is sponsored through the volunteer
office or is unpaid by either salary or wages, you may be responsible for your own
medical bills, even if you are injured during the course of your responsibilities.

You should try to maintain your regular medical and dental coverage through your
parents’ health insurance policies (or your own, if you are an independent student), if this
is what you use during the regular academic year. If you have been enrolled full time
 9

during the spring and fall semesters, most companies maintain that coverage during the
summer. You might want to check with your insurance company in advance, especially if
you intend to intern during the fall or spring semesters.

Students generally do not need professional liability insurance and Penn State does not
provide liability insurance for its students. If, however, your placement requires
students to obtain coverage, you are responsible for obtaining it, and your agency
supervisor must notify you of that responsibility. There are a number of companies
that carry student liability coverage. Possible sources might be the students’ family
homeowners insurance, your student rental insurance agent, or simply search the internet
for “professional liability insurance”.

7. I don’t have the finances to register for the internship for the semester. Can I take
the internship now and register for it another semester?

This is not an option. Senate policy 34–81 states that students must be registered for the
course during the semester in which the course requirements are completed and a grade
must be assigned at the end of that semester. The Registrar’s Office will not permit you
to take the internship one semester and register for it another.

8. What if I have been unable to find an internship?

If you have been totally unsuccessful in identifying an internship, even with our help, you
should think about reorganizing your academic plans. You might want to put off your
internship for a semester and replan it for the future. Most of the time, this occurs because
students have planned poorly and have not been persistent in their search and follow-up
activities. Sometimes it is because they have put all their eggs in one basket by applying
to only one or two places. Develop back-up options for yourself, and you should not find
yourself in this predicament.

How do I design a résumé?

In the process of selecting an internship site, you must submit a résumé and cover letter to your
prospective agencies. A résumé is a summary of your background, experiences, and
qualifications. There are many different formats to use; only a few are included here. For more
sample formats, stop by Career Services in the Bank of America Career Services Center or
register for a Network Symplicity account through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network.

The résumé generally has several sections. The first section includes your complete address and
phone number. You should also include your school address and phone number and your e-mail
address.

The major portion of your résumé will be your educational experience. This section may be
preceded by a brief statement of your professional objectives. In the education section, you
should include the name of your school with its city and state, your major, and your expected
 10

date of graduation. You may wish to expand this section by including courses you have
completed that are relevant to the field site or by listing skills you have. For example, you might
want to list computer skills or language skills.

Work experience should appear next. If you have related work experience, you may want to
create a separate category titled “Related Work Experience” or “Criminal Justice Experience.” If
you do not have any related work experience, use the section title “Employment Experience.”
List work experiences by month and date in reverse chronological order. Next, list the job title,
place and address of employment, and a brief description of your duties. If you have worked in a
campus office or in a research lab be sure to list the university as “The Pennsylvania State
University”

Extracurricular activities can include all types of student activities and awards or honors. List
any offices you may hold. By listing your extracurricular activities, you show you are a person
who gets involved and who may have leadership or administrative potential.

An optional section is “Interests and Hobbies.” You may want to include several
hobbies/interests to show that your interests are not limited to criminal justice. In the
“Reference” section, you may choose to list specific references with names, addresses and phone
numbers or you may decide to state: “Available upon request.”

On the following pages, you will find several sample résumés.

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MARY HOWARD

Present Address Permanent Address

532 E. Beaver Ave., #Z 111 Terrace Road
State College, PA 16801 St. Marys, PA 15857
814-555-777 814-666-8888
mjh@psu.edu

OJBECTIVE: An internship to gain practical experience in one aspect of the field

of law enforcement.

EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in Criminology , May 2014

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Relevant course work:

Policing, Criminal Investigation, JuvenileDelinquency,
Crimes Code, Criminology, Sociology, Criminal Procedure
and Evidence, Criminal Law.

EMPLOYMENT:
9/06–present Department of University Safety, Student Auxiliary
University Park, PA 16802
Student Supervisor

Supervise over 70 student officers who perform safety

and security functions including traffic and crowd control as well
as property security. Responsibilities include Museum of Art
student security supervisor, payroll supervisor, and scheduling of
details for the Student Auxiliary.

Summers St. Marys Borough

04–05 St. Marys, PA 15857
Lifeguard

Responsible for the safety of patrons using the pool facilities and the surrounding area.

6/03–7/04 McDonald’s Restaurant

St. Marys, PA 15857
Cashier

VOLUNTEER
EXPERIENCE:

4/05–present American Red Cross

St. Marys, PA 15857; State College, PA 16801
Multimedia/Standard First Aid Instructor, Swimming Instructor
(WSI)

2/05–present American Heart Association

State College, PA 16801
CPR Instructor

10/02–7/03 Special Olympics

St. Marys, PA 15857
Swimming Instructor
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JAMES DOUGLAS

College Address Permanent Address

10 Vairo Blvd., #A1 221 South St.
State College, PA 16803 Holland, NY 12345
814-555-2222 111-333-7777

Professional Objective: A career in loss prevention.

Educational Background:

9/05–present B.S. in Criminology, May 2009

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Related course work: police organization and

administration, loss prevention, security issues, report
writing and interviewing, computer skills for liberal arts
students, four semesters of Spanish.

9/02–9/04 Mohawk Valley Community College, Reid, NY

Associate Degree. Major: Criminal Justice.

Criminal Justice Experience:

2/02–8/04 Security Guard, Horne’s Department Store

Sangertown Square Mall, New Hanford, NY.
 Duties included shoplifter apprehension, checking the store before opening
and after closing to make sure it was secure.
 Completed a special two-week tactics seminar on suspect apprehension and
customer safety.

Other Employment Experience:

9/00–1/02 Merchandiser, Kmart Department Store,

Commercial Drive, Reid, NY.
 Provided customer assistance; stocked shelves.

5/00–8/01 Counselor, Black Diamond Summer Camp, Floyd, NY.

 Supervised youths participating in weeklong camping sessions.

Extracurricular Activities:

2006–present Justice Association, Penn State University.

October 2006 Assisted in coordinating Criminal Justice Career Fair at
Penn State University.

References: Available upon request.

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CHRIS VINCENT
30 N. Atherton St., #3
State College, PA 16801
814-555-4444
crv@psu.edu

Qualifications Summary

Worked in progressively challenging assignments throughout college in such areas as data processing, accounting,
and network administration and security. Skilled in several computer software packages and speak fluent Spanish.

Education
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, December 2013
Minor in Computer and Information Systems

Specialized Coursework
Crime Investigation Computer Science
Information Security Criminal Law
Accounting (Introductory and Management Information Systems
Intermediate)

Educational Seminars and Training

Computer Fraud in the Twenty-First Century, New York, NY, 2003
Organized Economic Crime, New York, NY, 2003

Employment
9/05–present The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Network and Computer Lab Manager
Supervise all student assistants in computer lab. Responsible
for network administration, student accounts, virus control, and
security.

9/03–8/04 ACME Tax Preparation, 122 Garner Street, State College, PA

Tax Preparation Assistant
Assisted in the preparation of income tax returns. Under
supervision of accounting staff, interviewed clients, prepared
computer entries, and reviewed tax codes.

5/02–9/03 Foremost Insurance Company, Boalsburg, PA

Entered computer data into company data bank and performed
routine data inquiries for several departments. Assigned to data
analysis based on supervisor recommendations.

Activities
College Honors Program
Justice Association
Varsity Lacrosse Team

References
Available upon request.
 14

What is a cover letter and how do I write one?

A cover letter is your introduction to the prospective agency. Always include a cover letter with
your résumé. The main guidelines are to be concise, to address the letter to a specific person, and
to make sure that your letter is free of grammatical and spelling errors. Below is a sample format
to follow and sample cover letters. Please remember these are only samples. The Career Services
office and The Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network also provide samples of résumés and
cover letters.

If you have not received a response to your inquiry letter after approximately three weeks, call or
write the individual to whom you sent the letter and, in a polite manner, introduce yourself and
remind him/her of the letter you sent. Ask the status of your request. It may be that your letter
was misplaced or that the person has been too busy to respond. You may also be one of several
candidates and in this case, the process takes longer. If you are turned down, remember that this
is part of the process, so don’t be discouraged. Try to have alternative sites in mind.

Cover Letter Format:

Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your Telephone Number

Agency Supervisor’s Name

Agency Address

Dear _______:

The FIRST PARAGRAPH should include: (1) how you found out about the agency; (2)
your year in school (i.e. junior, senior), university name and major; (3) an explanation that you
would like to complete an internship experience to enhance your academic experiences; and (4)
the fact that no payment or stipend is expected.

The SECOND PARAGRAPH should include: (1) an explanation of why you are
interested in working for the agency, (2) a discussion of the activities you would hope to become
involved with in the agency, and (3) the semester you would like to intern and the number of
hours you plan to work.

The THIRD PARAGRAPH should include: (1) a request for an opportunity to meet with
the agency supervisor if his/her schedule permits, (2) an invitation for the agency supervisor to
contact you at the indicated address and phone number, and (3) an indication that additional
information about the program can be obtained by contacting the Field Placement Office,
Criminology, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802.

The FOURTH PARAGRAPH should include: (1) an indication to the agency of when
you might be in the area of the agency, and (2) an expression of appreciation for the agency
supervisor’s time and consideration.
 15

You should keep in mind that many of the agencies in Pennsylvania receive letters requesting
internships and that it will be the more interesting letters that receive positive responses. Do not
contact only one agency; it is better to have too many acceptances than not enough. Try to be
interesting and to let your personality come through in your cover letter. Do not put anything in
writing that you will not be prepared to cover in an interview. It’s a good idea to do some
research on the agencies you will be contacting. Some agencies require that a letter of
recommendation from the internship coordinator(s) be sent with the student’s résumé and cover
letter. Check with your agency before sending your letter.
 16

Mary Howard
532 E. Beaver Ave., #Z
State College, PA 16801
814-555-7777

Police Commissioner Kevin Tucker

Police Administration Building
8th and Race Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Dear Mr. Tucker:

I am a junior at The Pennsylvania State University majoring in Criminology. I am looking to

complete an internship experience to enhance my academic coursework taken at Penn State.
Your agency came to my attention as I was looking through the files of past interns.

Your agency appeals to me because I am pursuing a career in law enforcement. I am particularly

interested in working in the Juvenile Aid Division. I feel the JAD would give me a broad view of
the procedures of the police department. If accepted by your agency, I would participate in any
activity that I am permitted, as I am eager for experience in the field of law enforcement. I plan
to complete my internship during the fall semester of 2009 and anticipate I would work a
minimum of 300 hours.

If convenient, I would like to make arrangements to meet with the head of your intern program. I
may be contacted at the above address and additional information about the program is available
from the Field Placement Office, Criminology, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802.

Your time and consideration is greatly appreciated.

Respectfully,

Mary Howard
 17

James Douglas
10 Vairo Blvd., #A1
State College, PA 16803
814-555-2222

Mr. Stanley Mason

Loss Prevention Manager
Brown’s Department Store
25 Dearborn Street
Livingston, NY 24033

Dear Mr. Mason:

I am a senior at Penn State University, majoring in Criminology. At this time I am seeking a site
for internship placement during the summer semester. It is my understanding that you have
accepted interns from Penn State in other semesters.

Because I am considering a career in loss prevention, I am very interested in an internship with

Brown’s Department Store. I have enclosed a copy of my résumé. As you will note on my
résumé, I have done security work with Horne’s Department Store and participated in a special
tactics seminar during my employment there. My course work emphasis is on loss prevention
and law enforcement, including courses in computer skills, report writing, and interviewing. If I
am accepted by Brown’s, I anticipate working a minimum of 150 hours in my internship
experience.

I can be reached at 555-2222. I look forward to hearing from you and would very much like to
set up an interview with you or someone in your department at your earliest convenience. If you
need more information on the internship, please feel free to contact the Field Placement Office,
Criminology, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802.

Thank you for your consideration of my application.

Sincerely,

James Douglas
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Some final notes

The internship is an important step from academic to occupational success. It tests your ability
to apply your skills and observe the daily regime of an agency, firm or organization. The
benefits of an internship are often the highlight of a student’s academic experience at Penn State,
and many of our interns have been offered permanent positions when their internship was
completed.

If you have questions about the internship process or need further information, please contact:

Amy Schmoeller
als63@psu.edu
814-863-0453.

You can also check out the internship Web site at

http://www.sociology.la.psu.edu/undergraduate/internships.shtml.

You can also see and register for a number of professional development opportunities via your
Network Symplicity accounts under the Events tab. These vary from semester to semester, but
they could include how to use LinkedIn in your internship or job search, how to market your
Liberal Arts degree, specific information sessions sponsored by employers, etc.

The LEAD assessment program provides students with a chance to get personalized feedback on
their effectiveness on eight competencies required in a range of career fields, while also getting
some interview practice and feedback.

StrengthsFinder® is an on-line assessment that identifies top five strengths/signature themes.

They offer a lot of on-line resources for thinking about how strengths apply to academics, career
planning/search, etc.

The Alumni Mentor program connects rising juniors and rising seniors with an alumni mentor in
a field of interest to them for networking, professional development, and career exploration.

The Career Enrichment Network website includes student profiles to give you ideas about what
other students have done to enhance their undergraduate experiences, and also includes blog
posts and announcements for upcoming events and opportunities.
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This publication is available in alternative media on request.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs,
facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance,
or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the
University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The
Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry,
color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran
status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State
University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The
Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901; Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-
863-1150/TTY. U.Ed. LBA 12-20.