Internships
Get the experience you need to get the job you want through practical, real-world work experience in forensic laboratories.
Internships enable students to earn 1-3 academic credits while gaining valuable forensic science experience. The work experience supplements classroom learning, introduces new skills and provides insight for future career planning. Typical internships primarily consist of job-shadowing, including but not limited to, observing/assisting with active cases in the field and/or in the crime lab. Additional experiences may be offered at the discretion of the internship laboratory.
How to Get an Internship
Students are responsible for arranging their own internships. Here are great sources:
- Review our internship postings
- Ask forensic science faculty or another faculty mentor for a suggestion
- Explore Handshake
- Consult with VCU Career Services
- Search the Student Opportunity Center
Once an internship opportunity is determined, a contract must be turned in and approval must be obtained from the undergraduate director in order for a student to receive academic credit for the internship experience. See more information below.
To qualify for an internship, an undergraduate student must:
- be enrolled in VCU and in the forensic science undergraduate program for at least one semester prior to and throughout the internship
- have completed FRSC 300 with a minimum grade of C
- have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75
Additional information:
- A maximum of six credits of FRSC 493 may be applied toward graduation (though more may be completed, if desired)
- Credit hours enrolled must be commensurate with total supervised hours of forensic science activities for a 16-week semester:
- 3 credit hours: ≥125 supervised hours
- 2 credit hours: ≥83 supervised hours
- 1 credit hour: ≥42 supervised hours
- A grade of pass/fail is assigned by the undergraduate director
- Students should speak with and identify a supervising mentor at a qualifying forensic science agency with whom they will participate in the internship. The internship experience needs to have a significant forensic science component. The number of credits shall be determined before attempting to enroll and must be commensurate with the amount of time devoted to forensic science activities.
- Students must contact the undergraduate director with the following information for preliminary approval of their internship:
- Company/agency of internship
- List of duties/activities/responsibilities AND a rough estimate for the amount of time for each (this information should be compiled with the assistance of the internship supervisor/mentor)
- Number of credit hours
- After preliminary approval from the undergraduate director based on the above information, students and the internship supervisor must complete the FRSC 493 Internship form. Once this is approved by the undergraduate director, an override will be requested on the student's behalf. The undergraduate director will provide the student and internship supervisor with any necessary forms, due dates, etc. required for the internship.
- Once an override is granted, students must follow the provided instructions to enroll during pre-registration, registration or add/drop. Students who submit their paperwork after the add/drop deadline has passed risk rejection of their internship for the current semester.
This is a pass or fail course. In order to receive a grade of "pass," students must:
- Complete the required minimum number of total supervised hours as indicated by the number of credit hours earned:
- 3 credit hours: ≥125 supervised hours
- 2 credit hours: ≥83 supervised hours
- 1 credit hour: ≥42 supervised hours
- Maintain and submit a log of hours. A form will be provided to the student and internship supervisor to document dates, times, activities, etc. for the internship experience. The log must be signed by both the student and their supervisor, and must be submitted to the undergraduate director via email at the end of the semester of the internship experience.
- Complete and submit a midterm progress report. The student must write a 1-2 page narrative detailing the internship duties, including positive and negative aspects of the internship. This should be emailed to the undergraduate director by the provided due date.
- Receive a satisfactory evaluation by their supervisor. The undergraduate director will provide the internship supervisor with an evaluation form near the end of the semester. The supervisor will submit the evaluation directly to the undergraduate director.
- Write and submit a reflective paper. The student will prepare a 5-7 page paper (spelling, punctuation and grammar will be considered) assessing the internship experience and involvement with the organization. This could include topics such as:
- The intern's main contribution to the organization
- Something learned or observed and its link to a course(s) taken
- A significant event of the internship
- The most positive and negative aspects of the internship
- The most important thing learned as an intern
- Additional learning needs identified as a result of the internship
- How the internship will help in pursuing career goals