High Point University values experiential learning in all majors. The criminal justice program offers many opportunities for students to apply classroom lessons to real-world situations. Students can join the Justice Club, Pre-Law Society or our local chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma (the National Honor Society of Criminal Justice).
Internships:
An internship is not required in the Criminal Justice major; however, students are encouraged to pursue internships and credit hours can be awarded for the experience. Faculty will work with students to create a customized internship experience. Internships can occur during the summer months, or during a normal semester. Contact Dr. Jana Spain about this program at: [email protected]
Past experiential activities we have created for our students include:
- Courtroom observations and field trips to local prisons
- A seminar on serial sexual killers by Robert Ressler (founder of FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit)
- Student participation in the Citizen Police Academy
- Attending a national justice conference
- Police K-9 demonstration
- Defense tactics for student survival, including firearms safety and instruction
- Guest speakers from the FBI, customs, SBI, corporate asset protection, probation/parole, district attorney’s office, public defender office and more
- Creation of a Mock Trial Course
- Creation of the HPU Intercollegiate Mock Trial Competition Team
- Crime Scene Investigation work at the CRJ Learning Lab/Crime House (Lifting prints from crime scenes, analysis and print matching skills, blood stain interpretation and analysis, mock homicide scene investigator)