~ Comments and News From our Current Students ~

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Crime and Society Students

The focus here is upon two of our most outstanding Crime and Society students. The last article on the page is from our Crime and Society Internship Supervisor, Diane Leamy. As you may know, Diane shares responsibility with our most senior students as they identify their internship (field) placement and complete the course (CAS 490 - Internship in Crime and Society).

If you are an alumni who is working in a criminal justice-related position, and you haven't sponsored one of our interns yet, would you consider sponsoring one? If so, please contact Diane.

Getting Involved: Missouri State's Mission
by Matt Iver

Pictured on the left below are Matt Iver (left) and Springfield Police Chief Lynn S. Rowe. The picture was taken while Matt was enrolled in the eight-week long Citizen's Police Academy offered by the Springfield (MO) Police Department. I (editor) interviewed Matt and here's what he had to say ...

I have been a student at Missouri State since the fall of 2002. I would like to say that my knowledge of criminology has increased immensely through the courses I've taken, and my experiences in the field have taught me even more. I have two more semesters here at Missouri State and I believe my time at Missouri State has made me more of an asset to the job market.

I am a member of the Criminal Justice Society and three honor societies. It is true when people say, "If you work hard towards something you can obtain it." I was recently hired by the Springfield Missouri Police Department as an intern ... and I'm learning a lot from this experience. It's been a great introduction to the "real world" of police work.

I believe real world experience is the most important thing to get while attending college. The courses at the university are great, and clarifying what one's future profession may be is even better. This is where Missouri State excels as compared to other universities. The mission at Missouri State is public affairs. The university wants its students to get out into the community, and contribute to society while they are still in college.

An option in the Crime and Society program (and in other departments' course offerings) is to take a service learning class. The one I took offered one credit hour and was attached to another Crime and Society course. To satisfy the requirements of the Service Learning course I took, I spent 40 hours volunteering in the Springfield Police Department.  I think the Service Learning program is an excellent opportunity for students, and I think that the public affairs mission that the university has adopted helps the students get into the world earlier than other college students. This experience will put Missouri State graduates ahead of other college graduates when they get into the job market.

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Stephanie Horak:
Winner of the United States Presidential Award for Community Service!

By Stephanie Horak

I took a course entitled "An Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System" (CAS 210) here at Missouri State simply on a recommendation when I needed another class. I thought it would be interesting, but I never thought it would become my major and quite possibly my future career.

While in the course, I participated in a service learning experience. That means, in my case, that I worked for 40 hours at a local group home, The Community Learning Center, under Manager Ed Dorris and earned academic credit for my work. Again, I just thought it would be interesting, but it led me to discover a career for myself. 

After interacting with the delinquent boys living in the group home, and talking about things from past abuse to our favorite kinds of cars, I decided to carry on the next semester and I completed over 100 hours total of service learning. During this semester, I also completed an independent study course with Dr. Carlie. This gave me the opportunity to take things I had seen in the group home, find literature on them, and discuss them with him. At the end of the semester I received both the Presidential Award for Community Service from the Office of the President of the United States, and the Lloyd R. Young Scholarship.

I went into my sophomore year undecided about my major or career after graduation and left with an invaluable experience and declared majors and minors; I plan to major in Crime and Society and Sociology with minors in Psychology and Religious Studies. As of right now, I’m looking at taking a year off from school and work with Campus Crusade for Christ. Then I will continue on to graduate school with the ultimate goal of working with adolescents through group homes, possibly running my own someday.

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Putting Theory into Practice:
Internships in the Field of Criminal Justice
by Diane Leamy, Internship Supervisor

Editor: The following article is intended for our current students. However, if you are working in an agency that could provide a meaningful internship or service learning experience for our students, please let us know.

The Crime and Society Major provides its students with many opportunities to learn about careers and graduate education available in the field of criminology / criminal justice. A major in our program can obtain knowledge about the careers in the courses offered in our department. Instructors often provide interaction with employees in a variety of criminal justice agencies through guest lectures, presentations, and field trips. In addition, a few of our courses have a Service Learning component. 

Service Learning Opportunities:
The service learning component allows students to work/observe in a not-for-profit agency whose efforts are related to the content of the course in which the students are enrolled.  For example, if the course is in corrections, and it has a service learning component (an additional one credit hour course), students may work/observe in a correctional agency and be able to relate what they see and learn there to the corrections course they are taking. It's a wonderful opportunity and should not be missed!

Another way of looking at service learning is as an "internship." Students have worked as mentors in various correctional institutions, community agencies which work with at -risk populations, and other agencies for their service learning credit. Sometimes this experience allows students to work in an agency related to the career they anticipate entering upon graduation. For instance, working as a juvenile mentor can allow one time to consider whether he or she prefers contact with juveniles or adults. Service learning in a correctional institution can provide students with information on the different opportunities available within a correctional facility beyond employment as a correctional officer. In addition, students can develop a sense of pride knowing they are providing a valuable service to these agencies as volunteers.

In addition to guest speakers and service learning, the student Criminal Justice Society provides contacts with professionals in the field through police ride-a-longs, tours of correctional facilities, and guest speakers. By networking with professionals in the community, students may develop contacts with practitioners who can assist in career preparation. Also, student organization membership is an excellent way to develop leadership and communication skills - something looked upon highly by potential employers.

Internship Opportunities:
Crime and Society majors must complete an internship before graduation. The department offers a three-hour internship (150 contact hours with an agency) or a six-hour internship (275 contact hours with an agency). Students enrolled in the six hour internship count three hours towards the major and the additional three hours towards hours for graduation. Students are responsible for finding an internship site with the assistance of  the instructor teaching the Internship course (CAS 490). Presently, we have opportunities for those interested in law enforcement at federal, state, county and local levels. For those interested in the courts, an internship with a law firm, the Public Defender’s Office, the Alternative Sentencing Program, the Prosecutor’s Officer, Teen Court, Drug Court and Domestic Violence Center (to assist with the processing of orders of protection) are often available.

Corrections-related opportunities exist in state, county and local prisons and jails, halfway houses, juvenile residential treatment facilities, and in both adult and juvenile probation and parole. Social services include working with victims, in after-school programs for juveniles, and in a variety of treatment programs. As you can see, we offer a number of opportunities for our students.

At the same time students are completing their internships, they are required to enroll in our Symposium course (CAS 491), which allows them the opportunity to learn what other students are experiencing in their internship settings (other agencies) and to continue their ongoing education about career options and graduate school through lecture. For those of you wanting to complete an internship where your permanent residence is located, the department frequently offers a summer internship.  Students participating in the summer option complete the symposium over the Internet.

If you have any questions or want to discuss options available related to your interest, please contact me at DianeLeamy@missouristate.edu or 836-4813.

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If you are a CAS major or minor, or you or thinking of becoming one, you can learn much more about the program by visiting our CAS Online Advisement Center.

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