CRIM 2420 - Criminal Justice Practicum

Credit Hours: 3.00

• Completion of 25 or more criminal justice credits in Criminal Justice courses including CRIM 1100 , CRIM 1140 , CRIM 1200 , AND CRIM 2300 . Students must achieve a grade “C” or better in any core course in the program. Students will be required to repeat all of the core courses and earn a minimum grade of “C.”  Highly recommended that students enroll in this course within the final two semesters of graduation or transfer. 
• Must be categorized as a criminal justice, criminal justice with police academy, or homeland security major and have a minimum GPA requirement (2.5 or higher).
• Approval by the Criminal Justice Practicum faculty. 

** Please Note: Additional expenses are to be met by the student including but not limited to: (1) drug screening and (2) a criminal background check. Additionally, practicum sites may have other requirements that must be met by the student. The practicum agency has the final right to screen, accept, reject, and/or terminate student participants. Students enrolled in this course are expected to follow the accepted code of ethics of the profession and adhere to the policies of the placement agency. 

** Additional Information:

On-campus meetings will be required, dates and times TBD. This course is web-facilitated. Please visit www.macomb.edu/elearning for online and hybrid course requirements, student log-in, the Introduction to Online Learning for first-time users, and Canvas Support contact information. Specific class requirements pertaining to the online portion of the course will be listed on the syllabus.

The Criminal Justice Practicum course provides students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in various sectors of the criminal justice system. Through fieldwork and professional engagement, students will apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings, enhancing their skills and understanding of the criminal justice system’s complexities; 120 hours are required in a criminal justice-approved facility. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.

Billable Contact Hours: 3

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Objectives:

1. Explore various fields in order to identify career paths.
2. Describe the day-to-day operations and challenges faced by criminal justice professionals, such as ethical dilemmas, resource constraints, and the application of law.   
3. Demonstrate an understanding of key criminal justice theories and principles in a real-world professional setting.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate practical, hands-on skills in a criminal justice field including investigations, community outreach, or courtroom procedures.  

Objectives:

1. Develop soft skills, including communication, teamwork, time management, and ethics in a criminal justice setting.
2. Summarize their practicum experience based upon mentorship from seasoned criminal justice professionals to provide guidance, feedback, and support during the practicum experience.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate an awareness of the diverse populations served by the criminal justice system and the impact of policing, legal procedures, and community on varied groups and personally.

• Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
• Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
• Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
• Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
• Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
• Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.

1. Real World Setting
   1. Exposure to various fields in Criminal Justice
   2. Ethical Dilemmas
   3. Application of Law
2. Professional Skills
   1. Communication Skills
   2. Teamwork
   3. Mentorship
3. Diverse Population Awareness
   1. Diverse Groups 
   2. Personal Awareness