Get Involved
Student Involvement refers to the amount of physical and psychological energy that the student devotes to the college experience.
~Astin, 1984
College is about more than going to class. It’s about learning that extends outside of the classroom into the real world – learning that can take place in internships or independent studies, in student organizations, or on study abroad. MSU graduates should be leaders and life-long learners.
So yes, go to class. Learn about your field of study. But don’t forget to learn about yourself, others, and the world.
For questions on how these opportunities fit into your academic plan, make an appointment with an advisor.
Independent Studies and Undergraduate Research
MSU’s Office for Undergraduate Research works to increase opportunities for MSU students to engage in scholarship and to expand the pool of faculty and partners engaging undergraduate students in their scholarly work. The Undergraduate Research Office is housed within the Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education. Information about College and University research opportunities can be found here.
At times, academic personnel in the School of Criminal Justice have research projects with which they could use assistance from undergraduate student(s). We encourage students to review the list of research expertise by academic personnel and reach out to faculty during office hours or via email.
Independent studies are a great opportunity for students to spend time focusing on a particular area of interest not already offered in a class. Students who are interested in an independent study should find a faculty member who is able to facilitate the independent study over the course of the semester, and complete the application for independent study.
Inside-Out Program
The Inside-Out program is a course held at the Cooper Street Correctional Facility in Jackson, Michigan. The course is comprised of a group of traditional MSU undergraduate students along with a group of non-traditional inmate students.
To learn more about the program, visit the website for the International Headquarters of The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program: http://www.insideoutcenter.org/
For questions about MSU’s Inside-Out course or enrolling in the course, contact Dr. Jennifer Cobbina.
Internships
The School of Criminal Justice highly encourages students to participate in internships. An internship is a great way to integrate classroom learning with real world situations. Internships offer a planned program of observation, participation, and study in a selected criminal justice agency. See the Careers & Internships page for more information.
Experiential Learning
The College of Social Science has a range of options for students to fulfill their Experiential Learning requirement. The College of Social Science has compiled a full list of possibilities!
Student Organizations
The School of Criminal Justice has several student organizations available for students to get involved with:
American Criminal Justice Association
The American Criminal Justice Association (Lambda Alpha Epsilon, Mu Sigma Upsilon chapter) is devoted to the advancement of professionalism in all areas of criminal justice. Its objectives are to supplement a student’s criminal justice major with social and educational activities outside of the classroom, develop professionalism in the field of criminal justice among its members, promote awareness of criminal justice issues, provide a unified voice for students, and promote high standards of ethical conduct within the field.
AJCA has more than 152 active chapters on campuses nationwide and is not just a college student organization; it contains members working in the criminal justice field, and related agencies also participate in LAE activities. For more information regarding the national chapter, visit their website.
For more information on ACJA at MSU, contact ACJA by email, like them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.
Alpha Phi Sigma
Alpha Phi Sigma (APS) is the nationally recognized honor society for criminal justice students. With more than 250 chapters nationwide, APS is made up of student members who share a commitment to learning and improving the criminal justice field.
The society offers leadership and group organizational experiences to students who want to make the most of their time in college, and is a strong resume builder. Members receive a membership certificate, lapel pin, and honors cords to be worn at graduation. Typical activities include presentations by high-level guest speakers, volunteer activities, and field trips and tours, which allow members the opportunity to make useful connections and gain additional hands-on experience. Members also develop lasting personal and professional friendships through social activities during the academic year.
For more information, contact Tim Homberg.
Cold Case Club
The MSU Cold Case Unit is a organization founded on the campus of Michigan State University in the spring of 2018. Our objective is to utilize critical thinking and analytical skills to help understand some of the most notorious, unsolved homicide cases through the use of debate, logical reasoning, and conjecture.
The MSU Student Cold Case Unit is a student-led organization that was founded and based on the principles that govern the Vidocq Society, a group of "like-minded persons, in and out of forensics" who "gather to discuss and debate crimes and mysteries". At MSU we hope to promote similar debate and discussion in an attempt to uncover and further understand what or who may be responsible for the crimes we study.
For more information, contact Dr. Karen Holt and follow the MSU Student Cold Case Unit on Facebook and Instagram!
Criminal Investigations Club
The Michigan State University Criminal Investigations Club provides an environment for criminal justice majors and any other interested people to join in on discussions and debates about criminal activity.
For more information, contact Dr. Wally Wojciechowski and follow the club on Instagram.
National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice
The National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ) is a multi-ethnic, nonpartisan, nonprofit association of criminal justice professionals and community leaders dedicated to improving the administration of justice.
The MSU chapter is the first student NABCJ chapter in the Midwest. The mission of the association is to serve as a professional and social network for African-American undergraduate and graduate students in the field of criminal justice.
Students will gain valuable communication, networking, and leadership skills. Programming throughout the academic year focuses on enhancing professionalism in criminal justice, community service, networking, and social activities. For information on membership, contact James Bradley.
Michigan State University has more than 650 registered Student Organizations, so visit the Department of Student Life for a complete list of groups to get involved with!