Overview and General Information
WVU’s internship program in the department of Forensic and Investigative Sciences is the largest in the United States. For most students, the internship experience is the gateway to their first job. Students often receive job offers from their internship site as soon as they have completed their degree. At the very least, the internship supervisor provides an invaluable first professional reference. The internship program at WVU is coordinated by Robert O'Brien, but is ultimately overseen by department chair, Casper Venter.
Full-time students must complete their internship in the summer between their junior and senior year. Exceptions to this rule must be approved, in writing, by the chair of the department.
A successful internship
is a three-way partnership. The department will work with you to find a site
that complements your interests. We will assist with all paperwork and
will work with sites to ensure that they provide you with a meaningful
experience. The internship sites and coordinators will show you the real world
of forensic and investigative science. However, the single most important
factor in a successful internship is YOU. Take the initiative from the
start, help find a site, work with the coordinators to make it happen, and make
all required deadlines and meetings. What is expected of you here is no less
than will be expected of you when you take your first job; in fact, the
internship is your first forensic job. Make sure to approach it that way.
Students should check with their advisors to ascertain that they have completed all of the necessary course pre-requisites. Enrollment does not guarantee admittance or placement. Decisions regarding placement are made in the formal application process. Internships such as volunteer work outside the oversight of the department cannot substitute for the required internship hours. Any and all internships MUST be approved by the department.