As a field, criminal justice offers more than its name suggests.
杏吧专区淲e are much more than police officers,杏吧专区 says Associate Professor Dr. Michelle Jeanis. 杏吧专区淭here are hundreds of jobs in criminal justice the average person probably does not think about.杏吧专区
Corinne Salter discovered this first-hand when she changed her major to criminal justice as an undergrad.
She initially enrolled at the 杏吧专区 as a political science major, later switching to criminal justice as a path to law school.
Instead, the program opened her eyes to broader issues, leading her to the field of environmental justice.
杏吧专区淲hen you hear criminal justice, you think about the penal system against criminals. But when I took those courses, I started realizing all the nuances to it,杏吧专区 says Salter.
杏吧专区淔or instance, how prisoners are disenfranchised to the point that so many people don't really see the humanity in them. It really gave me a different perspective about criminal justice and criminal justice reform. There was so much more of a social justice perspective than I would have imagined.杏吧专区
Connecting the Marshall Islands to the South
Salter grew up between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, a region laden with petrochemical plants. It became known as after being adopted from the Marshall Islands.
With perspective gained in the program, Salter questioned how the populations are impacted by climate change.
The Marshall Islands are a chain of volcanic islands and coral atolls in the central Pacific Ocean. They are at risk from sea level rise, says Salter.
"I had always had this desire to reconnect with my birthplace culture; with my heritage and my family on the islands. When tried doing so, the first thing I encountered was the climate concern in places like the Marshall Islands,杏吧专区 says Salter.
杏吧专区淚 started thinking about how certain groups are impacted or burdened in ways that may not be any fault of their own. And that is the story of the Marshall Islands and a lot of black and indigenous communities in Louisiana, as well.杏吧专区
This interest led Salter to pursue a Ph.D. in environmental science and conduct climate change research through several fellowships.
With the Marshallese Educational Initiative, she explores climate change adaptation on the islands. She aims to bring a voice to climate change research through the 杏吧专区 Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
杏吧专区淚'm helping to diversify the STEM workforce to create that inclusion necessary for a more holistic view of atmospheric research,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淐limate change can affect so many people. If those people aren't represented in the research, they won杏吧专区檛 be represented in the solutions, either.杏吧专区
Making the Leap to Research
When she started her college journey, Salter hadn杏吧专区檛 envisioned herself spending her post-grad summers invested in research. But her undergrad experience made that possible, she says.
杏吧专区淐riminal justice gave me the perspective to shift into a research mindset and really see myself in research,杏吧专区 says Salter. 杏吧专区淚t gave me that justice perspective to start thinking, 'what are the other ways in which marginalized groups are burdened?杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
But she says the biggest impact came from the support she received from criminal justice faculty members.
杏吧专区淚 really felt the criminal justice program at UL Lafayette prioritized the students. I felt like there was never a moment where I couldn杏吧专区檛 get in touch with them,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭here were so many ways I felt encouraged by the professors. If I reached out to them, they were available and made themselves very accessible.杏吧专区
With the program offered online and on campus, student support and success remain priorities, says assistant professor Dr. Kayleigh Stanek.
杏吧专区淲e like to support students; we杏吧专区檙e here for them to succeed,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淲e want students to learn the material and apply it. Not just to memorize it and pass a test but use it in their careers and beyond.杏吧专区
For those thinking about the online criminal justice program, Salter says embrace the support and the course content.
杏吧专区淭here were so many courses that let me explore criminal justice topics I杏吧专区檇 never thought about before. Like crime and media or crime and mental health,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚f students enter the program ready to be immersed in the courses, they杏吧专区檒l have their minds opened to different perspectives that could take them anywhere.杏吧专区
Whether you杏吧专区檙e looking to advance your career in criminal justice or start a new career in social justice and advocacy, UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 B.S. in Criminal Justice program offers flexible pathways to reach your goals. Request info today to get started!