About the Department of Criminal Justice


Organizations

  • Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society
  • National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice
  • Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
  • International Association of Chiefs of Police
  • Pinkie C. Wilkerson Pre-Law Team
  • Mock Trial Team

Careers in the field of Criminal Justice

The Department of Criminal Justice prepares students for professional positions at the federal, state, or local levels in law enforcement, crime laboratory, court, correction, or juvenile fields. Our graduates can be found in criminal justice or law positions in government agencies, corporations, or private offices around the world. They work as U.S. Customs Agents, U.S. Marshals, Air Traffic Controllers, Drug Enforcement Agents, Central Intelligence Agents, police officers, forensic specialists, intelligence analysts, game wardens, prison wardens, judges, attorneys, probation officers, correctional administrators, juvenile specialists, paralegals, and more.

The Department of Criminal Justice provides students with the skills needed to pursue graduate work in criminal justice, law, or related areas as well. Together, with the Office of Career Placement, the department has several career planning opportunities including an annual job fair with representatives on campus from a broad spectrum of federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies as well as area law schools and graduate schools.

Careers in Criminology and Justice Administration

The Ph.D. in Criminology and Justice Administration prepares its graduates for positions as faculty, researchers, program trainers, criminologists, human resource managers, analytical scientists, urban and regional planners, policy analysts, program evaluators, legislators, med-and high-level administrators, and managers in agencies involved with the criminal justice system at the local, state, federal, and global levels. The program provides excellent opportunities to in-service practitioners at senior levels to improve and upgrade their knowledge base, analytical skills, and expertise. Specifically, their training, and expertise will be instrumental in the research required to craft groundbreaking public safety policies or consultancy positions in various organizations.

Departmental News

  • Dr. White received tenure and was recently promoted to the rank of Associate Professor
  • The Department was approved to offer a Minor in Criminal Justice
  • Two students, Patricia Millbrooks and Jeremy Andrus received the IBM Masters Fellowships Award in the amount of $10,000.
  • Dr. Lurie Thomason was once again the recipient of the Pinkie C. Wilkerson Endowed Professorship in Criminal Justice
  • The Department was granted approval by the UL System Board and the Board of Regents to offer the Ph.D. in Criminology and Justice Administration (Program to start in Fall 2022).

Alumni

The Department of Criminal Justice has a dedicated network of alumni around the globe. Our alumni serve as leaders in law enforcement, corrections, victim services, forensics, the legal field, public and private security, higher education and much more. The master’s program trains students for a variety of jobs. Our students and alumni are the reason we are ranked as best college in the state of Louisiana.