When Heaven Rodrigue decided to earn her B.S. in Criminal Justice, a degree offered both online and on campus at UL Lafayette, it was purely by chance.
Initially choosing another major because of the earning potential it would give her, she found herself unhappy and looking for more.
“I hated it,” she recalls. “I didn’t fit in with my classmates, I was failing two classes, and I just wanted to drop out.”
So, she pulled up the University’s list of majors on her phone, gave one big scroll, and looked at the options that were on her screen when the scroll stopped.
Criminal justice stood out to her the most; in high school, she enjoyed debating and studying law.
“I don’t want to be a lawyer, but I was like, ‘Hey, that would be fun, studying the justice system,’” she says.
And with that, her journey began.
Finding Her Place
As Rodrigue completed her first criminal justice class, CJUS 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice, she knew that she had picked the right major.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the class — and many of Rodrigue’s undergraduate classes — online, but she found joy in engaging in virtual discussion forums.
“Usually, if we were in person, we’d be having discussions and debates in the classroom,” she says. “So, online, a big portion of our work for the class was making discussion forum posts and having those discussions in a virtual format. And a lot of us were scared because we didn’t want to state our opinions or debate about political things like our country’s justice system.”
However, when a classmate of hers started making statements that she disagreed with in their posts, she knew it was time to bring out her debate skills.
“I just fell in love with it, the discussions I got to have virtually in that class, particularly with that classmate I disagreed with,” she says. “T professor would always chime in on our threads to give us relevant articles to read or provide relevant statistics. It was so fun and engaging.”
As Rodrigue progressed in the program, she realized that earning a bachelor’s degree wouldn’t be her stopping point.
She cites CJUS 311: Crime and Mental Health as a particularly impactful class for her. The course covers the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system, giving students a better understanding of how to handle justice-related issues among individuals with mental health diagnoses.
“For me, that was the class that made me realize how important the field of criminal justice is,” she recalls. “We learned all about specialty courts, substance abuse, and other topics.”
Specialty courts, Rodrigue explains, are programs in the court system that emphasize rehabilitation over punishment. Drug courts, for example, help those with addiction and substance use disorder recover and live “full, productive, and sober lives,” saving the justice system money in the long term, .
Preparing for a Career
Criminal justice is a broad field, Rodrigue asserts, covering everything from research and the academic study of justice issues to the day-to-day patrol and law enforcement in communities.
Although the B.S. in Criminal Justice program was just the starting point in Rodrigue’s academic career, it also equips students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive working in the justice system immediately after graduating.
In their senior year, students in the program work with Paula Broussard, master instructor and internship coordinator, to get hands-on experience in an area of criminal justice that interests them.
Rodrigue interned in case management for ֱ’s .
“I was working with people who had substance use issues and were enrolled in the program,” she says. “T main part of my job was working with each person’s probation officer to make sure people in the program were sticking to their plan.”
“If somebody in the program failed their drug test, I would reach out to get an explanation from them. If they needed resources, I would refer them to the right place. My job was to be that person and face that they could trust for help and guidance.”
Rodrigue has seen her classmates from the program follow a variety of career paths.
Some have gone off to law school.
Others have gone on to teach through programs like , a nonprofit that partners with K-12 schools and after-school programs to provide mentorship, education, and skills training, or , a nonprofit that places college graduates as teachers in underserved K-12 schools with the goal of reducing educational inequity.
“When people tell me that all I’m going to do with my degree is be a police officer, I tell them that I personally don’t know a single police officer,” Rodrigue says. “That’s one option, but there’s so much more. You can go to law school become a lawyer or judge. You can get a staff job for a court or law enforcement agency. You can be a teacher, too. It’s all about what you make of your degree.”
With her degree, Rodrigue hopes to go on to earn a Ph.D. and pursue a career in teaching and research.
Currently studying in the University’s M.S. in Criminal Justice program, she’s particularly interested in researching veterans' treatment courts. Like the program she interned for, these courts help rehabilitate those who struggle with substance use disorders, specifically veterans.
Succeeding in Criminal Justice
Rodrigue points out three skills necessary for any criminal justice student who wants to succeed: the ability to write, the ability to research, and the ability to ask questions.
For those who struggle with the first two, lean on the University’s resources and dedicated faculty, she advises.
“T has so many great databases and a great reference desk to point you where you need to go,” she says. “If you aren’t that strong of a writer, email your professors and ask for feedback. They’re incredible and always happy to work with you and help you. And the is always an option, too.”
To thrive in the field, Rodrigue encourages students to maintain a sense of curiosity. Criminal justice is a broad field with lots of possibilities, she asserts.
“In criminal justice, there’s no such thing as a stupid question. You’ll find areas that you’re interested in. Pursue those areas, dig deeper, and make it your own.”
Prepare for an impactful career in the justice system by earning your B.S. in Criminal Justice online.