This fall, Eastern Kentucky University will become the first college or university in the state to offer a Social Justice Studies degree.
Dr. Preston Elrod is a professor and chair for undergraduate studies in EKU’s School of Justice. Elrod says although the SJS degree is housed in the School of Justice, it differs substantively from a Criminal Justice and Criminology degree.
“This is a program that deals with a variety of issues that face not only people in this country but people in other countries," said Elrod. "It has to do with issues of fairness, equity and oppression, and people’s struggles to deal with problems that they face in their everyday lives.”
The program will draw upon a variety of academic disciplines including American Studies, anthropology, cultural and political geography, and sociology.
Dr. Elrod says the SJS program is for people who care about issues including fairness, equity and oppression.
“This is a place for the folks who are interested in coming and looking at those issues and also thinking about ‘how can I make a career dealing with those things?’" he said. "Or even if they decide to not make a career of it, ‘how can I work with others on addressing some of these issues?’”
Dr. Elrod says he envisions some graduates of the program will go on to work for community organizations on issues including poverty, homelessness, and child welfare.
