Every October 28, National First Responders Day honors the police officers, firefighters, EMTs and dispatchers who run toward emergencies when everyone else runs away. At Madonna University in Livonia, many of Michigan's law enforcement leaders got their start. Ninety-five Madonna criminal justice alumni have been named police chiefs, and a new partnership is making it faster and more affordable than ever for the next generation to follow them.
Through a partnership with the Western Wayne County Police Academy, launched last year, Madonna criminal justice students can attend the academy during their final semester while they finish their bachelor's degree.
The structure removes the biggest hurdles between graduation and a badge:
Instead of graduating and then starting the academy as a separate step, students finish both at once and can step straight into public service.
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is a 45-credit major, plus general education requirements. Coursework covers legal procedures, ethics, investigations and community relations, with an emphasis on problem-solving and communication.
Students can add a Certificate of Completion to specialize in a niche area of the field:
Madonna also offers an Associate of Science and a minor in criminal justice. Bachelor's degree coursework is available in person, in a hybrid format, or 100% online for degree completion, and transfer credits are accepted.
Madonna's criminal justice faculty bring decades of field experience in criminal law, federal policing, homeland security and corrections into the classroom. The roster includes a retired Novi assistant chief of police and FBI National Academy graduate, a retired Michigan Department of Corrections parole and probation manager, and veterans of the Detroit, Farmington Hills, Canton and Novi police departments.
With their guidance, students dig into interrogation and interviewing, incarceration and rehabilitation, cybersecurity, forensic psychology, terrorism and crime prevention. Faculty stay active with criminal justice partners, which opens doors to internships with local police departments, sheriff's offices, state police, federal agencies and probation and parole offices.
Madonna's Criminal Justice Club is open to students from every major. The club has hosted guest speakers from across the justice system, and members have toured the Michigan State Police Crime Lab, prisons, local jails and courts.
Each year, members also train on a MILO simulator at a local facility. The computer-based system puts students in realistic scenarios used to train working officers.
Ninety-five Madonna alumni have been named police chiefs across Michigan, a reflection of the program's focus on leadership, ethics and community engagement. Graduates also build careers in corrections, courts and legal services, forensic investigation, private security and cybercrime.
The demand is there. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 60,100 openings each year. The median annual wage for police and detectives was $77,310 in May 2025.
The program is built for:
This First Responders Day, Madonna University thanks the officers, firefighters, medics and dispatchers who keep our communities safe, including the many alumni among them. If you are ready to join them, explore degree plans and certificate options on the criminal justice program page or start your application today.
