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Madonna University is a private, independent Catholic and Franciscan institution of higher learning located in Livonia, Michigan. Established in 1937, Madonna University was founded by Mother Mary DeSales Tocka and her council in the Felician Central Convent of Livonia. Originally named the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Junior College, the school began with a first year enrollment of just 18 sisters. By 1982 master’s-level programs were instituted and less than a decade later in 1991 the college achieved university status. Madonna University’s main mission is “to instill in students Christian humanistic values, intellectual inquiry, a respect for diversity, and a commitment to serving others through a liberal arts education, integrated with career preparation and based on the truths and principles recognized within a Catholic tradition.”
Academic Programs
Madonna University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and has been so since 1959. The school is made up of a number of colleges and schools, including the College of Arts and Humanities, College of Education, Graduate School, College of Social Sciences, College of Nursing and Health, School of Business, and the College of Science and Mathematics. Madonna University offers students a comprehensive liberal arts education that is integrated with career preparation for the purpose of producing graduates who are equipped with skills that employers value including effective communication, problem solving, analytical thinking, and the ability to work in collaborative groups. More than 100 career-focused majors are offered at the undergraduate level, as well as more than two dozen master’s degrees and a doctoral degree.Madonna University was the first in the nation to offer a bachelor’s degree in Sign Language Studies and has proven to be a leader in nursing education at the state, regional and national levels. Madonna University also boasts thriving business degree programs in China and Dubai and offers the first distance learning degree completion program in Business Leadership in Haiti.
Student Life
Nearly 4,000 students are enrolled at Madonna University, including over 3,000 undergraduates. The school’s main campus features a recently renovated residence hall and there are more than 40 active student led clubs, organizations and honor societies. Madonna University is focused on educating the whole person, intellectually, spiritually, and personally and the school’s Campus Ministry is committed to “cultivating the holistic spiritual life of the entire Madonna community.” Strong emphasis is placed on community engagement and students and faculty volunteer more than 25,000 hours each year in areas ranging from Detroit to South Carolina to Latin America.Madonna University’s varsity teams compete at the NAIA Division II level and the school is a member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC). Approximately 175 to 200 students participate each year in Madonna University’s intercollegiate sports with nearly a dozen men’s and women’s teams including basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, track and field, men’s baseball, and women’s volleyball.