Lakeshore and Yavapai colleges create 93-credit public safety degree pathway
CLEVELAND, WI — A new agreement between Lakeshore College and Yavapai College gives eligible criminal justice graduates a route to a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration with 93 total credits, combining an associate degree at Lakeshore with online coursework through Yavapai.
Representatives signed the agreement at Lakeshore’s Cleveland campus on November 9. Lakeshore says it is the first Wisconsin institution to partner with Yavapai on this pathway.
How the degree pathway works
Students first complete an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree with a Criminal Justice concentration at Lakeshore. That portion consists of 63 credits: 30 in general education and 33 in Criminal Justice Academy coursework.
Eligible graduates can then transfer to Yavapai’s online Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Administration program and complete 30 additional credits. The online format is intended to help law enforcement and public safety professionals continue their education while working.
Options for working professionals and new graduates
The colleges describe the pathway as an option for graduates at different stages of their careers. Some may enter the workforce after earning their associate degree and return to study as they pursue advancement. Others may continue directly into the bachelor’s program. Additional work experience may still be necessary for higher-level positions.
Lakeshore President Dr. Paul Carlsen said the agreement responds to public safety partners seeking degree options that do not require professionals to step away from their careers. Dr. Marylou Mercado, Yavapai’s interim provost and vice president of workforce development, health sciences, and public services, emphasized building on students’ existing education.
Spring 2027 starts
Students can begin the pathway in spring 2027, with January and March start options. Prospective students can find Lakeshore’s criminal justice programs at lakeshore.edu and read the college’s announcement for more about the agreement.
