Bachelor of Applied Science
Degree Code: PREBASPS02/BASPS01
The Aims Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) Degree in Public Safety is designed for established public safety professionals seeking to advance their careers. The program provides education in the management, leadership, and administration of public safety agencies, including fire service, law enforcement, emergency medical services, emergency management, and criminal justice. A minimum of 120 semester credits is required for graduation.
All Emergency Service Administration (ESA) major courses and electives are eight weeks in length and fully online. While it is possible to complete the program in two years, most students are working professionals who attend part-time and complete the degree in two to four years.
The B.A.S. degree is awarded to students who successfully complete a program designed to prepare them for immediate employment in full-time skilled and/or paraprofessional positions.
Although some college credits within this program may be accepted for transfer by particular four-year colleges and universities, career and technical courses are not specifically designed for transfer. Students anticipating transfer are encouraged to carefully review the requirements of the institution and program to which they plan to transfer.
General Requirements for the B.A.S. Degree
- One hundred twenty (120) semester credit hours in approved coursework are required for graduation.
- The student must earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher in all coursework completed at Aims Community College.
- Thirty (30) semester credit hours of coursework applicable to the degree program must be completed at Aims Community College prior to graduation.
- Courses numbered below 1000 do not apply toward completion of the B.A.S. degree.
- Courses with a three-character bracketed code (for example, English Composition I [CO1]) in which a student earns a grade of C or higher are guaranteed to transfer to all public Colorado colleges and universities. Courses in which a D grade is earned may apply toward the B.A.S. degree at Aims, but transfer is not guaranteed. Students are encouraged to check with the institution they plan to attend to confirm transferability or consider repeating courses to achieve a higher grade.
Admission Requirements
Option 1: Associate Degree plus Work Experience
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Hold an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Public Safety or an associate degree in another discipline (e.g., Liberal Arts) from an accredited institution.
- Possess documented, relevant work experience in a public safety-related field, such as law enforcement, fire services, emergency management, corrections, homeland security, or other related professions.
Option 2: 60 College Credits plus Work Experience
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have earned a minimum of 60 college-level credits from an accredited institution.
- Possess documented, relevant work experience in a public safety-related field.
Option 3: First-Year Entry into the B.A.S. Program
- Applicants who do not meet the criteria outlined above may enter the B.A.S. program as first-year students by selecting a designated Public Safety pathway.
- These students will complete required foundational coursework prior to advancing into upper-division public safety courses.
- Additional admission materials, such as letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and/or an interview-may be required based on the applicant’s background.
Note: Admission to this program is selective. For detailed information on admission requirements and the application process, please contact the department directly.
General Education Requirements
The general education component requires a minimum of 31 semester credits, which may include applicable general education credits transferred from an associate degree.
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