
Emergency Medical ServicesRequirements
Explore the classes that will teach you the skills you need to earn an EMS associate degree and become a basic EMT. Study anatomy and physiology, IV/IO therapy, learn how to assess and treat people in emergency situations, and choose an elective path in either advanced EMT or fire science.
Because this degree includes the 15-week EMT training program, which has specific requirements and entry dates, see the EMT application information page for more information about getting started with your EMS degree. If you have questions about entering the EMS degree program, email ems@aims.edu.
Row Groupings | Degree Requirements: | Credits |
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required | EMS 121 - EMT FundamentalsIntroduces the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student to prehospital emergency care. The topics included in this course are Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems, well-being of the EMT, communications, documentation, anatomy, airway management, and patient assessment. Prerequisite(s): Professional level CPR certification. Three credits. |
3 |
required | EMS 122 - EMT Medical EmergenciesProvides the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student with the knowledge and skills to effectively provide emergency care and transportation to a patient experiencing a medical emergency. This course focuses on the integration of the physical exam, medical history, and pathophysiology when assessing and treating the medical patient. Four credits. Course Prerequisites
Professional level CPR certification and EMS 121 with a grade of "C" or better Course Corequisites
EMS 123, EMS 124, and EMS 170
|
4 |
required | EMS 123 - EMT Trauma EmergenciesProvides the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student with the knowledge and skills to provide appropriate emergency care and transportation of a patient who has suffered a traumatic injury. The concepts of kinematics and the biomechanics of trauma, along with pathophysiology and injury patterns will provide the student with the ability to assess and manage the trauma patient. Two credits. Course Prerequisites
Professional level CPR certification and EMS 121 with a grade of "C" or better. Course Corequisites
EMS 122, EMS 124, and EMS 170
|
2 |
required | EMS 124 - EMT Special ConsiderationsProvides the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student with the knowledge and skills required to modify the assessment, treatment, and transportation of special patient populations and patients in special circumstances. This course also provides an overview of incident command, mass casualty incidents, vehicle extrication, air medical support, hazardous materials, and terrorism. Two credits. Course Prerequisites
Professional level CPR certification and EMS 121 with a grade of "C" or better. Course Corequisites
EMS 122, EMS 123, & EMS 170
|
2 |
required | EMS 132 - EMS IV / IO TherapyFocuses on cognitive and skill practice for the Colorado scope of practice for the IV / IO endorsement as outlined in the Intravenous / Intraosseous Therapy and Medication Administration course curriculum. Two credits. Course Corequisites
None
|
2 |
required | EMS 170 - EMT ClinicalProvides the EMT student with the clinical experience required for initial certification and some renewal processes. Visit the Online Orientation at . One credit.https://www.aims.edu/academics/ems/start-today.phphttps://www.aims.edu/academics/ems/start-today.php Course Prerequisites
Current CPR certification, applicable immunizations and a background check Course Corequisites
EMS 121; EMS 122; EMS 123; EMS 124
|
1 |
required | EMS 181 - EMS Internship IProvides students with the opportunity to supplement coursework with practical work experience related to their educational program. Students work under the immediate supervision of experienced personnel at the business location and with the direct guidance of the instructor. Course is repeatable with a maximum of 6 credit hours. Variable credit. Course Prerequisites
Current CPR certification, applicable immunizations and a background check |
.25 to 6 |
*Note | * Students must complete 5 credits of EMS 181 | |
required | FST 109 - Occupational Safety & Health for FireIntroduces the basic concepts of occupational health and safety as it relates to emergency service organizations. Topics include risk evaluation and control procedures for fire stations, training sites, emergency vehicles, and emergency situations involving fire, EMS, hazardous materials, and technical rescue. This course introduces the basic principles and history related to the national firefighter life safety initiatives, focusing on the need for cultural and behavioral change throughout emergency services. Three credits. |
3 |
required | BIO 106 - Basic Anatomy and PhysiologyFocuses on basic knowledge of body structures and function, and provides a foundation for understanding deviations from normal and disease conditions. This course is designed for individuals interested in health care and is directly applicable to the Practical Nursing Program, Paramedic Program and the Medical Office Technology program. Four credits. Course Prerequisites
MAT 055 or MAT 107 or higher, and CCR 092 or higher with grades of "C" or better. MAT course may be taken concurrently |
4 |
required | HPR 144 - Medical TerminologyProvides an in-depth study of the structure of medical terms with emphasis on using and combining common prefixes, roots and suffixes. This course includes terms related to major body systems, oncology, and psychiatry as well as clinical laboratory and diagnostic procedures, and imaging, and provides accepted pronunciation of terms and relative use in the healthcare setting. Three credits. |
3 |
required | HWE 111 - Health and WellnessExplores the six components of wellness: physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and occupational. Topics include health risks, wellness behaviors, and personal behavior change in the areas of nutrition; exercise; substance abuse; stress management; cardiovascular and cancer risk factors; the aging process; and violence, death, and dying in our society. Provides tools to complete self-assessments and develop a wellness program for a healthier lifestyle across a lifespan. Three credits. |
3 |
Total Degree Requirement Credits | 32 |
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Row Groupings | General Education Requirements: | Credits |
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General Education Requirements: | Choose 1 option for COM and choose 1 option for MAT. All other general education courses listed required. |
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required | COM 115 - Public SpeakingCombines the basic theory of speech communication with public speech performance skills. Emphasis is on speech delivery, preparation, organization, support, and audience analysis. Three credits. |
3 |
required | COM 125 - Interpersonal Communication: GT-SS3Examines the communication involved in interpersonal relationships occurring in family, social and career situations. Relevant concepts include self-concept, perception, listening, nonverbal communication, and conflict. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category. Three credits. |
3 |
required | ENG 121 - English Composition I [CO1]Emphasizes the planning, writing, and revising of compositions, including the development of critical and logical thinking skills. This course includes a wide variety of compositions that stress analytical, evaluative, and persuasive/argumentative writing. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-CO1 category. May be taken concurrently with CCR 094. Three credits. |
3 |
required | MAT 107 - Career MathCovers material designed for career and technical students who need to study particular mathematical topics. Topics include measurement, algebra, geometry, statistics, and graphs. These are presented at an introductory level and the emphasis is on applications. This course may be used for the A.A.S. degree only. Course readiness is determined by review of high school transcripts, assessment, and/or meeting with an Aims Academic Advisor. Three credits. |
3 |
required | MAT 135 - Intro to Statistics [MA1]Introduces descriptive and inferential statistics, with an emphasis on critical thinking and statistical literacy. Topics include methods of data collection, presentation and summarization, introduction to probability concepts and distributions, and statistical inference of one and two populations. This course uses real world data to illustrate applications of a practical nature. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-MA1 category. Course readiness is determined by review of high school transcripts, assessment, and/or meeting with an Aims Academic Advisor. Three credits. |
3 |
required | POS 125 - American State/Local Gov.[SS1]Emphasizes the structure and function of state, county, and municipal governments including their relations with each other and with national government. Includes a study of Colorado government and politics. This course is a statewide guaranteed transfer course GT-SSI. Three credits. |
3 |
required | SOC 218 - Sociology of Diversity [SS3]Explores differences based on race, ethnicity, social class, gender, age, ability status, and sexual identity. Critically examines the dynamics of intergroup relations and how social construction of these differences can lead to patterns of prejudice, discrimination, and inequality nationally and globally. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category. Three credits. |
3 |
Total General Education Credits | 15 |
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Row Groupings | Elective Credits: | |
---|---|---|
Elective Credits: | Compete 1 option below for a total of 13 credits. |
Row Groupings | Elective Credits Option 1: | Credits |
---|---|---|
required | EMS 127 - AEMT Special ConsiderationsIntroduces the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student to the fundamental knowledge of growth, development and aging considerations in the emergency patient. The student will learn to use assessment findings to provide basic and selected advanced emergency care and transportation for a patient with special needs. These include the obstetric patient, neonatal patient, pediatric patient, geriatric patient, and patients with special challenges. Learners will apply this knowledge to patient assessment and the development of a treatment plan in a simulated setting. This course also provides an overview of the principles of safe ground ambulance operations, incident management, multiple casualty incidents, air medical responses, vehicle extrication, hazardous material awareness and terrorism and disaster response. Learners will apply critical thinking skills to ensuring the safety of a scene and a plan for safe patient care and transportation. Two credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 129, EMS 131, EMS 133, EMS 135, & EMS 171
|
2 |
required | EMS 129 - AEMT PharmacologyProvides the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student with a basis for making clinical decisions in the pharmacologic management of patients commonly encountered in the pre-hospital setting. Topics include the legal and ethical aspects of pharmacotherapy, roles, responsibilities and techniques associated with medication preparation and administration, the classification and naming of medications, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and medication calculations. In addition the mechanism of action, dose, route(s) of administration, therapeutic effects, adverse effects, and therapeutic indications for medications within the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician scope of practice are discussed in detail. One credit. Course Corequisites
EMS 127, EMS 131, EMS, 133, EMS 135, & EMS 171
|
1 |
required | EMS 131 - AEMT FundamentalsProvides the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student with instruction in EMS systems, communications and documentation, pathophysiology, airway management, and the role of EMS in public health. Two credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 127, EMS 129, EMS 133, EMS 135, & EMS 171
|
2 |
required | EMS 133 - AEMT Medical EmergenciesIntroduces the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student to a fundamental knowledge of emergency care for the medical patient. This course provides instruction in the integration of physical exam findings, history findings, and pathophysiology when assessing and treating the medical patient. Topics addressed include neurology, immunology, infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, cardiovascular disorders, toxicology, respiratory emergencies, hematology, and renal disorders. Two credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 127; EMS 129; EMS 131; EMS 135; EMS 171
|
2 |
required | EMS 135 - AEMT Trauma EmergenciesIntroduces the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student to a fundamental knowledge of emergency care for the trauma patient. The student will learn how to utilize assessment findings to provide basic and selected advanced emergency care and transportation for the trauma patient. Two credits. Course Corequisites
EMS 127, EMS 129, EMS 131, EMS 133, & EMS 171
|
2 |
required | EMS 171 - AEMT Clinical InternshipBuilds on the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) student's fundamental knowledge of patient care in the clinical and field setting. The student will perform patient assessments through physical examination, and patient interviews of health history and current illness. The student will then use those assessment findings to develop and carry out a patient treatment plan. This will include pediatric, geriatric and adult patients with a variety of presentations. The student will also survey each field scene for safety considerations and scene management. Two credits. Course Prerequisites
Current Colorado EMT Certification, CPR Certification, applicable immunizations, and a background check. Course Corequisites
EMS 127, EMS 129, EMS 131, EMS 133, & EMS 135
|
2 |
required | EMS 182 - EMS Internship IIProvides students with the opportunity to supplement coursework with practical work experience related to their educational program. Students work under the immediate supervision of experienced personnel at the business location and with the direct guidance of the instructor. Course is repeatable with a maximum of 6 credit hours. Variable credit. Course Prerequisites
EMS 181 with a grade of "C" or better, current CPR certification, applicable immunizations and a background check |
.25 - 6 |
*Note | *Students must complete 2 credits of EMS 182 |
Row Groupings | Elective Credits Option 2: | Credits |
---|---|---|
required | FST 100 - Firefighter IAddresses the requirements necessary to perform at the first level of progression as identified in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001, Firefighter Professional Qualifications. This is a lecture and lab course for meeting the NFPA 1001, Level I, standard. Nine credits.font-family:verdana, sans-serif;font-size:9pt;http://www.aims.edu/student/cashier/tuitionDifferential tuition rates apply. Course Prerequisites
Professional level CPR certification |
9 |
required | FST 107 - Haz Mat Operations Level IIntroduces hazardous materials incidents, recognizing and identifying hazardous materials, planning response, implementing response procedures, decision making, and continued evaluation at the awareness and operation level. See Tuition and Fees web page for rate listings atThree credits.font-family:verdana, sans-serif;font-size:9pt;Differential tuition rates apply. font-family:verdana, sans-serif;font-size:9pt;http://www.aims.edu/student/cashier/tuitionwww.aims.edu/student/cashier/tuition. |
3 |
required | FST 170 - Clinical IOffers the clinical practicum to apply the related fire science technology. Differential tuition rates apply. Course is repeatable with a maximum of 12 credit hours. Zero to twelve credits. |
0 to 12 |
*Note | *Students must complete 1 credit of FST 170 |
Total Elective Credits | 13 |
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Total Credits for Degree | 60 |
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