
Police StudiesRequirements
Law Enforcement Associate Degree Requirements
Explore the classes that will prepare you for the rigors of police work. The Aims police academy program is designed to prepare you for the Colorado Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification exam, which is required to become a police officer. Choose from a part-time or full-time degree path to learn and train on your schedule.
Gain knowledge and skills in:
- Colorado statutes and federal laws relevant to police work
- Arrest and control techniques
- Law enforcement driving
- Firearms
- Report writing
- Patrol procedures
- Criminal investigations
- Traffic investigations
- Street survival techniques
- Field sobriety tests
- Emergency first aid
- Physical fitness
Choose among required elective courses in various subjects, including:
- Forensic science
- Delinquent behavior
- Victimology
- Criminal profiling
- Forensic anthropology
- General and abnormal psychology
- Sociology
General education requirements round out your learning experience and give you the practical soft skills employers want. Study subjects including math, statistics, public speaking, interpersonal communications, American state and local government, English composition and the sociology of diversity.
How to Apply to the Police Studies Associate Degree Program
To apply to the Aims police academy and police studies degree program, you’ll need to complete the following:
- Fill out the Aims Community College Basic Peace Officer Academy Application Packet
- Purchase a uniform and all equipment listed in the application
- Write an admission essay
- Take and pass a physical fitness test (PFT)
- Sign the following forms included in the admissions packet:
- Commitment to excellence
- Disclaimer
- Background investigation student advisory form
- Student acknowledgment of responsibilities/obligations form
You’ll also need to submit proof or copies of your:
- Driver's license
- Birth certificate
- Completed background investigation form (CCIC)
- Fingerprints
- Driving record
- CPR certification
- Proof of health insurance
- Resume
- College transcripts (if any)
- High school diploma or GED
- Federal form DD214 (if applicable)
Read through the entire packet carefully to make sure you include all required elements of the application. You’ll find a handy checklist at the end of the packet to help you make sure you’ve included all the necessary elements.
Submit your completed application, along with all required materials, to crj@aims.edu.
Row Groupings | Major Requirements: | Credits |
---|---|---|
required | LEA 101 - Basic Police Academy I(Formerly CRJ 101) Conforms to POST standards and state certification requirements as well as the basic skills and knowledge necessary to perform the entry level duties of a peace officer. Emphasis will be on simulating actual situations utilizing both a lecture and laboratory mode of learning. Prerequisite(s): Permission of Academy Director. Six credits. |
6 |
required | LEA 103 - Bsc Law Enforcemnt Academy III(Formerly CRJ 103) Enhances the standards established by the P.O.S.T. Board and state certification requirements as well as the basic skills and knowledge necessary to perform the entry level duties of a Police Officer. Emphasis will be on expanding the P.O.S.T. curriculum to create a unique learning experience. Prerequisite(s): Permission of Academy Director. Two credits. |
2 |
required | LEA 104 - Bsc Law Enforcement Academy IV(Formerly CRJ 104) Enhances the standards established by the P.O.S.T. Board and state certification requirements as well as the basic skills and knowledge necessary to perform the entry level duties of a Police Officer. Emphasis will be on expanding the P.O.S.T. curriculum to create a unique learning experience. Prerequisite(s): Permission of Academy Director. One credit. |
1 |
required | LEA 106 - Arrest Control TechniquesExploration of the skills, knowledge and abilities necessary to effectively maintain control of a suspect when making an arrest. Explains the continuum of force and de-escalation of force. Three credits. Course Prerequisites
Permission of Academy Director. |
3 |
required | LEA 107 - Law Enforcement DrivingExploration of the skills, knowledge and abilities required for operation of a law enforcement vehicle. Emphasizes defensive driving. Enables students to demonstrate skills by driving a vehicle under simulated conditions.Three credits. Course Prerequisites
Permission of Academy Director |
3 |
required | LEA 108 - FirearmsDiscusses the skills, knowledge and abilities necessary to safely use police firearms. Students will demonstrate skills by firing weapons on a firing range. The student will demonstrate basic safety techniques and will explain the firearms role within the continuum of force. Prerequisite(s): Permission of Academy Director. Three credits. |
3 |
required | LEA 118 - Report Writing(Formerly CRJ 118) Identifies the areas of concern in regards to proper documentation of police related activities. Focuses on report writing skills, proper structuring of interviews and chronological documentation of events. Incorporates proper sentence structuring, the use of correct terminology and accuracy in written reports. Prerequisite(s): Permission of Academy Director. Three credits. |
3 |
required | LEA 126 - Patrol ProceduresExploration of an in-depth study of the basic knowledge and skills required of a peace officer to safely and effectively accomplish patrol procedures. Prerequisite(s): Permission of Academy Director. Three credits. |
3 |
required | LEA 240 - Criminal InvestigationsIntroduces investigation methods and procedures from preliminary investigation through the follow-up stages. Three credits. Course Prerequisites
Permission of Academy Director |
3 |
required | LEA 246 - Traffic InvestigationExploration of the skills and concepts necessary to complete an accurate investigation of a traffic collision. Emphasizes traffic management concepts, selective traffic enforcement, and safety issues. Three credits. Course Prerequisites
Permission of Academy Director |
3 |
required | LEA 247 - Street Survival TechniquesExploration of an in-depth study of the basic knowledge and skills required of a peace officer to safely and effectively accomplish the patrol function. Two credits. Course Prerequisites
Permission of Academy Director |
2 |
required | PED 100 - Fitness ConceptsFocuses on providing information and guidelines for moving toward a more healthy lifestyle. Includes classroom instruction, an individual fitness evaluation, computerized analysis of results, and a prescribed exercise program utilizing the equipment and exercise options available in the Fitness Center. One credit. |
1 |
required | PED 101 - Conditioning LabOffers an independent self-paced format of conditioning exercises to meet individual needs. Emphasizes the value of lifetime fitness and its contribution to achieving personal health and wellness. Students utilize cardiorespiratory, muscular strength and endurance exercises to promote positive changes in health-related fitness components. One credit. |
1 |
Total Major Requirement Credits | 34 |
Row Groupings | General Education Requirements: | Credits |
---|---|---|
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 |
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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 |
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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 | 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 Requirement Credits | 15 |
Row Groupings | Electives: | Credits |
---|---|---|
Electives: | Choose 4 courses from the list below for a total of 12 credits. |
|
required | CRJ 231 - Intro to Forensic ScienceExploration of the fundamentals of forensic science that are essential for gathering evidence at the crime scene and analyzing it in the crime laboratory. Three credits. |
3 |
required | CRJ 235 - Delinquent BehaviorFocuses on the adolescent who violates social and legal norms and the consequences for the individual and society. Emphasizes the social and psychological factors influencing individual delinquent patterns. Three credits. |
3 |
required | CRJ 257 - VictimologyDemonstrates to the student the role the crime victim plays in the criminal justice system. The traditional response that a crime victim receives from the system will be studied and the psychological, emotional and financial impact these responses have on victimization will be analyzed. Three credits. |
3 |
required | CRJ 268 - Criminal ProfilingExamines theories of crime causation with respect to crimes committed by the most violent offenders in society, an analysis of the research done, and the history of Criminal Personality Profiling, beginning with the earliest explanations through the beliefs of modern science, as well as psychological and sociological explanations. Identifies various known offenders, examines their backgrounds, and explains how current research into homicide, sexual offenses and serial killers can provide clues to the identity of unknown offenders. Three credits. |
3 |
required | ANT 201 - Intro to Forensc AnthrpStudies the basic principles of forensic anthropology, an applied field within the discipline of physical anthropology. Includes the study of the human skeleton, practical application of physical anthropology and archaeology, and judicial procedure, as they relate to the identification of human remains within a medico-legal context. Three credits. |
3 |
required | PSY 101 - General Psychology I [SS3]Focuses on the scientific study of behavior including motivation, emotion, physiological psychology, stress and coping, research methods, consciousness, sensation, perception, learning, and memory. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category. Three credits. |
3 |
required | PSY 249 - Abnormal Psychology [SS3]Examines abnormal behavior and its classification, causes, treatment, and prevention. This course is a statewide guaranteed transfer course GT-SS3. Three credits. Course Prerequisites
PSY 101 or PSY 102 with a grade of "C" or better |
3 |
required | SOC 101 - Intro to Sociology I [SS3]This course examines the basic concepts, theories, and principles of sociology, including topics of culture, race, class, gender, sexuality, social groups, and deviance through a local and global lens. Analyzes and interprets socio-historic as well as contemporary issues by using critical thinking skills and linking individual experiences to social structures. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category. Three credits. |
3 |
Total Elective Credits | 12 |
Total Credits for Degree | 61 |
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Degree at a Glance
Degree Type
Associate of Applied ScienceLocation
Credits
62Tuition*
*Check Cashier's Office for current tuition rates