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Aims Peace Officer Academy cadets in full uniform during Fall 2024 graduation ceremony

Next Steps

This program has a multi-step application process.

How to Apply

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Degree at a Glance

Degree Type

Associate of Applied Science

Location

Windsor Campus

Credits

62

Tuition*

(Not Including Police Academy Tuition & Fees)
----------
Est. Lab/ Course Fees
$925
In-District
$5,829
In-State
$8,805
WUE
$12,835
Out-of-State
$30,433

*Check Cashier's Office for current tuition rates

Related Links

Police Studies

Related Resources

Police Studies

Police StudiesRequirements

Police Studies Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Requirements

The Police Studies associate degree at Aims is designed to extend your foundational Peace Officer Academy training  with advanced coursework in criminal justice, public safety, leadership and communication.

Please note: Enrollment in the Police Studies A.A.S. program is at the discretion of the Peace Officer Academy Director.

This degree supports your development as a well-rounded law enforcement professional by providing a broader academic perspective on policing, legal systems and community engagement. Coursework builds on your POST-aligned training and prepares you for long-term career advancement or continued education in criminal justice or public safety administration. Explore the course requirements to see how this degree can strengthen your future in law enforcement.

You’ll also choose from a variety of elective courses that allow you to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals. Electives may include:

  • Forensic science
  • Delinquent behavior
  • Victimology
  • Criminal profiling
  • Forensic anthropology
  • General and abnormal psychology
  • Sociology

In addition to criminal justice coursework, general education classes help you develop essential communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills—qualities valued by law enforcement agencies and public service organizations.

How to Apply to the Aims Police Studies Associate Degree Program

Notice: Enrollment in the Police Studies AAS degree program is at the discretion of the Peace Officer Academy Director. The Aims Peace Officer Academy is currently enrolling sponsored cadets only—individuals hired or endorsed by a law enforcement agency.

Major Requirements:

  • Conforms to POST standards and Colorado 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    Permission of Academy Director is required
    6
  • Enhances the standards established by the Colorado 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 Colorado P.O.S.T. curriculum to create a unique learning experience. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    Permission of Academy Director is required
    2
  • Enhances the standards established by the Colorado P.O.S.T. Board and state certification requirements as well as the basic skills and knowledge necessary to perform entry level duties of a Police Officer. Emphasis will be on expanding the Colorado P.O.S.T. curriculum to create a unique learning experience. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    Permission of Academy Director is required
    1
  • Exploration 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    Permission of Academy Director is required
    3
  • Exploration 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    Permission of Academy Director is required
    3
  • Discusses 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 be able to explain the firearms role within the continuum of force. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    Permission of Academy Director is required
    3
  • Identifies the areas of concern in regards to proper documentation of police related activities. Exploration of 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    Permission of Academy Director is required
    3
  • Exploration of an in-depth study of the basic knowledge and skills required of a peace officer to safely and effectively accomplish patrol procedures. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    Permission of Academy Director is required
    3
  • Introduces investigation methods and procedures from preliminary investigation through the follow-up stages. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    Permission of Academy Director is required
    3
  • Exploration 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. . Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    Permission of Academy Director is required
    3
  • Exploration of an in-depth study of the basic knowledge and skills required of a peace officer to safely and effectively accomplish the patrol function. Course is not repeatable for credit.  
    Course Prerequisites
    Permission of Academy Director is required
    2
  • Focuses 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. Course is repeatable for credit with no limitations.
    1
  • Offers 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. Course is repeatable for credit with no limitations.
    1
Total Major Requirement Credits 34

General Education Requirements:

  • Combines the basic theories of communication with public speech performance skills. Emphasis is on speech preparation, organization, support, audience analysis, and delivery. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3

  • OR

  • Examines 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
  • Covers 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. Course readiness is determined by review of high school transcripts, assessment, and/or meeting with an Aims Academic Advisor. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3 or any higher level Math course

  • OR

  • 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
  • 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3

  • OR

  • Develops skills one can apply to a variety of technical documents. Focuses on principles for organizing, writing, and revising clear, readable documents for industry, business, and government. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-CO1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
  • 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 is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
  • 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
Total General Education Requirement Credits 15

Electives:

Choose 4 courses from the list below for a total of 12-13 credits.

  • Covers the regulations pertaining to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations including airspace, weather, and flight parameter limitations. This course covers UAS components and systems, maintenance, autonomy, ground stations, and telemetry in preparation for the UAS Operator written test. Differential tuition rates apply. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
  • Introduces the regulations pertaining to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), operations including airspace, weather, and flight parameter limitations. This course also covers UAS components and systems, maintenance, autonomy, ground stations, and telemetry. The topics covered are included in the UAS Operator written test. Differential tuition rates apply. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    2
  • Focuses on the wide variety of commercial applications of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and operating procedures to ensure a safe outcome for executing such applications including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), aerial imaging and survey techniques, multispectral and Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging systems (LIDAR) agriculture, and other UAS mission types. Differential tuition rates apply. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    UAS 1055 and UAS 2055 with grades of "C" or better
    3
  • Exploration of the fundamentals of forensic science that are essential for gathering evidence at the crime scene and analyzing it in the crime laboratory. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
  • Focuses 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
  • Demonstrates 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
  • Examines the theories of crime causation in relationship to criminal profiling. Studies include the investigation of serial killers, their motivations, behaviors, and identification of psychological and sociological explanations related to criminal acts. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
  • Covers the basic principles of forensic anthropology, an applied field within the discipline of biological anthropology. The course includes the study of the human skeleton, practical application of biological anthropology and archaeology, and judicial procedure, as they relate to the identification of human remains within a medico-legal context. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SC1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    4
  • ANT 201 - Intro to Forensc Anthrp Credits: 3
  • 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
  • Examines abnormal behavior and its classification, causes, treatment, and prevention. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    Course Prerequisites
    PSY 1001 or PSY 1002 with a grade of "C" or better
    3
  • 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. Course is not repeatable for credit.
    3
Total Elective Credits 12-13
Total Credits for Degree 61-62