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Public Safety Bachelor of Applied ScienceRequirements

Public Safety Bachelor of Applied Science Requirements

The public safety bachelor’s degree program is ideal for students with field experience in emergency services, including EMS, fire and rescue, law enforcement and emergency management. 

If you have an associate degree in one of these areas from Aims or another college, you can earn your bachelor’s degree online at a fraction of the cost and advance your career to work in public safety management.

Note that an associate degree in a subject related to public safety is a prerequisite for this bachelor’s degree program.

Questions? Email public.safety.bas@aims.edu.

Degree Requirements for the Public Safety B.A.S Degree

Public Safety Administration, B.A.S. (Bachelor of Applied Science Degree) - 4 years | Total Credits: 120

To request credit for prior learning, contact the department for details at public.safety.bas@aims.edu.


Public Safety Bachelor of Applied Science Program (BASPS01) Admissions Requirements

Students must have completed a relevant associate degree of 60+ credits from a regionally accredited institution. Relevant degrees would include, but are not limited to: Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Science Technology, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Paramedicine, Public Safety or Wildland Fire.

General Education Requirements

AA or AAS Degree with a minimum of 60 credits. Minimum 15 credits of General Education; 12 of the 15 credits must be General Education, Guaranteed Transfer (GT) classes.

  • COM 1150 - Public Speaking | Credits: 3
  • or
  • COM 1250 Interpersonal Communication: GT-SS3 | Credits: 3
  • ENG 1021 English Composition I: GT-CO1 | Credits: 3
  • MAT 1260 Introduction to Statistics: GT-MA1 | Credits: 3
  • POS 1025 American State and Local Government; GT-SS1 | Credits: 3
  • SOC 2018 Sociology of Diversity: SS3 | Credits: 3

Program Requirements

  • ENG 1022 English Composition II: (GT-CO2) | Credits: 3
  • PHI 1012 Ethics: (GT-AH3) | Credits: 3
  • One (1) additional GT Pathways Arts & Humanities course GT-AH3 | minimum 3 credits
  • One (1) GT Pathways History course (GT-HI1)
  • Two (2) GT Pathways Natural & Physical Sciences courses (GT-SC1, GT-SC2); one of these courses must have the required laboratory (G-SC-1)

Major Requirements

  • ESA 3000 - Leadership for Emergency Executives | Credits: 3
  • ESA 3020 - Designing Safer Communities: Pre-incident Planning and Risk Analysis | Credits: 4
  • ESA 3025 - Public Policy and Practical Applications in Emergency Services | Credits: 3
  • ESA 3030 - Budget and Planning Fundamentals for Emergency Administrators | Credits: 3
  • ESA 4000 - Personnel Management in Emergency Service Agencies | Credits: 3
  • ESA 4020 - Research & Design for Emergency Administration | Credits: 3
  • ESA 4089 - Capstone: Emergency Services Administration | Credits: 6

Elective Requirements

(Minimum 16 credits)

  • EMS 3010 - Behavioral Assessment  | Credits: 3
  • EMS 3011 - Motivational Interviewing for EMS | Credits: 3
  • EMS 3012 - Trauma Informed Care and Assessment | Credits: 3
  • EMS 3030 - Community Advocacy and Outreach | Credits: 3
  • EMS 3031 - Community Assessment | Credits: 3
  • EMS 4025 - Fundamentals of Advanced Paramedic Practice | Credits: 4
  • EMS 4030 - Care and Prevention Development Strategies | Credits: 3
  • EMS 4033 - Advanced Paramedic Medical Care | Credits: 4
  • EMS 4035 - Advanced Paramedic Trauma Care | Credits: 3
  • EMS 4089 - Capstone | Credits: 0-12
  • ESA 3005 - Crisis Communication and Public Relations | Credits: 3
  • ESA 3010 - Emergency Public Information and Media Training | Credits: 3
  • ESA 3015 - Elements of Emergency Service Administration | Credits: 3
  • ESA 4005 - Public Health in Complex Emergencies | Credits: 4
  • ESA 4010 - Terrorism Threat and Risk Analysis | Credits: 3
  • FST 3006 - Fire Company Supervision and Leadership II (Fire Officer II) | Credits: 3

Total Bachelor's Degree Credits: 120