Important Application Deadline
Applications are currently being accepted for Fall 2025.
The deadline to apply is August 11, 2025.
Main Content Area
Degree at a Glance
Degree Type
Bachelor of Applied ScienceLocation
Windsor Campus
Credits
60Tuition*
In-District
$6,400
In-State
$9,640
WUE
$14,020
Out-of-State
$31,780
*Check Cashier’s Office for current tuition rates and lab/course fees and your program for any additional costs.
Public Safety Bachelor of Applied Science
Learn More & Apply
Thank you for your interest in applying to the Public Safety B.A.S. program—an innovative, comprehensive and affordable path to a bachelor's degree.
There are three paths to entry into the program:
If you have an associate degree and are working in a public safety field, this path is for you. Option 1 criteria include:
- An Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in a public safety field or an associate degree in another field (e.g., a career and technical or liberal arts degree) from an accredited institution. Your earned credits will apply to the General Education Part 1 and Part 2 requirements for the B.A.S. degree. See program requirements for details.
- Documented relevant work experience in a public safety-related field. See relevant completed degrees listed below for examples.
- If you have credentials or experience that meet the learning outcomes for the public safety degree program courses, we can help you apply for prior learning credits.
Relevant completed degrees for Option 1 include, but are not limited to:
- Criminal Justice
- Emergency Management
- Emergency Medical Services
- Fire Science Technology
- Homeland Security
- Law Enforcement
- Paramedicine
- Public Safety
- Wildland Fire
- Other, upon department review
If you are working in a public safety field and have attended some college, this path is for you. Option 2 criteria include:
- A minimum of 60 earned college credits from an accredited institution(s). The credits you’ve earned will be applied to the General Education Part 1 and Part 1 requirements of the B.A.S. degree. See program requirements.
- Documented relevant work experience in a public safety-related field. See relevant completed degrees listed in Option 1 above for examples.
- If you have credentials or experience that meet the learning outcomes for the public safety degree program courses, we can help you apply for prior learning credits (PLA).
If you don’t meet the criteria for Options 1 or 2 above, you can enter as a first-year Aims B.A.S. program student by selecting a specific public safety pathway. You will complete foundational coursework before advancing into upper-level public safety courses and earning your bachelor’s degree at a fraction of the cost of four-year colleges and universities.
- To apply to a public safety program at Aims, you’ll need to meet the entrance requirements for your selected program to qualify.
- Prior college credits may be applied to jump start you into the program. See Step 2 below.
- Based on your academic and professional background, additional requirements such as letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose or an interview may be required.
Aims offers various public safety pathway options on the Windsor Campus, including:
Important application deadline information
Space in the Aims Public Safety B.A.S. degree program is limited. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and are based on available space. To secure your spot, make sure to apply as early as possible.
The application deadlines for each semester are as follows:
- Fall Term: No later than the second Friday in July
- Spring Term: Last Monday of November
- Summer Term: Last Monday of March
Following are instructions for applying to the Aims Public Safety B.A.S. program.
If you have not been a student at Aims in the last 12 months, apply to Aims and submit the details below.
- Apply to Aims Community College - It takes about 15 minutes and is free.
- Items you will need:
- High School attendance dates
- High School graduation status/date
- Any additional education dates
- Follow the enrollment steps for your student status (new, returning, transfer, etc.)
- Apply to Aims.
- Sign in and complete the program application process:
- If you meet the admission criteria for either Option 1 or Option 2 above:
- Selections for the Public Safety B.A.S. degree:
- Pathway: Health Careers, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Pathway
- Program of Study: Pre-Public Safety B.A.S. Pre-Major
- Selections for the Public Safety B.A.S. degree:
- If you meet the admission criteria for Option 3 above, follow the process described in your preferred pathway.
- If you meet the admission criteria for either Option 1 or Option 2 above:
- Once approved, you will receive a welcome email with your next steps.
- Your Enrollment Coach can help you understand these requirements and guide you through the application process.
- Apply for Financial Aid if applicable.
- Sign in and complete the program application process:
If not, go to Step 3 below.
Transfer credits
If you have credits from another institution that you would like to apply toward your degree, please have your previous institution send an official transcript to Aims by email at records@aims.edu or mail to:
Registration & Records
PO Box 69
Greeley, CO 80632
Learn more on the Transfer Information webpage.
Note: To apply credits from another institution, official transcripts are required to be considered for the Public Safety B.A.S. program.
Veteran Students
If you are a Veteran student, submit your DD214 and Certificate of Eligibility to the Aims Financial Aid Office.
To apply to the bachelor's degree program, you will need the following:
- Your Aims Student ID Number
- Note: If you have not been enrolled at Aims within the last 12 months, you will need to reapply as a current student - see Step 1 for details.
- Official transcripts from other institutions
- If you received an A.A. or A.S. degree from another accredited institution, you should have submitted your official transcript as part of your application to Aims. See Step 2 for details.
- A current resume details your work in a public safety related field.
Questions? Please contact public.safety.bas@aims.edu.
- The B.A.S. program team will review your qualifications for the program.
- If you have provided all the required materials, you'll receive an email with next steps in approximately 10 business days.
After receiving an acceptance email from the department, contact the Windsor Student Success Coaching Department at (970) 339-6610, Option 2 to schedule an academic advising appointment with a Student Success Coach who will help you with course registration.
The Public Safety B.A.S. program can put you on the path to leadership roles in the field. Take advantage of the career boost this unique program can offer you at a lower cost and on a schedule designed to meet your needs.
There are BAS program-specific courses offered every semester: spring, summer and fall. You can start anytime.
You can apply via the website with your resumé if you have either:
- An A.A. or A.A.S. degree from an accredited institution, and have relevant work experience in a public safety-related field or
- 60 credits or more from an accredited institution, and relevant work experience in a public safety-related field.
- You can also apply to Aims as a first-time student and enroll in a public safety pathway. There may be program restrictions; see the program requirements for your chosen pathway for specific information.
Class size is limited. If classes are full, qualified applicants will be prioritized based on when you applied and your qualifications.
- Fall Term: No later than the second Friday in July
- Spring Term: Last Monday of November
- Summer Term: Last Monday of March
Class size and availability is limited. You are encouraged to apply before the deadline to ensure that your application is processed and you have enough time to complete any pre-registration obligations before the start of classes.
If the class roster is full, qualified candidates will be added to a priority waitlist and notified of class openings.
Public Safety B.A.S. Program Prerequisites
Either an associate degree or 60 college credit hours in a relevant public safety program from Aims or another accredited institution is a prerequisite for admission into the Public Safety B.A.S. program.
If you have an associate degree in a field unrelated to public safety, you can apply to the program if you can provide documentation of having at least four years of experience in public safety.
You can also enter the B.A.S. program as a first-time student at Aims and select a public safety pathway.
Application Category Groups
Applicants to the Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Public Safety must fall into one of the three category groups listed below.
Students will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis according to available space in the program.
Application Category Group 1:
- Graduates of an accredited institution from one of the following associate degree programs:
- Criminal Justice, A.A.S. or A.A.
- Emergency Medical Services, A.A.S.
- Fire Science Technology, A.A.S.
- Paramedic, A.A.S.
- Police Studies, A.A.S.
- Other Public Safety or Emergency Services Field, A.A.S or A.A.
- Students from an accredited institution who have completed at least 60 credit hours in a public safety program can also apply.
Application Category Group 2:
Graduates with an A.A. or A.A.S. degree unrelated to public safety who have 4 or more years of public safety experience. If you are a transfer student, see the instructions in Step 2 above.
Application Category Group 3:
First-time students can enter the B.A.S. program at Aims by selecting one of the public safety pathways.
Yes! If you are an Aims student and enrolled in a public safety-related degree program, you are eligible to apply for the B.A.S. program.
The public safety associate degree programs at Aims are:
If you are enrolled in a degree program that is not public safety-related, you will need four years of experience in a public safety-related field in addition to the A.A.S. degree. If you meet this prerequisite, you may apply in the final semester before graduation.
If you are in your final semester of a public safety-related A.A. or A.A.S. degree, you may apply to the B.A.S. program.
If you are not a current student at Aims, you will need to apply to Aims and follow the admissions process outlined above, starting with Step 1.
- After you apply to Aims as a student and apply to the B.A.S. supplying all the required documentation:
- Official transcripts
- Resume
- You will receive an email confirming your admission as an Aims student.
- You will also receive an email confirming receipt of your application into the Public Safety B.A.S. program.
- Your documents will be reviewed for compliance with the program requirements.
- If your qualifications meet the program requirements, you will receive a follow-up email welcoming you to the B.A.S. program. Next, follow Step 5 above to contact an Aims Advisor about class enrollment.
- If you are qualified for the program, but the current roster is full, you will be put on a priority wait list and notified when program openings are available.
- If your qualifications do not meet the requirements, you will be contacted with information about the next steps to become qualified for the program.
- If the program is at capacity and you are qualified for the program, you will be added to a priority waiting list.
- If your experience or degree do not meet the program requirements, you can reapply with current credentials for reevaluation in the program.
The program is eligible for financial assistance. Please contact Financial Aid to help you determine whether you qualify for financial assistance.
Assuming you have an associate degree, the cost for 60 credit hours at Aims, including general education and core public safety curriculum is as follows:
- In district total = $5,620.00
- In State = $8,500.00
- WUE - $12,400.00
- Out of State = $29,440
Many of the B.A.S. core classes are 3 credit hours each and run for eight weeks. The estimated cost per three-hour course is:
- In District = $301.00
- In State = $445.00
- WUE - $640.00
- Out of State = $1492.00
Keep in mind that these numbers are approximate and subject to change, and administrative fees may apply.
The Aims Public Safety B.A.S. program requires 120 semester hours to complete.
The first 60 of those hours are earned as an associate degree that meets one of the following criteria:
- An associate degree from Aims in one of the following subjects: Criminal justice (A.A.S. or A.A.), Emergency Medical Services (A.A.S.), Fire Science Technology (A.A.S.), Paramedic (A.A.S.) or Police Studies (A.A.S.).
- A public safety related associate degree (A.A. or A.A.S.) from an accredited school other than Aims.
- An unrelated discipline along with four years of field experience in the public safety field.
The final 60 hours required to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety are earned at Aims entirely online.
The Aims Public Safety B.A.S. team will evaluate your transcript based on conformance with program criteria.
You will receive an email with the results of this evaluation with next steps to become enrolled in the program if you are accepted, or instructions on how to reapply.
The Public Safety B.A.S. program may be able to apply credits for certain types of career training toward your required or elective degree-specific courses. Examples include FEMA training or specialized career training. During the application process, you will need to provide documentation and an explanation of how your outside training meets program learning objectives.
Email public.safety.bas@aims.edu for more information.
The 3,000- and 4,000-level courses required to complete the Aims B.A.S. in Public Safety program are held entirely online. Some general education courses are available with either online or in-person options.
If you are new to online learning, you can get help via these resources:
Contact Online Learning Specialist Marina Rodriguez at marina.rodriguez@aims.edu or 970-821-9961.
MyAims: How to Take Classes Online
Designed with busy professionals in mind, classes are taught online and many of the courses are eight weeks long, allowing you to manage your coursework in addition to your other responsibilities.
If you are new to online learning, you can get help via these resources:
Contact Online Learning Specialist Marina Rodriguez at marina.rodriguez@aims.edu or 970-821-9961.
MyAims: How to Take Classes Online
You can find textbook information for each semester at the Aims Bookstore.
- Course Materials Concierge
- Search Now
- for Department, select ESA
As an Aims student, you have access to multiple services and amenities, including:
- Tutoring
- Counseling services
- Advising
- Career services
- The PERC
- Library services, including computer, tablet, and hotspot rental
- Free parking on campus
- And more
As part of your application process, you will create a MyAims account. For assistance setting up your myAims account or Aims student email address, contact helpdesk@aims.edu or 970.339.6380.
Email questions to public.safety.BAS@aims.edu.