Photo illustration of a firefighter, EMS and Police Officer

Public Safety Bachelor of Applied Science

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Safety at Aims

Are you looking to advance your career in public safety? If you work in EMS, fire science, law enforcement or emergency management, earning a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration can broaden your skills and prepare you for new professional challenges. Many municipalities and public safety departments now require a bachelor’s degree or higher when offering promotions to upper-level positions such as chief or division manager.

The Aims bachelor’s degree in public safety program is ideal for established professionals who have already earned an associate degree in a public safety discipline, such as EMS, fire science or law enforcement. If you have an associate degree in one of these areas, you’re already halfway toward earning this bachelor’s degree.

If you’re a new student entering college for the first time, Aims offers various public-safety-related associate degree programs on the Windsor Campus, including:

Once you’ve earned your associate degree, you can earn your bachelor’s degree in public safety. 

If you have questions about the program, email public.safety.bas@aims.edu.

In the Aims public safety degree program, you’ll study subjects to help you become a leader in your field, including management, leadership, budgeting, community risk reduction, public policy and human resources management.

The Aims public safety bachelor’s degree program has the lowest tuition cost for a comparable degree in Colorado. This degree program helps you develop public safety leadership skills with a curriculum created and taught by local and national experts in the field. 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’re ready to take the next step in your career, earning a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in Public Safety at Aims can put you on the path to a leadership position in your field while paying community college tuition rates for a four-year degree.

See Public Safety Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

Gain Skills and Knowledge in Public Safety

Aims has always promoted a safe learning environment, which is what drove me to continue my education here. After earning an EMT Certificate at Aims in 2009, I returned after working in the field to earn my A.A.S. degree in Paramedicine in 2022. I am currently enrolled in the Public Safety Bachelor’s Degree program because I want to further my education to advance my career in EMS.

Jess Warfield
Aims graduate and Public Safety Bachelor's Degree student
Headshot of Aims EMS instructor Jessica Warfield

In addition to management, administrative and leadership skills, the Aims bachelor’s degree in public safety will give you a well-rounded inter-agency approach to disaster and crisis response planning and management. You’ll develop professional leadership skills and learn to collaborate with other agencies to coordinate public safety services in high-pressure situations. 

In this program, you will learn:

  • Public relations
  • Policies and procedures
  • Communication techniques
  • Human resources
  • Critical thinking

"More departments want their firefighters to have degrees, so if you want to be promoted, a bachelor's is the bare minimum that some departments are looking for. The bachelor's in public safety makes you a well-rounded firefighter because you're able to understand the bigger picture of public safety and other departments including finance, planning and budgeting. This degree could set you up for success long-term."

—Tyler Chesher, Lieutenant, Loveland Fire Rescue Authority

Working with a faculty mentor, a six-credit capstone course gives you direct practice in building a detailed and actionable public safety proposal for a project that addresses priorities and gaps in services within your community. You can present your proposal to your current employer as a recommendation for future use or include it in a portfolio for job or promotion opportunities.

Because effective communication and collaboration are vital to public safety work, you’ll also gain soft skills to help you work with other teams and agencies, including:

  • Leadership
  • Collaboration
  • Networking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem Solving
  • Adaptability
You’ll gain knowledge and skills from instructors with real-world experience who can teach you to anticipate and respond to scenarios that may not be covered in textbooks.

"We are excited about the prospect that the classes will be taught by local professionals with expertise in the content area and that we have input in the program through an advisory committee made up of local stakeholders. Local offerings like this will improve and increase the professionals working in the Northern Colorado public safety field."

—Jeff Stranahan, Chief of Administration, Greeley Fire Department 

Aims Community College has been a huge part of my educational journey, starting in high school as part of the Aims Career Academy, where I went on to earn my A.A.S. in Criminal Justice. I completed the police academy in 2017 and I am now continuing that journey by seeking my BAS in public safety. I want to be in law enforcement leadership, hopefully one day leading a department. I’m a part of the new generation of law enforcement, and extended education is a part of that.

Andrew Brown
Aims Graduate, Public Safety Bachelor's Degree student and Police Academy instructor
Aims graduate and Police Academy instructor Andrew Brown

Careers in Public Safety

Working in public safety management allows you to take your career in new directions where you can potentially partner with other agencies in emergency situations. Examples of careers you can pursue with a bachelor’s degree in public safety include:

  • Emergency Management Director
  • EMS Manager or Chief Level Officer/Director
  • Disaster Response Coordinator
  • Public Safety Security Manager
  • Law Enforcement Commander or Staff Level Manager
  • Chief Level Fire Officer
  • Crisis Management Coordinator
  • Community Service Manager

Aims Public Safety Bachelor’s Degree Faculty and Staff 

Faculty for the public safety bachelor’s degree courses at Aims have varied field experience both in Colorado and beyond. Dedicated to excellence and supporting students, faculty will prepare you to become a leader and advance your career.

Next Steps

This program has a multi-step application process.

How to Apply

Do you have questions?

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Degree at a Glance

Degree Type

Bachelor of Applied Science

Location

Windsor Campus

Credits

60

Tuition*

In-District
$5,200
In-State
$7,900
WUE
$11,560
Out-of-State
$28,240

*Check Cashier's Office for current tuition rates

Related Links

Public Safety Bachelor of Applied Science