Public Safety, A.A.S.

Contact Information

Program Requirements

Typical Program 

Degree/Certificate:   Associate in Applied Science
HEGIS Code:           5501
SUNY Code:            24159
Major Code:            PBSA

The Career

The Public Safety AAS degree is designed to establish a pathway from the academic discipline of criminal justice to the practice of policing in New York State. The program combines instruction in fundamental criminal justice principles and educates students in how those principles are implemented in a policing context. Half of the program consists of the 30-credit Law Enforcement Training Academy. While students are not restricted from entering the program based on age, it should be noted that there are age restrictions for appointment as a Police Officer.

The SUNY Niagara Approach

The typical program length for a full-time student will be two semesters of full-time classroom study followed by the 20-week Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy (NCLEA) Police Basic Training. The Public Safety AAS program admits students in Fall and Spring semesters. Law enforcement training academies typically begin in August and February. It will also be possible for students to add this major after completing Police Basic Training. 

Admissions

Students admitted in fall and spring.

Program Goals and Objectives

• To address the public safety needs of Niagara County and the Western New York region by providing rigorous, collaborative training programs developed in partnership with local and regional public safety agencies.
• To produce a consistent pipeline of well-prepared graduates who are equipped to contribute meaningfully to the public safety workforce across New York State.
• To cultivate in students a sustained commitment to professional development and a proactive approach to lifelong learning within the field of public safety.
• To serve as a regional resource for public safety agencies operating within Niagara County and Western New York.

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of criminal justice as a social science and relate other social science disciplines to the study of criminal justice and policing.
• Describe how the criminal justice system operates in New York State.
• Recognize how criminal justice policies are formulated and implemented while applying social science research and analyzing criminal justice data and statistics.
• Evaluate the pros and cons of the various controversial issues that confront the criminal justice system.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of New York State penal law, family law, mental hygiene laws, vehicle and traffic laws, and related other laws impacting the work of police officers.
• Apply the laws of the State of New York and the United States to the practice of policing.