Fire Science Programs - Firefighter's ABCs

Certificate Programs in Fire Science

Undergraduate certificates in fire science are available to students who have completed at least a high school education. Courses for undergraduate certificate programs are often available at night, on weekends and online.

These programs often focus on one specific area of the firefighting profession, such as fire inspecting, arson investigation, or new firefighting methods. Undergraduate certifications are excellent educational opportunities for both firefighting professionals and for students seeking entry-level fire service positions.

Associate Degree Programs in Fire Science

Associate degree programs are two-year courses of study that require a high school diploma for entrance. An associate degree in fire science typically serves as preparation for an entry-level position as a firefighter.

Coursework includes fire behavior, rescue procedures, and the basics of fire extinguishment. Hands-on instruction or a required internship is common. General education classes are required in addition to subject-specific courses such as emergency medical technician (EMT) basics, the chemistry of fire science, and the uniform fire code.

Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Fire Science

Bachelor’s degrees in fire science are often sought by current firefighting professionals interested in advancing their careers. However, a bachelor in fire science is becoming increasingly more common among candidates for entry-level firefighting positions as well. A bachelor’s degree in fire science can often help a candidate for a position as a firefighter stand out above those without education beyond high school.

A major in fire science often requires hands-on instruction and/or an internship. Online courses, however, may focus exclusively on administrative and policy topics-or they may help students arrange field experience locally. Courses common to a bachelor’s degree in fire science include fire prevention, emergency management, and fire investigation. General education courses, such as algebra and writing, are also required in order to improve students’ professional skills.

Bachelor’s degrees typically take four years to complete. Entry to a bachelor’s degree program in fire science requires only a high school education, although an associate degree in a related field may be useful.

We have provided a sample program for high school students:

However, do your research and select the best program for your needs:

Sample Program:

Waldorf University – Start Point Program

Waldorf is committed to allowing high school students the same experience and level of instruction, resources, and rigor that our traditional student body receives so they will be well prepared for campus life and the level of academic study college provides. Students who wish to enroll in Waldorf University online courses before they graduate need to comply with the following guidelines and expectations. High school students would attend online classes with other Waldorf students. Classes are taught by Waldorf faculty.

Note: High school students who have already been admitted to Waldorf as college students are exempt from most of these guidelines. Check with Admissions for information about whether they apply in specific situations.

Credits and Costs

Waldorf’s online courses are three credit hours and tuition is $250 per course. For students under 18, parents must provide a signed statement of their intentions to pay for the courses. Online courses may utilize the loan-a-book program or e-books when they are available.

Transferability

The courses will transfer into Waldorf degree programs and high school students who take online classes at Waldorf will be eligible for freshman residential scholarships.

Waldorf is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). High school students are responsible for transferring courses back to their high school as part of any request for credit at those institutions.

Admissions Requirements

Must be at least 15 years of age and have completed sophomore year of high school with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in classes at both high school and Waldorf University while enrolled in Waldorf classes. Students will be responsible for sending semester, quarter or final report cards from their high schools.
Must submit a recommendation from an administrator, academic advisor or counselor at their high school.
Must submit a copy of their current high school transcript. When students are home schooled, the student’s parents can self-report the student’s GPA via a documented letter to the Registrar or Director of Admissions.
Students may take one course each term

Test Drive Opportunity

After high school students have successfully completed two general education courses from Waldorf University they may enroll in any of the entry level core required courses to our many degree programs. This opportunity allows students to learn about a degree field that they are interested in while continuing to earn college credit. Such courses include but are not limited to: Introduction to Business, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Terrorism, Introduction to Fire Prevention, and Graphic Core.

Business
Communication
Criminal Justice
Environmental Management
Health Care Management
Homeland Security
Human Resource Management
Occupational Safety
Psychology

Start Point Details

Waldorf University Course Options for High School Students

Prefix	Number	Course	Credit Hours
ART	1020	Art Appreciation II	3
BIO	1020	Principles of Biology	3
BUS	2010	Introduction to Business	3
BUS	2026	Organizational Communication	3
BUS	2201	Principles of Accounting	3
BUS	3201	Principles of Marketing	3
COM	1010	Graphic Core	3
COM	1020	Digital Core	3
COM	1030	Mass Communications and Society	3
COM	1040	News Gathering and Reporting	3
CRJ	2000	Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
CRJ	2001	Theory and Practice of Law Enforcement	3
CRJ	2050	Introduction to Terrorism	3
CRJ	2200	Theory and Practice of Corrections	3
ECO	2401	Principles of Macroeconomics	3
EMG	2000	Introduction to Emergency Management	3
ENG	1010	English Composition I	3
ENG	1020	English Composition II	3
ENG	2000	American Literature I	3
ENG	2010	American Literature II	3
FRE	1010	Elementary French	3
FSC	2010	Introduction to Fire Protection Strategies	3
FSC	3345	Introduction to Fire Prevention	3
HCM	1301	Medical Terminology	3
HCM	3002	Introduction to Health Care Management	3

HIS	1110	American History I	3
HIS	1120	American History II	3
HIS	1200	Medieval World	3
HIS	1610	Modern World	3
HIS	1710	Contemporary World	3
HUM	1020	Critical Thinking	3
MTH	1010	General Education Mathematics for Online Students	3
MUS	1010	Introduction to Music Appreciation	3
OSH	3001	Fundamentals of Occupational Safety and Health	3
PHY	1010	Earth Science	3
PHY	1510	Physical Science	3
POL	1010	American Government	3
POL	2000	Introduction to Political Science	3
POL	2010	American, State, and Local Politics	3
PSY	1010	General Psychology	3
REL	2050	Contemporary Ethical Issues	3
REL	2350	Philosophies of World Religions	3
SOC	1010	Introduction to Sociology	3
SOC	2010	Survey of Global Societies and Cultural Geography	3
SPC	1010	Speech Communications	3
SPN	1010	Introduction to Spanish	3
THR	1010	Introduction to Theatre

If you want to excel and one day be a chief officer or for that matter the fire chief – simply put get the highest degree you can and never stop taking other courses and obtaining other certs.

Why? Because those you will be competing with will be getting theirs.