Fire Science
A.A.S. - Occupational Degree
Designed for individuals who desire a career in fire science. Beyond being a professional firefighter, the degree will assist in qualifying individuals for related occupations such as building inspector, rescue specialist, and hazardous materials specialist. For the employed firefighter, this degree can be an asset in seeking promotion within fire science.
Program Purpose
Graduates will demonstrate expertise in fire science at a level that prepares them for a supervisory position within the fire service. Graduates will demonstrate competency critical thinking skills in AWC’s General Education focus areas necessary to educate and lead fire service personnel.
Learning Outcomes
- Define and describe the need for cultural and behavioral change within the emergency services relating to safety, incorporating leadership, supervision, accountability and personal responsibility.
- Analyze the basic components of fire as a chemical chain reaction, the major phases of fire, and examine the main factors that influence fire spread and fire behavior.
- Define laws, rules, regulations and codes and identify those relevant to fire prevention of the authority having jurisdiction.
- Discuss the various materials and their relationship to fires as fuel.
- Explain why water is a commonly used extinguishing agent.
- Discuss the appropriate application of fire protection systems.
- Describe building construction as it relates to firefighter safety, building codes, fire prevention, code inspection, firefighting strategy, and tactics.
- Differentiate between fire resistance, flame spread, and describe the testing procedures used to establish ratings for each.
Program Map
Recommended Program Map / Program Requirements
The recommended plan below meets the requirements to complete this program. For official requirements, visit the AWC Catalog. If the recommended classes listed below don’t fit your schedule or interests, you can take alternate classes.
To get started on your personalized Academic Plan, visit the Academic Planning page or schedule an appointment to meet with an advisor.
This program follows Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, and may transfer to a FESHE approved Bachelors Degree Fire Science Program. Also, the Fire Science Program provides International Fire Service Accreditation Congress certificate classes including Firefighter I/II, Fire Instructor I/II and Fire Officer I/II.
First Semester: Fall
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSC 150 (or FSC 148 & FSC 149) | Fire Academy | 16 | Departmental Requirement Option |
| ENG 101 | Freshman Composition 1/GE | 3 | GE- Composition |
| 19 |
Second Semester: Spring
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSC 106 | Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival | 3 | Major Requirement |
| FSC 151 | Principles of Emergency Services | 3 | Major Requirement |
| ENG 102 | Freshman Composition/GE | 3 | GE- Composition |
| MAT 121 | Intermediate Algebra or approved higher level math | 4 | GE- Mathematics |
| ENV 101 | Environmental Science/GE (recommended) | 4 | GE- Physical/Biological Science |
| 17 |
Third Semester: Fall
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
|
FSC 152 |
Fundamentals for Fire Prevention | 3 | Major Requirement |
| FSC 153 | Fire Behavior and Combustion | 3 | Major Requirement |
| AGS 101 | Solving the Problems of the World/GE (recommended) | 3 | GE- Humanities |
| GEO 105 | World Regional Geography/GE (recommended) | 3 | GE- Social/Behavioral Science |
| 12 |
Fourth Semester: Spring
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSC 201 | Fire Protection Systems | 3 | Major Requirement |
| FSC 203 | Building Construction | 3 | Major Requirement |
| CIS 120 | Introduction to Computer Information Systems/GE (recommended) | 3 | GE-Additional Courses |
| 12 |
Additional Information
Application available now!
| File Name | Downloads |
|---|---|
| Fire Application Checklist | Download |
Class starts:
- Tuesday, January 17, 2023
- Tuesday - 6:00PM - 10:00PM
- Thursday - 6:00PM - 10:00PM
- Saturday - 7:00AM - 5:00PM
Check the Fire Science program page for any additional information.