Fire Science, Associate of Science
This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://ecatalog.socc.edu.
The Associate of Science (AS) in Fire Science is designed to meet the needs of students who plan on pursuing a bachelor's or higher degree at a university. Fire departments and private agencies are increasingly expecting candidates for administrator and supervisor positions to have higher levels of education. Fire Science coursework is developed using model curriculum from the United States Fire Administration's Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education initiative. Students will study relevant topics including building construction, firefighting strategies and tactics, fire prevention, and fire protection systems.
This program is designed to transfer to Eastern Oregon Unviersity's Fire Services Administration program.
Graduation Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 90 credit hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better. Twenty-four (24) credits must be completed at Southwestern before the degree is awarded.
Complete the graduation application process one term prior to the term of completion (e.g., spring term graduates must apply during winter term).
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- Apply critical-thinking and decision-making skills relevant to fire service scenarios.
- Apply core fire science knowledge to prevention, training, operational, and administrative situations relevant to the fire service.
- Demonstrate effective verbal and nonverbal communication in emergency and nonemergency situations including, but not limited to: communicating on the fireground, drafting administrative documents, handling disciplinary issues, completing incident reports, and conducting public education.
- Complete general education requirements in preparation to transfer to a four-year degree program.
Pre-Program Courses
Students are required to take the following courses prior to the program courses, depending on students' college placement information. See advisor for details:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CIS90 | Computer Basics (or demonstrate proficiency) | 2 |
MTH95 | Intermediate Algebra (or placement in higher math course) | 4 |
WR90R | Academic Literacy (or placement in higher writing course) | 4 |
Program Guide
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
FS100 | Principles of Emergency Services | 4 |
MTH105 | Math in Society 1 | 4 |
WR121 | English Composition | 4 |
Health, Wellness, and Fitness 2 | 3 | |
Arts and Letters 3 | 3 | |
Credits | 18 | |
Winter | ||
FS120 | Building Const Related to Fire Svc | 3 |
FS121 | Fire Behavior and Combustion | 3 |
MTH243 | Intro to Probability and Statistics | 4 |
WR122 or WR227 |
English Composition or Report Writing |
4 |
Social Science 3 | 3 | |
Credits | 17 | |
Spring | ||
FS125 | Principles of Fire and Emergency S | 4 |
Speech 5 | 3 | |
Social Science 3 | 3 | |
Arts and Letters 3 | 3 | |
Credits | 13 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
FS200 | Strategy and Tactics | 3 |
FS205 | Fire Prevention | 3 |
FS231 | Fire Protection Hydraulics and Wate | 3 |
Social Science 3 | 3 | |
Elective 4 | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Winter | ||
FS215 | Legal Aspects of Emergency Services | 2 |
FS220 | Fire Protection Systems | 3 |
Science, Mathematics, or Computer Science 3 | 4 | |
Arts and Letters 3 | 3 | |
Elective 4 | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
FS225 | Prin of Fire & Emerg Service Admin | 3 |
FS232 | Occupational Safety and Health ES | 3 |
Science, Mathematics, or Computer Science 3 | 4 | |
Elective 4 | 2 | |
Credits | 12 | |
Total Credits | 90 |
1 | A higher math may be substituted excluding MTH211. |
2 | PE231, HE250, or three (3) credits of PE185 sport/activity courses will satisfy this requirement. |
3 | Select appropriate course in specific subject area from the course listed in Associate of Science General Education Requirements category. |
4 | Any course 100 level or higher may be used as an elective. |
5 | |
* | All Honors courses may substitute for their equivalent requirements. |