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.

Math and writing placement are unique to each student and are determined during the admissions and intake advising process.  Additional math or writing courses may be required prior to taking the math or writing program requirements in this degree. 

Program Guide

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.

⁴

Any course 100 level or higher may be used as an elective.

⁵

SP111 or COMM111Z, SP218 or COMM218Z, SP219 or COMM219 will satisfy this requirement.

⁶

Any FS, EMT, CJ, F, or BA course not already counted toward the degree will satisfy this requirement, to make the total of 90 credits.