Fire Science

Description:

The Fire Science degree program is designed to serve the needs of Philadelphia firefighters and volunteer firefighters desiring to progress in expertise, skill and rank. Philadelphia firefighters who earn the A.A.S. Degree in Fire Science receive an additional half point on all Philadelphia Fire Department promotional examinations. The Fire Science program also serves students interested in becoming fire service professionals in fire prevention, fire safety and pre-fire planning, meeting increased demands for skilled fire service personnel. They may work in pre-fire planning or as fire code enforcement officers, building inspectors, fire protection technicians and designers, fire prevention equipment sales representatives or technical experts, and fire safety officials or risk managers for businesses, school districts and government agencies.

Program course offerings accommodate diverse schedules. The program has a dual admissions agreement with Holy Family University that allows our students desiring to continue their studies in fire science to transfer all of their credits there with guaranteed junior standing.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:

  • Demonstrate skills needed for leadership in the fire service or a position in a related field, such as code enforcement, pre-fire planning, building inspection, risk management, or emergency planning.
  • Explain the various requirements for fire detection and suppression systems in differing types of occupancies and structures.
  • Prepare a pre-fire plan for a building using computer-assisted design software to draw floor and site plans.
  • Explain fireground strategy and tactics and identify the occupational risks firefighters face and the health and safety management strategies available to reduce injuries.
  • Apply the principles of the scientific approach to fire investigation and explain the important role that fire investigation and fire prevention programs play in reducing a community’s risk of fire.
  • Conclusively determine the type of building construction and explain how this interfaces with hazardous materials and their impact on operations at emergency scenes. 

Program Entry Requirements:

This program is open to all interested students. Students are required to satisfy placement at the time of admission. Students identified as needing developmental course work must satisfactorily complete the appropriate English and mathematics courses as part of their degree program.

Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:

To qualify for the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Fire Science, a student must complete a minimum of 62 credits as prescribed and attain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (“C” average).

Course Sequence:

Semester 1

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
FSCI 104 - Fire Prevention and Building Codes   3 credits  
ENGL 101 - English Composition I   3 credits Writing, Research, Info Lit 1
FSCI 111 - Emergency Scene Management   3 credits  
FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra or higher FNMT 017 or FNMT 019 completed or FNMT 118 (or higher) placement 3 credits Quantitative Reasoning
FSCI 142 - Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety for Firefighters   3 credits  

Semester 2

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better 3 credits Writing, Research, Info Lit 2
FSCI 181 - Building Construction for the Fire Service   3 credits  
CHEM 110 - Introductory Chemistry FNMT 118 or MATH 118 placement and ENGL 101 ready 4 credits Scientific Reasoning
FSCI 271 - Hazardous Materials   3 credits  
CIS 103 - Computer Applications & Concepts   3 credits Technological Competency

Semester 3

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology   3 credits Cultural Analysis & Interpretation
FSCI 172 - Fire Detection and Suppression Systems   3 credits  
FSCI 221 - Fire Prevention and Protection   3 credits  
World Language   3 credits  
PHYS 105 - Survey of Physics FNMT 118 (or higher) placement or a passing grade in FNMT 017 (or higher) are required 4 credits  

Semester 4

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology or
SOC 105 - Health and Society		   3 credits  
FSCI 281 - Fire Investigation   3 credits  
FSCI 241 - Fire Administration   3 credits  
FSCI 291 - Computer Assisted Pre-Fire Planning   3 credits  
ENGL 116 - Interpersonal Communication or
ENGL 117 - Group and Team Communication or
ENGL 118 - Intercultural Communication 		ENGL 101, which may be taken concurrently 3 credits Oral Communication/
Creative Expression

Minimum Credits Needed to Graduate:

62

General Education Requirements:

All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College’s general education requirements is also available.

For More Information, Contact:

The Division of Liberal Studies, Room BR-21, 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Telephone (215) 751-8450; or the College Information Center (215) 751-8010.