The Bachelor in Fire Science degree completion program consists of eighteen core courses and two electives, for a total of 60 credit hours. The curriculum reflects the most current trends and research in the area of fire and emergency services.

At AMC our students are treated as individuals and as such we understand that your work experience, previous academic history and specific Fire training is unique and should be evaluated in a case by case basis. A minimum of 60 credits is required to start this program.

These 60 credits can come from an associate’s degree* from a related field or from prior course work among other scenarios. Give us a call to learn more about our admission process and to talk to one of our representatives about a personalized evaluation of your resume and admissions needs.  877-265-3201.

15 additional transfer credits may be granted to students with one or more of the following:

• State or national EMT.

• FFI/II ProBoard/IFSAC Certified.

• Acceptable credits from a regionally accredited four year institution.

For students with a fire related bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution a total of 90 credits may be granted.

*Associate’s degree must be from an regionally accredited institution.

Division Requirements (5 courses, 15 credit hours) 

Division I: Humanities and International Study - MCO 301 Media Ethics
This course will introduce students to basic strategies of a successful interaction with the media. The class is mainly geared towards media relations of public safety professionals, however provides general knowledge as well. Participants will experience different types of media and learn how reporters and other journalists work—especially when covering emergency incidents and public safety issues. The course explores reasons and techniques for an improved cooperation with the media. Aspects of the class include ethics, media policies, public speaking, interviews, strategic communication as well as a general evaluation of shifts in media technology and functions and their impact on media relations.

Division II: Business Law and Public Policy - CRJ 304 Drugs and Society
An exploration of the social issues associated with the use of legal and illicit drugs in America, this course will deal with a history of drugs, drug discoveries, commercial development, pharmacological and forensic classifications, the extent of drug use, and testing and treatment of drug abusers in the United States.

Division III: Human Development and Human Service - PSY 306 Abnormal Psychology
A study both of the development of the abnormal personality and of theories and research relating to causal factors in such pathologies.

Division IV: Environmental, Natural, and Technical Science - BIO 360 Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety
A survey of the broad field of occupational and environmental health and safety, with particular emphasis on current trends as influenced by the emergent global economy and growing interest in a holistic approach to human and environmental health.

Division V: Visual and Performing Arts - MUS 257 Music Appreciation
One three-credit course studying music appreciation will be included as a requirement of this program.

Core Courses (2 courses, 6 credit hours)

COR 304 Catholic Social Teaching
An introduction to the social teaching of the Catholic Church through an examination of selected contemporary national and world issues in social justice. May include issues of life and death, poverty, violence and war, third-world development and others.

BLP 410 Diversity in the Workplace
Explores the dimensions of diversity and the challenges of managing an increasingly diverse workforce in both public and private sectors. Develops understanding of the impact of race, class, gender, disability and other differences on interpersonal, team and organizational behavior.

Required Fire Science Courses (33 credit hours)  

FRS 207 Applications for Fire Research
This course examines the basic principles of research and methodology for analyzing current fire-related research. The course also provides a framework for conducting and evaluating independent research in the following areas: fire dynamics, fire test standards and codes, fire safety, fire modeling, structural fire safety, life safety, firefighter health and safety, automatic detection and suppression, transportation fire hazards, risk analysis and loss control, fire service applied research and new trends in fire research.

FRS 209 Analytical Approaches to Public Fire Protection
This course examines the tools and techniques of rational decision making in Fire and Emergency Services agencies including data collection, statistics, probability, decision analysis, utility modeling, resource allocation, and cost-benefit analysis.

FRS 302 Fire and Emergency Services Administration (Principles of Public Sector Management)
This course is designed to be a progressive primer for students who want more knowledge about fire and emergency services administration. The course demonstrates the importance of the following skills necessary to manage and lead a fire and emergency services department through the changes and challenges of the 21st century: persuasion and influence, accountable budgeting, anticipation of challenges and the need for change, and using specific management tools for analyzing and solving problems. A central part of the course focuses on how the leadership of a fire and emergency services department develops internal and external cooperation to create a coordinated approach to achieving the department's mission.

FRS 317 Legal Aspects of Emergency Services (Legal Aspects of the Fire Service)
This course introduces the Federal, State, and Local laws that regulate emergency services, national standards influencing emergency services, standard of care, tort, liability, and a review of relevant court cases.

FRS 326 Personnel Management for Fire & Emergency Service
This course examines relationships and issues in personnel administration and human resource development within the context of fire-related organizations, including personnel management, organizational development, productivity, recruitment and selection, performance management systems, discipline and collective bargaining.

FRS 341 Fire Prevention Organization & Management
This course examines the factors that shape fire risk and the tools for fire prevention, including risk reduction education, codes and standards, inspection and plans review, fire investigation, research, master planning, and various types of influences and strategies.

FRS 365 Fire Related Human Behavior
The goal of this course is to provide students with knowledge of what we know about how humans respond to fire and how that knowledge has been integrated into life safety systems design and development. Students will examine current and past research on human behavior, systems models, life safety education and building design to determine interactions of these areas in emergency situations. Students will develop an understanding of best practice building life safety systems as one that combines knowledge in the areas of psychology and sociology joined with engineering and education to produce the best possible outcomes in terms of human survivability in the event of an emergency.

FRS 415 Political & Legal Foundations for Fire Protection
This course examines the legal aspects of the fire service and the political and social impacts of legal issues. This course contains a review of the American legal system and in-depth coverage of legal and political issues involving employment and personnel matters, administrative and operational matters, planning and code enforcement, and legislative and political processes with regard to the fire service.

FRS 465 Community Risk Reduction for Fire & Emergency Services
This course provides a theoretical framework for the understanding of the ethical, sociological, organizational, political, and legal components of community risk reduction and a methodology for the development of a comprehensive community risk reduction plan.

FRS 490 Measuring Community Services (Senior Seminar I)
Fourth year Core seminars are structured as a capstone experience under the theme "Seeking Integration." They provide an opportunity for all students to participate in an interdisciplinary seminar that integrates background in their major field of study with the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the Core Curriculum. The second seminar is intended to involve active learning through activities such as research, projects, service learning, or internships.

This seminar will involve group work to analyze aspects of fire department service delivery. It will consider outcome measures, individual measures, and citizen complaints, requests for services, conducting surveys, and measuring local government efficiency.

The seminar structure will allow students, working in groups, to select a set of issues to examine. Students will learn to identify and research pertinent laws, regulations, and codes that provide a framework for addressing potential future service delivery options. Group work may involve tasks such as research of current service delivery models, analysis of potential service delivery systems, and recommendations for fire based service delivery systems to meet national guidelines.

FRS 491 Role of Fire Service in Disasters (Senior Seminar II)
Fourth year Core seminars are structured as a capstone experience under the theme "Seeking Integration". They provide an opportunity for all students to participate in an interdisciplinary seminar that integrates background in their major field of study with the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the Core Curriculum. The second seminar is intended to involve active learning through activities such as research, projects, service learning, or internships.

This seminar will involve group work to analyze aspects of fire department service delivery before, during, and after natural and man-made disasters. It will consider components of emergency planning and how the fire service can play an active role in each.

The seminar structure will allow students, working in groups, to select a set of issues to examine, using the ICMA's emergency management model: planning/preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation as a source. Students will learn to identify and research pertinent laws, regulations, and codes that provide a framework for addressing potential future service delivery options. Group work may involve tasks such as research of current service delivery models, analysis of potential service delivery systems, and recommendations for a fire based service delivery system to meet federal and state requirements.

As in any seminar, a thorough understanding of the reading assignments expressed through active participation in the discussions is critical to the successful completion of this course.

Electives: (choose any 2 courses, 6 credit hours)

FRS 351 Disaster Planning & Control
This course examines concepts and principles of community risk assessment, planning, and response to fires, natural and man-made disasters, including NIMS/ICS, mutual aid and automatic response, training and preparedness, communications, civil disturbances, terrorists threats/incidents, hazardous materials planning, mass casualty incidents, earthquake preparedness, and disaster mitigation and recovery.

FRS 404 Fire Investigation & Analysis
This course examines the technical, investigative, legal, and social aspects of arson, including principles of incendiary fire analysis and detection, environmental and psychological factors of arson, legal considerations, and intervention and mitigation strategies.

FRS 420 Management of Emergency Medical Services
Introduces the students to the distinct aspects of Emergency Medical Services management. Topic will include liability, medical control, revenue development, quality of patient care, and communicable disease.

FRS 436 Critical Incident Stress Management for Emergency Services
Introduces the student to the multi-faceted area of interpersonal relations. Areas include crisis intervention, critical incident stress, post traumatic stress disorder, conflict resolution and professional relationships.

FRS 455 Managerial Issues in Hazardous Materials
This course presents the issues in the management of a department-wide hazardous materials program. It includes issues that are pertinent to officers and managers in public safety departments, including regulations and requirements for hazardous materials preparedness, response, storage, transportation, handling and use, and the emergency response to terrorism threat/incident. Subjects covered include Federal, State, and local emergency response planning; personnel and training, and operational considerations such as determine strategic goals and tactical objectives.

Request more information about the online B.S. in Fire Science or call 1 (877) 265-3201 to speak with an Admissions Advisor.