Be at the Forefront of Fire Services, Safety and Protection
The curriculum for Anna Maria College's Bachelor of Science in Fire Science degree online brings the very latest firefighting knowledge and techniques directly to you – anytime, anywhere. Complete your education in an asynchronous eight-week class format, so you can balance the program with your personal schedule. If you’re a firefighter or already have a minimum of 60 college credits, you’re ready to start the fire science bachelor degree.
The Anna Maria fire science bachelor's degree completion program is FESHE-recognized and consists of a total of 60 credits:
- Six exploration courses
- Ten fire science courses
- Four electives
Transfer Your Credits
At Anna Maria College, our students our students are treated as individuals. We understand that your work experience, previous academic history and specific fire training is unique and should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
The online fire science bachelor degree program accepts students who have either earned an associate degree* or have 60 transferable credits from a related field or from prior course work among other scenarios.
In addition, 15 transfer credits (traditional and non-traditional) 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
A total of 90 credits may be granted to students with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Learn more about the admissions requirements for the online fire science bachelor degree by calling us at 877-265-3201 to speak with one of our Program Managers about a personalized evaluation of your transcripts.
Fifth Year Option To Obtain Your MPA
The Fifth Year Option is our bridge program for students approaching the end of their fire science bachelor degree. This option allows students to begin their master’s in public administration while still taking classes at the undergraduate level, saving time and money.
Once the 90 credit hour level has been achieved with a minimum 3.0 GPA, a student may elect to take up to three master’s level courses, which would be billed at the bachelor’s level and may fulfill the requirements for corresponding bachelor’s courses as well as count toward their Master of Public Administration degree.
Learn about the tuition costs and financial aid we have available.
*Associate’s degree must be from a regionally accredited institution.
| AMC Exploration Categories | 18 credits |
| Course Name | Credits |
| Writing for Career & Creativity | 3 credits |
| US in the World | 3 credits |
| Global Dynamics | 3 credits |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 credits |
| Catholic Worldview | 3 credits |
| Senior Seminar | 3 credits |
Transfer credit may be awarded for the above courses if you have already taken a course that falls into the appropriate subject area. This transfer credit will be included in the maximum 75 credits you can receive toward the program.
| Required Fire Science Courses | 30 Credits | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| FRS 302 | Emergency Services Management | 3 credits |
| FRS 305 | Fire Service Ethics | 3 credits |
| FRS 307 | Applications for Emergency Services Research | 3 credits |
| FRS 317 | Legal Aspects of Emergency Services | 3 credits |
| FRS 326 | Human Resource Management for Emergency Services | 3 credits |
| FRS 351 | Disaster Planning and Control | 3 credits |
| FRS 365 | Fire Related Human Behavior | 3 credits |
| FRS 404 | Fire Investigation and Analysis | 3 credits |
| FRS 425 | Emergency Services Budgeting and Finance | 3 credits |
| FRS 465 | Community Risk Reduction for Emergency Services | 3 credits |
| Electives | 12 Credits |
| You will need to take four electives to complete the fire science curriculum. Please speak with your Program Manager for the class options and course descriptions. | |
Fire Science Course Descriptions
FRS 302 Emergency Services Management
This course is designed to be a progressive primer for students who want more knowledge about fire and emergency services management. The course demonstrates the importance of the following skills necessary to effectively manage in an emergency services organization through the changes and challenges of the 21st century.
FRS 305 Fire Service Ethics
This course examines the basic principles of ethics as related to fire service operations and management with special attention given to current issues in the fire service.
FRS 307 Applications for Emergency Services Research
This course examines the basic principles of research and methodology for analyzing current emergency services research. The course also provides a framework for conducting and evaluating independent research utilizing a variety of basic research methods.
FRS 317 Legal Aspects of Emergency Services
This course introduces the Federal, State, and Local laws that regulate emergency services, the national standards influencing emergency services, issues related to standard of care, and tort liability law. Relevant court cases provide examples.
FRS 326 Human Resource Management for Emergency Services
This course is designed to be a progressive primer for students who want more knowledge about human resources management as it pertains to emergency services. The course demonstrates the importance of skills necessary to manage human resources in an emergency services organization.
FRS 351 Disaster Planning and Control
This course examines concepts and principles of community risk assessment, planning, and response to fires and natural and man-made disasters, including civil disturbances, terrorist threats/ incidents, hazardous materials incidents, mass casualty events and earthquakes. Standard strategies and organizational frameworks are reviewed, including NIMS/ICS, mutual aid and automatic response, training and preparedness, communications and disaster mitigation and recovery. Prerequisite: FRS 321 or equivalent NIMS training at or above the 300.
FRS 365 Fire Related Human Behavior
Students learn about how humans respond to fire and how that knowledge has been integrated into life safety systems design and development. Students examine current and past research on human behavior, systems models, life safety education and building design to determine interactions among these factors in emergency situations. Students develop an understanding that best practices in 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 404 Fire Investigation and 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. Prerequisite: FRS 304.
FRS 425 Emergency Services Budgeting and Finance
This course is designed to provide an overview of the budgeting and financing process for emergency services organizations. The course will discuss basics of types of budgets, budget construction and budget prioritization. The overarching goal is to give prospective emergency services managers the basic information necessary to navigate an emergency services organizational budget, within a public or private sector.
FRS 465 Community Risk Reduction for Emergency Services
This course provides a theoretical framework for the understanding of the ethical, sociological, organizational, political, and legal components of community risk reduction. Students apply the knowledge and methodologies to the development of a comprehensive community risk reduction plan. Prerequisite: FRS 365. Three lecture hours per week.
Learn More
For more information on the courses and curriculum for Anna Maria College's Bachelor of Science in Fire Science degree online, click here or call 877-265-3201.