FIRE SCIENCE (A.A.S.)
Purpose:The MCCC Fire Science Program is designed to lead to an AAS Degree which will prepare students for entry level technical or administrative careers in the fire science field by providing them with the necessary knowledge of the subject field, professional skills, and state-of-the-art techniques necessary for a successful career.
Some possible career paths and job categories include: firefighter; sprinkler & alarm system installer; safety engineering technician; fire safety and building inspection assistance or technician; insurance property damage appraiser/adjuster; property loss claims investigator; building codes inspector; and more.
The curriculum, is designed to prepare the student equally well for careers in the public sector fire services, or for private sector careers in safety, loss prevention engineering, and risk management. The public sector is rapidly professionalizing, and corporate hiring in these fields is expanding dramatically. Increasing opportunities also exist for transfer and articulation into 4-year baccalaureate degree programs in fire science, public safety, and emergency management and planning.
The MCCC Fire Science Program can prepare you for a career in:
- Fire control and suppression engineering
- Insurance underwriting, claims and arson investigating, and loss control engineering
- Fire equipment and systems design, research, sales and service
- Military safety, rescue, and crash team response
Nationwide, fire suppression and emergency response is a labor intensive growth industry. Careers in fire science and allied fields continue to show strong growth.
A firs Science degree from Montgomery County Community College is built on a solid liberal arts foundation, and offers students a working base of knowledge in one of the most important public policy areas in our country today.
Program Objectives:
A graduate should possess:
- a thorough understanding of the field of fire science in both the public and private sectors;
- the necessary skills to effectively work within the organizational structure of the fire science field;
- a working knowledge of the basic field strategy and tactics that relate to various kinds of specific fire situations;
- an ability to identify, classify, and respond to the various kinds of hazardous materials events;
- a thorough understanding of the laws and ordinances related to fire prevention, protection and mitigation, and alarm systems;
- a thorough understanding of fire prevention and suppression techniques;
- an understanding of the causes, motives, and methods of arson, and the tools and methodologies available in fire and arson investigation.
First Semester
(15-16 Credit Hours)
ENG 101 English Composition I 3 FSC 100 Introduction to Fire Science 3 PEH 245 Safety and First Aid 3 HIS 205 History of the United States: from 1877 3 Elective Math or Computer Science 3-4
Second Semester
(15 Credit Hours)
ENG 102 English Composition II ENG 115 Writing for Technical Communication 3 FSC 101 Management of Emergency Services 3 FSC 102 Hazardous Materials 3
FSC 103 Fire Dept 3 POL 124 American National Government 3
Third Semester
(16 Credit Hours)
FSC 104 Building Construction 3 FSC 105 Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement 3 FSC 106 Fire Investigation 3 SOC 244 Death and Dying 3 CHE 121 General Chemistry 4
Fourth Semester
(15 Credit Hours)
FSC 108 Fire Protection Systems 3 SPC 110 Introduction to Speech Communication or SPC 230 Communication in Organizations 3 FSC, EMP, or CJS Elective 3 FSC, EMP, or CJS Elective 3 General Elective 3
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS CREDIT: 61-62
*Students who have successfully completed certain coursework at a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania approved Fire Academy may be eligible for up to 9 credits in Fire Science. Please contact the Director of the Criminal Justice Studies & Fire Science Programs for more information
