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Fire Science and Leadership - A.A.S. Degree (Career)

APPLICATION CODE 305

For curriculum information, contact the Science, Engineering, and Technology Division – Room SET-430 – 443-518-1600.

The Fire Science and Leadership A.A.S. degree prepares graduates to function as entry-level career and volunteer officers. The curriculum is a partnership between Howard Community College and the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services and is designated specifically for firefighters who volunteer in or are employed by the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. The program has also been designed to offer degree opportunities to firefighters in jurisdictions other than Howard County and to students with no fire service experience who are interested in an affiliation with the fire service. Students will complete 20 credits of required general education courses at Howard Community College and 40 credits of fire and rescue science courses in the firefighters program administered by the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services or other Accredited Fire Service Educational Institution in accordance with the National Fire Protection Agency Standards and the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.

This program prepares students for a career in fire services by providing an understanding of fire causes, fire hazards, and fire behavior, emergency control and fire suppression, building and fire codes and the role they play in building construction, and organizational structure. A deep understanding of fire behavior and combustion is provided with a focus on firefighter safety and survival. The national fire problem will be analyzed for professional development with a focus on the National Fire Protection Development model.

Suggested Semester 1

Course NumberTitleCredits
ENGL 121College Composition

3
CHEM 101General Inorganic Chemistry I

4
OR
CHEM 105Chemistry and Society

3
AND
CHEM 115Chemistry and Society Laboratory

1
MATH 141College Algebra

3
or higher core course

Suggested Semester 2

Course NumberTitleCredits
Gen Ed Core Social & Behavioral Sciences - Global Competency Core

3

Select one of the following:

Course NumberTitleCredits
HEED 104Personal Nutrition Assessment

1
HEED 106Introduction to Stress Management

1
HEED 110Introduction to Personal Wellness

1

Select one of the following:

Course NumberTitleCredits
SPCH 105Fundamentals of Public Speaking

3
SPCH 110Interpersonal Communication

3
SPCH 115Intercultural Communication

3
SPCH 151The Spoken Word

3

Select one from the following:

Course NumberTitleCredits
POLI 103Political Ideology

3
POLI 104The U.S. Constitution

3
POLI 201Comparative Government

3
POLI 202International Relations and Contemporary Foreign Policy

3
PSYC 101General Psychology

3
SOCI 102Social Problems

3
SOCI 202Urban Sociology

3

Additional Required Courses

Course NumberTitleCredits
FIRE 101Firefighter I

5
FIRE 102Firefighter II

2
FIRE 103Firefighter Survival and Rescue

1
FIRE 111Hazardous Materials Operations

1
FIRE 112Hazardous Materials Technician

3
FIRE 120Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)

1
FIRE 121Advanced Incident Command System (ICS)

1
FIRE 130Principles of Building Construction

1
FIRE 140Rescue Technician: Site Operations

2
FIRE 141Rescue Technician: Vehicle and Machinery Extrication

2
FIRE 201Instructor I

2
FIRE 202Instructor II

2
FIRE 208Fire Department Incident Safety Officer

1
FIRE 209Fire Department Health and Safety Officer

2
FIRE 211Fire Officer I

4
FIRE 212Fire Officer II

3
BMGT 134Coaching As a Tool for Effective Leadership

3
OR
FIRE 213Fire Officer III

3
OR
FIRE 231Leadership I: Strategies For Company Success

1
AND
FIRE 232Leadership II: Strategies For Personal Success

1
AND
FIRE 233Leadership III: Strategies For Supervisory Success

1
BMGT 137Personal Leadership Development and Fundamental Management Practices

3
OR
FIRE 214Fire Officer IV

3
OR
FIRE 220Inspector I

3
FIRE 240Pump Operator

1

A graduate should be able to

  1. Evaluate the components of building construction related to fire and life safety, including inspections, pre-incident planning, and emergency operations.
  2. Compare the benefits of fire protection systems in various types of structures.
  3. Demonstrate basic technical skills and knowledge of fire chemistry and physics as they apply to fire prevention, strategy, and tactics.
  4. Demonstrate an interdisciplinary perspective on the issues which face fire science professionals and local governments.
  5. Identify, explain, evaluate, and apply ethical reasoning within emergency services in a professional context.
  6. Demonstrate and use basic interpersonal, group, and public communication skills.
  7. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the field of fire science through a balance of theory and practical application.
  8. Summarize and explain the basic theories and concepts of how and why fires start, spread, and are controlled.
  9. Apply basic mathematical models to fire and fire safety.
  10. Compare the basic responsibilities of company officers including supervision, delegation, problem solving, decision making, communication, and leadership, and demonstrate the ability to perform those roles.
  11. Demonstrate an understanding of and apply the laws, rules, regulations, and codes relevant to fire prevention of the authority having jurisdiction.
  12. Understand and foster the national firefighter life safety initiatives, focusing on the need for cultural and behavioral change throughout the emergency services.
  13. Identify, examine, evaluate, and implement policies and procedures that affect the safety and health of emergency responders.
  14. Employ the basic skills and tools needed to perform effectively as a leader in the fire science environment.

Total Credit Hours: 60