Fire Service Administration Major (B.S.)

https://cps.unh.edu/online/program/bs/fire-service-administration-bachelors-completion

The Bachelor of Science in Fire Service Administration degree prepares fire service professionals with the leadership, management, and administrative knowledge and skills essential to advance in the fire service field.  The program integrates knowledge and skills necessary to mitigate the ethical, moral, social, and situational challenges of fire and emergency services.  Entry into this program requires a conferred Associate Degree in Fire Science or a related field, and certification as an NFPA 1001 Firefighter II issued by a Pro Board or IFSAC-accredited agency.

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 120 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 30 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0 is required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: General Education Program
Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*GPA: Major and any state certification GPA requirements may be higher and are indicated in program details.
 
A minimum grade of C- is required in all Major coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor, and General Education requirements with only one overlap being utilized between the Major and Minor. Please note that Option requirements are considered part of the Major. Students must complete 16 upper-level credits in majors within the College of Professional Studies, Online.

General Education Program Requirements

A minimum grade of D- is required in all General Education coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor and General Education requirements with only one overlap being utilized between the Major and Minor.

All General Education requirements, including CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar, must be taken prior to the capstone.

ENG 420The Writing Process4
COM 460Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics4
COM 480Visual Communication4
CRIT 501Introduction to Critical Inquiry4
Select one of the following:4
Math for Our World
Statistics
Pre-Calculus
Knowledge of Human Behavior & Social Systems4
Knowledge of the Physical & Natural World4
Knowledge of Human Thought & Expression4
CRIT 602Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking4
IDIS 601Interdisciplinary Seminar4
Total Credits40

Writing Program Requirements

All bachelor's degree candidates are required to complete four writing intensive courses as part of the University Writing Program Requirements as follows:

The Writing Process
One Writing Intensive course in the Major
One Writing Intensive course at the 600-level or above
One Additional Writing Intensive Course

Writing Intensive courses are identified with the label "Writing Intensive Course" in the "Attributes" section of the course description and/or a W following the course number.

 

Major Requirements

Prerequisite: Must have completed an Associate Degree or equivalent in Fire Science field.

Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses along with CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar. Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. Academic Advisor approval is required for registration to be processed.

Major in Fire Service Administration
Intermediate Courses
COM 590Professional Communication4
COM 665Media and Strategic Communication4
or COM 710 Managerial Communication
FSA 605Fire Service Ethics4
FSA 610Community Risk Reduction for the Fire and Emergency Services4
FSA 635Political and Legal Foundations for Fire Protection4
MTH 504Statistics4
FSA 665Command and Control of Large-Scale Incidents4
or BEHS 665 Disaster Management
HRM 580Change Management4
or HRM 635 Managing Conflict
Advanced Courses
FSA 685Fire Prevention Organization and Management4
FSA 710Personnel Management for the Fire Service4
FSA 740Applications of Fire Research4
FSA 760Fire and Emergency Services Administration4
Integrative Capstone
FSA 797Integrative Capstone: Research Project in Fire Service Administration4
Total Credits52

Electives

Open electives are courses students will need to take in addition to their general education and major requirements in order to satisfy the remaining credit totals for their programs. Open electives are defined as any credit course offered by the College not already included in the student's general education, major, option or minor. Students will need 120 credits total to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the Online Division of the College of Professional Studies.

This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH CPS Online undergraduate students should develop individual academic plans with their academic advisor during their first year at UNH.

Sample Course Sequence - For students with conferred associate degree

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
COM 590 Professional Communication 4
CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking 4
FSA 605 Fire Service Ethics 4
FSA 610 Community Risk Reduction for the Fire and Emergency Services 4
 Credits16
Spring
FSA 635 Political and Legal Foundations for Fire Protection 4
FSA 665
Command and Control of Large-Scale Incidents
or Disaster Management
4
FSA 710 Personnel Management for the Fire Service 4
MTH 504 Statistics 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
FSA 685 Fire Prevention Organization and Management 4
FSA 740 Applications of Fire Research 4
FSA 760 Fire and Emergency Services Administration 4
 Credits12
Spring
HRM 580
Change Management
or Managing Conflict
4
IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar 4
 Credits8
Third Year
Fall
COM 665
Media and Strategic Communication
or Managerial Communication
4
FSA 797 Integrative Capstone: Research Project in Fire Service Administration 4
 Credits8
 Total Credits60
 
  • Demonstrate leadership skills and utilize administrative techniques related to the organizational management of fire and emergency services.
  • Integrate research, critical thinking, and analytical decision-making skills to address challenges faced in the delivery and execution of modern fire and emergency services.
  • Apply principles of ethics to evaluate fire and emergency services moral and social issues and make principle-based decisions.
  • Identify and prioritize public safety threats and hazards and develop fire and emergency service community risk reduction plans.
  • Conduct dynamic situational assessments and apply knowledge of risk reduction to develop strategic incident action plans that are consistent with professional standards and best practices to mitigate emergencies or disasters in the community.