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 program is no longer accepting students effective Fall 2022.
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
Suggested Semester 2
Select one of the following:
| HEED 104 | Personal Nutrition Assessment | 1 |
| HEED 106 | Introduction to Stress Management | 1 |
| HEED 110 | Introduction to Personal Wellness | 1 |
Select one of the following:
Select one of the following:
Additional Required Courses
| FIRE 101 | Firefighter I | 5 |
| FIRE 102 | Firefighter II | 2 |
| FIRE 103 | Firefighter Survival and Rescue | 1 |
| FIRE 111 | Hazardous Materials Operations | 1 |
| FIRE 112 | Hazardous Materials Technician | 3 |
| FIRE 120 | Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS) | 1 |
| FIRE 121 | Advanced Incident Command System (ICS) | 1 |
| FIRE 130 | Principles of Building Construction | 1 |
| FIRE 140 | Rescue Technician: Site Operations | 2 |
| FIRE 141 | Rescue Technician: Vehicle and Machinery Extrication | 2 |
| FIRE 201 | Instructor I | 2 |
| FIRE 202 | Instructor II | 2 |
| FIRE 208 | Fire Department Incident Safety Officer | 1 |
| FIRE 209 | Fire Department Health and Safety Officer | 2 |
| FIRE 211 | Fire Officer I | 4 |
| FIRE 212 | Fire Officer II | 3 |
| BMGT 134 | Coaching As a Tool for Effective Leadership | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FIRE 213 | Fire Officer III | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FIRE 231 | Leadership in Supervision: Creating Environments for Professional Growth | 1 |
| | AND | |
| FIRE 232 | Leadership in Supervision: Perspectives in Thinking | 1 |
| | AND | |
| FIRE 233 | Leadership in Supervision: Frameworks for Success | 1 |
| BMGT 137 | Personal Leadership Development and Fundamental Management Practices | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FIRE 214 | Fire Officer IV | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FIRE 220 | Inspector I | 3 |
| FIRE 240 | Pump Operator | 1 |
Total Credit Hours: 60
A graduate should be able to
- Evaluate the components of building construction related to fire and life safety, including inspections, pre-incident planning, and emergency operations.
- Compare the benefits of fire protection systems in various types of structures.
- Demonstrate basic technical skills and knowledge of fire chemistry and physics as they apply to fire prevention, strategy, and tactics.
- Demonstrate an interdisciplinary perspective on the issues which face fire science professionals and local governments.
- Identify, explain, evaluate, and apply ethical reasoning within emergency services in a professional context.
- Demonstrate and use basic interpersonal, group, and public communication skills.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the field of fire science through a balance of theory and practical application.
- Summarize and explain the basic theories and concepts of how and why fires start, spread, and are controlled.
- Apply basic mathematical models to fire and fire safety.
- 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.
- Demonstrate an understanding of and apply the laws, rules, regulations, and codes relevant to fire prevention of the authority having jurisdiction.
- Understand and foster the national firefighter life safety initiatives, focusing on the need for cultural and behavioral change throughout the emergency services.
- Identify, examine, evaluate, and implement policies and procedures that affect the safety and health of emergency responders.
- Employ the basic skills and tools needed to perform effectively as a leader in the fire science environment.