Bachelor of Applied Science

Fire Service Management concentration

Note: This program is currently being revised to integrate its most important aspects into a broader and more flexible degree program built around the general context of public safety, including environmental and emergency management. You can direct questions about this program to cti-dean@asu.edu.

 

The Fire Service Management concentration prepares students and practitioners to successfully perform managerial duties in fire departments and related fire service industries. This degree provides students them with cutting edge technology and education.

Students learn management, leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills -- along with significant work in fire service management -- that will broaden their career horizons, promote life-long learning, and enrich their personal and civic life.

The BAS degree is a 60 semester hour program designed for students who have earned an associates degree from a regionally accredited post secondary institution. Typically students have earned their associates degree in fire science or paramedicine or emergency medical services.

The curriculum is divided into four segments:

  • General Studies - 19 semester hours
    In consultation with an advisor, students choose courses from the ASU General Studies list that contribute to a coherent overall curriculum that helps them meet their educational goals. General Studies include Numeracy, Lab Science, Literacy, Humanities, and Social and Behavioral Science courses, including history, culture, and global awareness areas. All courses required by ASU must be upper-division courses.
  • B.A.S. Core - 15 semester hours (including nine hours of fire courses)
    The B.A.S. Core Curriculum focuses on management and organization, professional communication, statistical processes, and computer competencies. Students must take at least one three-semester-hour course in each of these four general categories. The remaining three semester hours are devoted to a second course in one of the above areas.
  • Fire Service Management Concentration - 20 semester hours
    Students devote at least 20 semester hours to the concentration, either choosing from set curricula or developing a custom curriculum with the help of their advisor. Assignable Credits may be used to enhance the area of concentration.
  • Assignable Credits (or Electives) - six (6) semester hours
    Assignable Credits allow space in the curriculum for prerequisite courses some students might need to succeed in the program. Assignable credits may be used to strengthen specific capabilities, to strengthen knowledge of core areas, or can be used as elective.

Students in the BAS program will learn concepts and develop skills in the areas of:

  • Fire Service Administration
  • Fire Personnel Management
  • Computer Applications in Emergency Management
  • Fire Prevention Organization & Management
  • Incident Management Systems
  • Fire Department Budgeting

 

What You Can Do With This Degree

Graduates are prepared for positions as professional firefighters in public and private fire departments; supervisory and management positions in fire departments; and positions in industry as fire safety specialists. Graduates also are better prepared for promotional opportunities and other special projects in their employment.

 

Courses Associated With This Degree

Click on each of these sample course names for more information.

FSM 304 Fire Personnel Management

  • Description: Promotion, personnel development, career and incentive systems, validation of physical requirements, managerial and supervisory procedures.

FSM 305 Quality Emergency Services

  • Description: Covers quality issues relating to services delivered by progressive fire departments. Covers management of personnel and resources during organizational change.

FSM 306 Fire Prevention Organization and Management

  • Description: Examines and evaluates the techniques, procedures, programs, and agencies involved in preventing fires.

FSM 307 Fire Department Safety Organization and Management

  • Description: Focuses on the management of fire department safety programs.

FSM 308 Fire Department

  • Description: Examines the role of fire department budgets and their relationship to other levels of government as a planning tool.

FSM 309 Emergency Medical Services Organization and Management

  • Description: Focuses on the administration and management of emergency medical services delivered by a fire department.

FSM 363 Computer Applications in Emergency

  • Description: Explores specific computer programs that are currently in use for contingency planning, tracking chemical inventories, and response resources.

FSM 400 Human Behavior and the Fire Threat

  • Description: Proper ways of conducting post-fire interviews; emphasizes the psychological effects of communications during emergencies.

FSM 401 Labor Relations in the Fire Service

  • Description: Examines the relationships between management and unions using the Relations by Objectives model.

FSM 404 Fire Service Program Management and Fire Service Accreditation

  • Description: Examines the relationships between management and unions using the Relations by Objectives model.

FSM 405 Fire Service

  • Description: Focuses on developing personal and organizational leadership qualities required to be successful in the fire service.

FSM 421 Political and Legal Consideration in Fire Science

  • Description: Study of legal and political considerations that affect the decision making of fire service managers.

FSM 425 Fire Service Administration

  • Description: Presents modern management and planning techniques that apply to organizing a fire department.

FSM 460 Incident Management Systems and Emergency Operations

  • Description: Covers IMS, terminology, players, and management philosophy. EOC setup, activation, operation, and termination. EOC funding and politics.

FSM 493 Honors Thesis

  • Description: Capstone applied project. Applies knowledge learned from FSM course work to solve a practical fire service problem.

 

Delivery System

ASU Fire Service Programs are designed to meet the student’s needs in several important ways. ASU believes that students should have flexibility, convenience, and choice in the courses that they take and how they take them. Students have three options for taking courses and completing their degree:

  1. Completely Online: Students may complete both the BAS degree and completely online. This includes all general studies and technology core requirements.
  2. Hybrid: Students may choose to take classes that are delivered partly online and partly in a classroom. Hybrid fire courses are offered at various locations throughout the State of Arizona. Hybrid general studies courses are only offered at the four ASU campuses.
  3. Traditional Classroom: Students may choose to take their general studies and some of the technology core courses at any of the 4 ASU campuses.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to earn a B.A.S. degree?

Full-time students can earn the B.A.S. degree in two years.  Part-time students typically earn their degree in three to five years, depending on the number of courses they take each semester.

How is my associate’s degree transferred into ASU?

The associate's degree is transferred as a 60-hour block of lower-division (100 and 200 level) credit. Students must complete 60 hours of upper-division (300 and 400 level) credit at ASU.

Can I enroll in the B.A.S. degree if I am not in the fire service?

Yes.

Can I begin the B.A.S. if I am not done with my associate’s degree?

Contact Dr. Jeff Thomas at 480-727-1006 or jeffrey.e.thomas@asu.edu.

Can I be accepted if my associates degree is not in fire?

Yes, but you must have completed 30-40 hours of course work in fire science, paramedicine, or emergency medical services.

Can I transfer credits into the B.A.S. degree?

Students may transfer up to six hours of upper division (300 or 400 level) credit.