PROGRAM TYPE
On Campus, Online

DEGREES
BS

Contact

Gary Daugherty

Chair, Fire Science and Emergency Management/Paramedic Program and Professor of Practice
Chair, Fire Science & Emergency Management
(508) 849-3263

Fire Science | BS

Program Overview

The Fire Science program at Anna Maria College is designed for students who are interested in pursuing careers within fields related to fire prevention, fire protection and fire-based emergency medical leadership. It is the largest Bachelor of Science program in the Northeast.** Anna Maria College also offers a dual-track Fire Science/Paramedic program that prepares students for the National Registry Paramedic Certification Exam.

This program integrates liberal arts education and strong career preparation. The curriculum is focused upon the fire service administration and reflects the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined within National Fire Academy and the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Model Curriculum. Strong emphasis is placed on the dynamic aspects of public sector emergency services leadership and administration. The fire science program is taught by experienced emergency services professionals who are distinguished leaders and educators in emergency services.

The goal of the program is to produce well-rounded emergency services professionals who have the necessary foundational knowledge, training, and certifications to have a competitive edge in obtaining professional emergency service employment.

Students take six core fire science classes in their first and second years. These courses provide foundation level knowledge in the areas of fire behavior, fire prevention, hydraulics, and emergency services operations. In the third and fourth years, students, in conjunction with their academic advisor, choose electives specific to their interests. Small classes promote the interchange of ideas between students and faculty members.

**U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2023, Completions component. Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/DataFiles.aspx. Data consists of CIP code 43.0202 & 43.0203 for the Northeast US Census Division.

 

HEAR FROM STUDENTS AND PARTNERS

Jordan Turner ‘24

Carver, MA

Julia Smith ‘23

Chilliwack, British Columbia in Canada

Murrieta, CA

Brock Eskildsen ‘23

“Anna Maria really gave me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and see all the different aspects of firefighting careers and now I want to see wherever it takes me.”

“I chose Anna Maria College because I have wanted to be a firefighter since I was four years old. I decided that Anna Maria College was the best bet for my future.”

“I chose Anna Maria College for many reasons, including the fire science department and professors we have on campus. They showed me from day one that they cared about me and wanted me to succeed.”

Curriculum Highlights

Course Of Study

Career and Internship Opportunity

CAREER

  • Fire Chief
  • Fire Marshal
  • Fire Investigator
  • Fire Prevention Educator
  • Fire Service Trainer
  • Fire Prevention Specialists
  • Municipal Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors
  • Wildland Firefighter
  • Fire/Arson Investigator
  • Public Safety Educator
  • Insurance Investigator
  • Emergency Managers

INTERNSHIP

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Fire Science program should be able to:

  • Comprehend and analyze a broad range of fire science concepts including:
    the history and lineage of the modern fire and emergency services
    – fundamental fire chemistry, fire behavior and fire dynamics
    – how the various types of fire protection systems are designed to meet differences in building construction, hazard type, environmental conditions and compartment configuration
  • Understand and use contemporary strategies and theories used to effectively manage and lead employees in various organizational settings and contexts
  • Understand and implement relevant human resources, civil rights, labor rights, and due process legislation that pertains to the management, hiring, firing, and promotion of employees
  • Use various technological, educational and legal approaches to preventing and mitigating fires
  • Comprehend how people of different ages, cultural backgrounds, and abilities behave in fires, and various approaches to mitigate the impact of these variations in behavior
  • Demonstrate leadership skills that embody a commitment to diversity, social justice and civic responsibility
  • Formulate, conduct and critique basic academic research on fire and emergency services topics
  • Accurately calculate hydraulic flow rates, static pressures, residual pressures, friction losses and pump capacities
  • Conduct a thorough and legally defensible fire investigation
  • Identify core technical concepts in the fire service
  • Evaluate the application of legal issues in the fire service
  • Apply prevention concepts to the fire service
  • Apply research and statistical skills to fire protection issues
  • Analyze ethical, leadership, and administrative issues in fire service organization management
Request More Information

Fire Science – Paramedic Certification Dual Track Program

As society changes, so do the demands for the emergency services provided to our citizens. Building code and construction advancements have made fire suppression a rare service for the modern fire department to provide. Today, most departments function as “all-hazards” responders, with emergency medical services playing an integral role in their mission profile.

In response to these industry changes, Anna Maria College has developed a new dual-track Fire Science/Paramedic program that prepares our students to fill essential roles as emergency providers.

This Dual Track Fire Science-Paramedic Program is designed to educate the future leaders of the fire service, while also producing highly trained entry level paramedic providers ready to sit for the National Registry Paramedic Certification Exam.

Prerequisites:

Fire Science – None

Paramedic Program – Candidates must possess a current certification as an Emergency Medical Technician, an AHA Healthcare Provider CPR card, and a driver’s license to begin the program. An Emergency Medical Technician certification MUST be completed before beginning paramedic studies. The EMT course is offered every Spring and Fall on campus, or a student can complete the course through any accredited program.

Program Highlights-Fire Science

Fire Emergency Service Higher Education Accredited Program (FESHE): Anna Maria College prides itself as the first college in the country to be accredited by the National Fire Academy and the U.S. Fire Administration.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS-Paramedicine

First Class Clinical Rotation Sites: We are fortunate to partner with the Baystate Healthcare System for our clinical placement, which affords access to a Level I Trauma center and several smaller community hospitals. This placement allows students to practice their skills in a supervised setting with medical staff who understand the nuances of paramedicine.

High-volume field placements: This is the “capstone” of our training before students take the written and practical exams. Field training lets students experience a wide variety of emergencies. The students are supervised by experienced field providers, many of whom completed the program here at Anna Maria.

Total Credits:122

The program advisors for this program have many years of experience in both Fire Suppression and Emergency Medical Care. They are intimately involved in the program and dedicated to the success of our students.

 

Contacts:

Gary T. Daugherty, Director                                   Wardwell Cox, Director

Fire Science and Emergency Management             Paramedic and Emergency Medical Programs

gdaugherty@annamaria.edu                                    wcox@annamaria.edu

508-849-3263                                                          508-849-3593

Online Degree Completion Option

A two-year completer program is available in an online format consisting of six exploration courses, ten fire science courses and four electives (a total of 60 credit hours) is available to students who have already completed a minimum of 60 credits. These 60 credits can come from an associate’s degree from a related field or prior qualified coursework. 15 additional transfer credits may be granted to students with one or more of the following:

  • State or national EMT
  • FFI/II ProBoard/IFSAC Certified
  • Acceptable credits from a regionally accredited four year institution
  • ACE approved courses taken at The National Fire Academy

Meet Our Faculty

Thomas Bogart

Associate Professor of Practice
Fire Science and Emergency Management

Gary Daugherty

Chair, Fire Science and Emergency Management/Paramedic Program and Professor of Practice
Chair, Fire Science & Emergency Management
(508) 849-3263

Russell Hall

Lecturer
Fire Science & Emergency Management