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Fire Science, A.A.S.

Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Major: Fire Science

For more information, contact the Health Sciences division at 615-230-3330.

The degree is designed to address the educational needs of Tennesseans who desire to enter or advance their career within the field of fire science.  The program offers both flexibility for those with prior experience and training while providing a clear path for those who are new to the field of study.  It was designed to incorporate the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) core courses and, therefore, meets current, accepted standards of practice within the field of study.

The Fire Science Technical Certificate and the Emergency Medical Technician Technical Certificate are embedded within the Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science.  Courses in these certificates may be used to award this degree.

All students graduating with a degree from VSCC are required to take the E-Proficiency Profile (EPP) to meet graduation requirements. More information can be found at https://www.volstate.edu/graduation/exit-exams.

Program​ Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the graduate will have developed the skills, knowledge and abilities to accomplish the following:

  1. Demonstrate professionalism, ethics, and the ability to interact with others during academic studies and identify how the skills may be transferred to fire science occupations.
  2. Apply foundational fire science knowledge to “real world” scenarios and describe how the knowledge and skills can be applied to fire science related occupations.
  3. Identify “real world” scenarios in preparation for advancement in fire science related occupations through the application of prevention, response, and risk management knowledge and skills.
  4. Demonstrate professional communication skills in the academic setting and identify how the skills can be transferred to fire science occupations.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to apply problem-solving techniques or methods in a variety of settings to make informed decisions.

CIP Code: (27) 43.0203.00     SOC CODE 33.2011

General Education Requirements - Credits (15-16)

  • COMM 2025 - ^Fundamentals of Communication Credits: (3)

  • OR COMM 2045 - ^Public Speaking  Credits: (3)

  • ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts  Credits: (3)
  • Mathematics  Credits: (3-4)
    OR Natural Sciences  Credits: (3-4)
  • Social/Behavioral Sciences  Credits: (3)

Major Core Course Requirements - Credits (45)

  • FIRE 1310 - *Principles of Emergency Services Credits: (3)
  • FIRE 1320 - *Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival Credits: (3)
  • FIRE 1330 - *Fire Prevention Credits: (3)
  • FIRE 2310 - *Fire Protection Systems Credits: (3)
  • FIRE 2320 - *Building Construction for Fire Protection Credits: (3)
  • FIRE 2330 - *Fire Behavior and Combustion Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Electives (Choose credits from the following list) Credits: (27)
    EMSB 1101 - *EMT Medical Skills Lab   Credits: (1)
    EMSB 1102 - *EMT Trauma and Medical Skills Lab  Credits: (1)
    EMSB 1111 - *EMT Clinical  Credits: (1)
    EMSB 1112 - *EMT Field Internship  Credits: (1)
    EMSB 1601 - *EMT Medical Emergencies and EMS Operations  Credits: (6)
    EMSB 1602 - *EMT Trauma and Medical Emergencies  Credits: (6)
    ​ FIRE 1315 - *Rescue Awareness  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 1325 - *Fire Investigation I  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2315 - *Introduction to Homeland Security and Disaster Management  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2325 - *Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2335 - *Strategies and Tactics  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2340 - *Leadership Development  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2350 - *Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Administration  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2355 - *Hazardous Materials I  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2360 - *Occupational Safety and Health for Emergency Services  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2365 - *Hazardous Materials II  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2370 - *Public Fire and Life Safety Education  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2375 - *Hazardous Materials Chemistry  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2380 - *Legal Aspects of Emergency Services  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2385 - *Fire Investigation II  Credits: (3)
    FIRE 2399 - *Special Topics in Fire Science  Credits: (3)

Total Degree Requirements - Credits (60-61)

Recommended Schedule

This is a recommended schedule. Learning Support, pre-requisites and other academic factors may impact this schedule.  See your advisor to create a degree plan.

Degree Works, along with the correct catalog, should be utilized by students for all of their educational planning.  Students can monitor their progress toward a degree or certificate and view missing requirements with the Degree Works audit, which is accessible through My Volstate.

First Year - Fall Semester - Credits (15)

  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts   (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
  • FIRE 1310 - *Principles of Emergency Services Credits: (3)
  • FIRE 1330 - *Fire Prevention Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (Choose from list above) Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (Choose from list above) Credits: (3)

First Year - Spring Semester - Credits (15)

  • ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
  • Social/Behavioral Sciences  (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
  • FIRE 2320 - *Building Construction for Fire Protection Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (Choose from list above) Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (Choose from list above) Credits: (3)

Second Year - Fall Semester - Credits (15-16)

  • Mathematics  (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3-4)

    • OR Natural Sciences  (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3-4)

  • FIRE 2330 - *Fire Behavior and Combustion Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (Choose from list above) Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (Choose from list above) Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (Choose from list above) Credits: (3)

Second Year - Spring Semester - Credits (15)

  • COMM 2025 - ^Fundamentals of Communication Credits: (3)

  • OR COMM 2045 - ^Public Speaking  Credits: (3)

  • FIRE 1320 - *Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival Credits: (3)
  • FIRE 2310 - *Fire Protection Systems Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (Choose from list above) Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (Choose from list above) Credits: (3)