Page updated September 8, 2009

Program Overview
Beyond any other profession, firefighting exemplifies responsibility and courage.  The desire to work in this profession is fueled by a value of life and an instinct to protect it.  The Fire Science offerings at CBC assist students in beginning or propelling a career in fire service.  By building new skills and strengthening those that already exist, an education at CBC better prepares students to protect their community while giving them an edge in the well-respected, well-compensated career fields.

CBC offers two Fire Science degree options.  Whether you currently work in the field of Fire Science, or are taking the first steps into your career, CBC can help you attain your goals.  Students enrolled in the Fire Science program will complete general education courses in industrial, social, political, and economic concepts relating to the field of fire science.  In addition, students will be exposed to courses in fire administration, tactics, inspection, investigation, hazardous materials, and more.  Firefighters possessing such a comprehensive background will increase their chances of career advancement and will be better prepared to protect the community.

To earn an Associate degree in Applied Science, candidates must accumulate the required credit hours for the two Fire Science programs.  Credit is awarded through evaluation of work experience, credit transfer, course challenge, required curriculum, and electives. 

Degree Options

Fire Protection Technology Associate in Applied Science Degree
Note:  The Fire Protection Technology program is being discontinued following the 2009-2010 school year. Only second-year students are eligible to register for the 2009-2010 school year. Course schedule information is not available to the public. For assistance in schedule and degree planning, please contact the Health Sciences Division office at (509) 544-8300.

No job in the world commands more respect than that of the firefighter, and with it comes a good salary and strong benefits.  The competition is strong, and more and more candidates are getting special training and certification to improve their chances.  This program is designed to give students the competitive edge to obtain a career position within an emergency agency.  Career opportunities include Structural Firefighters, Wildland Firefighter, Fire Investigator, and Fire Prevention Officers.  The program offers an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Fire Protection Technology.  Graduates of the program will be qualified to test for the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Firefighter I Certification and will have successfully completed the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic course.  General education courses are included in the program to provide students with an opportunity to explore industrial, social, political, and economic concepts relating to the field of fire science.

Courses for the Fire Protection Technology degree program offered in 2009-2010 to complete existing students include the following. 

Fire Science Associate in Applied Science Degree
This degree is designed for individuals who are presently Firefighters and are looking to satisfy promotion requirements.  Classes are held in the evenings on a three year rotation.  Below is the schedule for the upcoming sequence of courses. 

Quarter	Course Number	Course Title	Credits
Fall 2009	FS/FFT 121	Fire Tactics I	3
Winter 2010	FS/FFT 222	Fire Tactics II	3
Spring 2010	FS/FFT 211	Building Construction	3
Fall 2010	FS/FFT 131	Introduction to Fire Inspections	3
Winter 2011	FS/FFT 111	Fire Administration	3
Spring 2011	FS/FFT 241	Fire Investigation	3
Fall 2011	FS/FFT 231	Fire Protection Equipment	3
Winter 2012	FS/FFT 141	Hazardous Materials I	3
Spring 2012	FS/FFT 151	Hazardous Materials II	3

Fire Science Courses
Program Outcomes

Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of firefighters is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. In general, firefighters are well compensated, receive excellent benefits and pension plans, and because fire protection is an essential service, firefighters are rarely affected by lay-offs.

Firefighters possessing an AAS degree may work in many areas of fire protection, including:

• Structural Firefighter
• Fire Investigation
• Wildland Firefighter

Information
For additional information, please contact the Health Sciences Division office at (509) 544-8300.