Fire Service Administration (Bachelor's Completion) (B.S.)

Fire Service Administration (Bachelor's Completion) (B.S.)
Two firefighters on top of a burning roof
  Online Program

Our online B.S. in Fire Service Administration is designed to prepare students to lead progressive agencies into the future by focusing on academically challenging, authentic learning experiences addressing a wide breadth of contemporary industry topics. This bachelor's completion program requires an earned associate degree from a regionally accredited college in Fire Science or a related field and certification as an NFPA 1001 Firefighter II from a ProBoard- or IFSAC-accredited agency.

 Credit Hours: 120  |   Transfer: Up to 90 Credits  |   Tuition Cost


Advance through the Ranks in the Fire Service

Fire service is experiencing unprecedented growth. Across the country, emergency call volume is steadily increasing. At the same time, other essential duties related to community risk reduction and public health issues, such as the opioid epidemic and pandemic response, are being addressed using fire service resources. As agencies respond in support of these increasingly complex challenges, there is a strong need to have well-prepared and educated personnel within the leadership pipeline to fulfill supervisory- and executive-level administrative roles.

As an emerging leader, earning a bachelor’s degree is an excellent way to build a foundation to advance through the ranks of company and chief officer or serve in prevention functions in the public or private fire service. Our B.S. in Fire Service Administration is designed to prepare students to lead progressive agencies into the future by focusing on academically challenging, authentic learning experiences addressing a wide breadth of contemporary industry topics.

Bachelor's Completion

This program requires an associate degree in fire science or a related field from a regionally accredited college and certification as an NFPA 1001 Firefighter II from a ProBoard—or IFSAC-accredited agency.

Course Highlights


  • Fire Service Ethics
  • Community Risk Reduction for the Fire and Emergency Services
  • Political and Legal Foundations for Fire Protection
  • Fire Prevention Organization and Management
  • Personnel Management for the Fire Service
  • Applications of Fire Research
  • Fire and Emergency Services Administration

...and more!

 

 

New for 2024!

Ask about our Community College Partnership Discount for Fire Service Grads from Lakes Region Community College and Mount Wachusett Community College!

 

 

Why UNH CPS?

The Bachelor of Science in Fire Service Administration degree prepares fire service professionals with the leadership, management, and administrative knowledge and skills essential to advance in the fire service field. The program integrates knowledge and skills necessary to mitigate the ethical, moral, social, and situational challenges of fire and emergency services.

  • Regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE).
  • Available fully online with select on-campus courses.
  • Affordable tuition.
  • Nationally ranked online programs.
  • About 89% of our students are transfer students. Making the most of your transfer credits is our specialty.
  • Career advising is available to all students and alumni. We also extend this service to those considering their college options.
  • Faculty who are subject matter experts and share their real-world expertise, helping you apply what you learn to your personal goals and career.
  • We’re experts at assessing credit toward your undergraduate degree – not only from previous college coursework, but also for other college-level knowledge demonstrated outside the traditional classroom.

Students pursuing an associate degree at their local community college are encouraged to explore our Transfer Pathway! This resource lists the courses your associate degree should contain at your community college, as well as the remaining courses you’ll need to take at UNH College of Professional Studies to complete your bachelor’s degree!

View Your Transfer Pathway

SELECT YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO SEE DETAILS

  • Completion of our free, online application for admission
  • High school diploma, completion of a high school education in a homeschool setting under state law, or demonstrate high school equivalency.
    • Successful completion of one of the following exams will be required for demonstrating high school equivalency: the GED, HiSET, or TASC
  • Associate degree in Fire Science or a related field
  • Certification as an NFPA 1001 Firefighter II issued by a Pro Board- or IFSAC-accredited agency

Get started by connecting with an advisor.

An advisor trained in our fire service administration program will contact you to learn more about your academic and career goals.



Curriculum & Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Fire Service Administration degree prepares fire service professionals with the leadership, management, and administrative knowledge and skills essential to advance in the fire service field.  The program integrates knowledge and skills necessary to mitigate the ethical, moral, social, and situational challenges of fire and emergency services.  Entry into this program requires a conferred Associate Degree in Fire Science or a related field, and certification as an NFPA 1001 Firefighter II issued by a Pro Board or IFSAC-accredited agency.

This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH CPS Online undergraduate students should develop individual academic plans with their academic advisor during their first year at UNH.

Sample Course Sequence - For students with conferred associate degree

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
COM 590 Professional Communication 4
CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking 4
FSA 605 Fire Service Ethics 4
FSA 610 Community Risk Reduction for the Fire and Emergency Services 4
 Credits16
Spring
FSA 635 Political and Legal Foundations for Fire Protection 4
FSA 665
or BEHS 665
Command and Control of Large-Scale Incidents
or Disaster Management
4
FSA 710 Personnel Management for the Fire Service 4
MTH 504 Statistics 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
FSA 685 Fire Prevention Organization and Management 4
FSA 740 Applications of Fire Research 4
FSA 760 Fire and Emergency Services Administration 4
 Credits12
Spring
HRM 580
or HRM 635
Change Management
or Managing Conflict
4
IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar 4
 Credits8
Third Year
Fall
COM 665
or COM 710
Media and Strategic Communication
or Managerial Communication
4
FSA 797 Integrative Capstone: Research Project in Fire Service Administration 4
 Credits8
 Total Credits60

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 120 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 30 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0 is required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: General Education Program
Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*GPA: Major and any state certification GPA requirements may be higher and are indicated in program details.
 
A minimum grade of C- is required in all Major coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor, and General Education requirements with only one overlap being utilized between the Major and Minor. Please note that Option requirements are considered part of the Major. Students must complete 16 upper-level credits in majors within the College of Professional Studies, Online.

Knowledge of Human Behavior & Social Systems4 Knowledge of the Physical & Natural World4 Knowledge of Human Thought & Expression4 CRIT 602Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking4 IDIS 601Interdisciplinary Seminar4 Total Credits40

Writing Program Requirements as follows:

ENG 420
The Writing Process
One Writing Intensive course in the Major
One Writing Intensive course at the 600-level or above
One Additional Writing Intensive Course

Writing Intensive courses are identified with the label "Writing Intensive Course" in the "Attributes" section of the course description and/or a W following the course number.

 

Major Requirements

Prerequisite: Must have completed an Associate Degree or equivalent in Fire Science field.

Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses along with CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar. Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. Academic Advisor approval is required for registration to be processed.

Major in Fire Service Administration
Intermediate Courses
COM 590Professional Communication4
COM 665Media and Strategic Communication4
or COM 710 Managerial Communication
FSA 605Fire Service Ethics4
FSA 610Community Risk Reduction for the Fire and Emergency Services4
FSA 635Political and Legal Foundations for Fire Protection4
MTH 504Statistics4
FSA 665Command and Control of Large-Scale Incidents4
or BEHS 665 Disaster Management
HRM 580Change Management4
or HRM 635 Managing Conflict
Advanced Courses
FSA 685Fire Prevention Organization and Management4
FSA 710Personnel Management for the Fire Service4
FSA 740Applications of Fire Research4
FSA 760Fire and Emergency Services Administration4
Integrative Capstone
FSA 797Integrative Capstone: Research Project in Fire Service Administration4
Total Credits52

Electives

Open electives are courses students will need to take in addition to their general education and major requirements in order to satisfy the remaining credit totals for their programs. Open electives are defined as any credit course offered by the College not already included in the student's general education, major, option or minor. Students will need 120 credits total to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the Online Division of the College of Professional Studies.

 
  • Demonstrate leadership skills and utilize administrative techniques related to the organizational management of fire and emergency services.
  • Integrate research, critical thinking, and analytical decision-making skills to address challenges faced in the delivery and execution of modern fire and emergency services.
  • Apply principles of ethics to evaluate fire and emergency services moral and social issues and make principle-based decisions.
  • Identify and prioritize public safety threats and hazards and develop fire and emergency service community risk reduction plans.
  • Conduct dynamic situational assessments and apply knowledge of risk reduction to develop strategic incident action plans that are consistent with professional standards and best practices to mitigate emergencies or disasters in the community.

 

Career Outcomes

Talk with your advisor to discuss how your program, experience, and goals align.