Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Fire Science - A.A.S.


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

The College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree as a career ladder for persons who have successfully completed the Technical Certificate in Fire Science Technology. For more information refer to the Health Sciences Associate of Applied Science Degrees  section in the catalog.

All students graduating with a degree from VSCC are required to take the Educational Testing Service Proficiency Profile (ETSP) to meet graduation requirements. More information can be found at https://www.volstate.edu/testing.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Understand the scope, purpose and structure of the various fire and emergency services.

  2. Define and describe the need for cultural and behavioral change within the emergency services.

  3. Understand the broad concepts of fire prevention.

  4. Recognize active fire protection systems and components, their operational characteristics, installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements.

  5. Describe building construction as it relates to firefighter safety, to building codes, to fire prevention efforts, to codes inspections, to firefighting strategies, and to firefighting tactics.

  6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the relationship of materials and their relationship to fire. 

General Education Requirements - Credits (15-16)


Total Degree Requirements - Credits (60-61)


Career and Salary Information


The following is a list of some of the career choices that may be obtained upon completion of this program. Please visit the following website http://www.onetonline.org or speak to an advisor for additional career opportunities, salary information and education requirements. Salaries are not guaranteed.

Career Beginning Salary Experienced Salary
Firefighter $23,310 $38,460
Fire Inspector/Investigator $35,000 $55,700

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 (18)


  • Fire Science Elective (See List Above) Credits: (3)

First Year - Spring Semester - Credits (18)


  • Fire Science Elective (See List Above) Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (See List Above) Credits: (3)
  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts  (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
  • Social/Behavioral Sciences   (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)

Second Year - Fall Semester - Credits (12-13)


  • Fire Science Elective (See List Above) Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (See List Above) Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (See List Above) Credits: (3)
  • Mathematics    OR Natural Sciences   (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3-4)

Second Year - Spring Semester - Credits (12)


  • Fire Science Elective (See List Above) Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (See List Above) Credits: (3)
  • Fire Science Elective (See List Above) Credits: (3)

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