2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Nov 20, 2024  
2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog

Fire Services Leadership and Management (AAS) Course Map


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Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career. The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time. 

While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete the Associate in Applied Science Fire Services Leadership Management, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements.

Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!


Employment Eligibility Requirements and Advancement Field Opportunities

There is increasing demand across the nation for fire service professionals to acquire specialized certifications listed with the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) for both job entry and advancement in the field.  Please speak with an advisor for more information on how your education is designed towards supporting you in completing IFSAC certifications.

1. College Success


  • Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

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  • Note

    • Successfully completing either COLLG 110 or COLLG 115 will fulfill the College Success requirement. 
    • A COLLG 110 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 110 course and a COLLG 115 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 115 course. 

2. English Composition I


  • Course purpose: In this field you will often find yourself writing incident and status reports.  This course will help you continue to build your written communication skills in a variety of styles including reports and memos.

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  • Note: Your advisor will assist you in reviewing your Guided Self Placement and selecting either the 5-credit or the 7-credit co-requisite ENGL& 101 + ENGLC 101 course. 

3. Fire Protection Systems


Action Item: Meet with Advisor


Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.

4. Incident Safety Officer


  • Course purpose: Safety is central to the role of fire services professionals. In this course you will learn to identify and analyze safety concerns and demonstrate how to communicate recommended solutions to the command authority. 

5. Mathematics Recommendation


Choose one

  • Course purpose: Statistical analysis and data interpretation are vital tools in determining risk probability and in identifying and developing solutions to critical problems encountered in this field. 

  • Course purpose: Skills developed in this course will aid you in monitoring system performance and determining effective use of available resources.

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  • Note: The math course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following, the transfer institution/degree that you select, and your math placement guidance. Your advisor will assist you in selecting the relevant 5 or 7 credit course(s) based upon co-requisite options.

6. Building Construction for Fire Protection


7. Safety and Survival


  • Course purpose: Firefighters typically operate in environments that are characterized by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as immediately dangerous to life and health. The focus of this course is on the extensive laws and protocols that have been developed to assure the safety and survival of firefighters operating in all hazardous environments.

     

8. Communication Recommendation


Choose one

9. Principles of Emergency Services


  • Course purpose: The Fire Service is an essential partner with specific and unique responsibilities in the “whole community – all hazards” approach to emergency management.  Fire Services officers need to have a firm foundation in emergency management to effectively function with other emergency services partners.

10. Fire & Emergency Services Administration


Action Item: Apply for Graduation


Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. 

11. Fire Instructor/Officer I


Choose one

12. Fire Behavior & Combustion


13. Social Science Recommendation


Choose one

  • Course purpose: Fire professionals work across agencies and within communities. It is essential for Fire Services professional to know how agencies interact with each other. 

  • Course purpose: Human relations are essential for Fire Services professionals working within communities. Responders need a fundamental understanding of human nature and behavior to effectively accomplish their mission.

  • Course purpose: Administrators and managers in the Fire Services work with a variety of contracts that have a legal impact on the fire authority or department. This course will provide a foundation for Fire Services professionals within the scope of the nature of law and the resolution of disputes in the court system.

14. General Psychology


  • Course purpose: Emergency Services operations involve working with people with people in crises and with a variety of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles.  Responders need a fundamental understanding of human nature and behavior to effectively accomplish their mission.

15. Fire Prevention


  • Course purpose: This course provides fundamental knowledge relating to the field of fire prevention. Topics include: history and philosophy of fire prevention; organization and operation of a fire prevention bureau; use and application of codes and standards; plans review; fire inspections; fire and life safety education; and fire investigation.

16. Disaster Planning


17. Introduction to Weather


  • Course purpose: Fire Service professionals must have a solid foundation and understanding of the critical relationship between the major controls of weather and climate and fire dynamics.

18. Safety & Health


  • Course purpose: The fire service routinely operates in a physically demanding environment that can be immediately hazardous to life and health. Safety and health programs are the foundation of all emergency services related personnel management programs.

19. Fire Instructor/Officer II


Choose one

  • Course purpose: This course builds on the Firefighter Instructor I course. Particular focus is on curriculum development and skills evaluations.

  • Course purpose: Fire Officers are introduced to the critical skills needed for effective management of the administration, prevention, and operations functions in the fire department organizational structure.

20. Personnel Management


  • Course purpose: Personnel management and negotiations are essential to effective leadership in the fire services.  This course explores the major concepts and theories of the psychology and practice of bargaining and negotiation.

Total Credits: 92-95


Program Code: 829


ctcLink Plan Code: FSAFAAPT


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