Fire Science

Return to: Programs of Study

School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety

CONTACT INFORMATION

Program information is available from the School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety office at (505) 224-4111 or Academic Advisement and Career Development (505) 224-4321 or from Program Director/Chair at (505) 224-4207.

cnm.edu/depts/hwps/progs

Program Description

The fire service career field is expanding due to an emphasis on fire safety and fire prevention, which has created a need for trained, skilled, and knowledgeable firefighters. The Fire Science program leads to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Science that gives the student the educational background needed for employment in a fire service career. It may also help achieve a promotion after gaining employment. To accommodate the diverse schedules of students, courses are offered throughout the day and evening. For students or professionals unable to attend classes on campus several online courses are also offered. Students in the Fire Science program will benefit from faculty who bring up-to-date industry experience into the classroom. The curriculum has been validated by several subject matter experts throughout the country and is based on a national model developed by the National Fire Academy (NFA). The program will provide graduates with a sense of community service and what it takes to be successful in the fire service. Once prerequisites are met students can enroll in the Firefighter I course. Upon successful completion of the Firefighter-I certificate students will be eligible to receive the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress Certificate (IFSAC) the certificate indicates he/she is nationally certified.

Special Requirements

 Students with a criminal background may have limited employment opportunities in public service. Students should contact local or regional industry for hiring and employment practices. Contact HWPS (505) 224-4111 for more information. All HWPS career and technical courses required for graduation must be taken for a traditional grade of A, B, or C. For HWPS career and technical courses offered only for credit/no credit, a grade of credit (CR) must be earned.

Career and Educational Opportunities

The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Science will prepare the student for a variety of careers in firefighting (structural and wildland), fire inspections, hazardous materials, fire suppression and detection systems, and fire extinguisher maintenance. Upon completion of the Wildland Firefighting course students will be certified as Wildland Firefighters. This certification could lead to a seasonal Forestry Aid GS 3 position. The program has an agreement, sponsored by the NFA, with seven accredited colleges and universities throughout the country that offer a bachelor’s degree with concentrations in fire administration and fire prevention technology. All instruction from these colleges or universities is delivered completely online and students pay in-state tuition. Different fire departments use various combinations for the selection process besides a degree. Some fire departments are now requiring a Firefighter I Certificate that indicates the level of Technical and Manipulative training received.

Exit competencies (see Program Exit Competencies ) for this program of study are available at cnm.edu/exitcomp.

For the graduation policy refer to the Moving On  section, cnm.edu or the Students tab in my CNM.

Students should see an academic advisor to customize their educational plans. Students must meet prerequisites by placement scores or specific course work. Please see Course Descriptions for prerequisite(s) information.

See  Prerequisite Requirement Guide   for Accuplacer score equivalencies.

Return to: Programs of Study