A fire administration degree is designed to prepare professionals for administrative positions in the fire and emergency services fields.
This type of program is designed to build upon students’ existing knowledge, helping them develop expertise in their field and explore the unique challenges faced by fire and emergency services leaders. If you have experience in fire protection and prevention or emergency response, then a fire science administration degree may be a fit for you.
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Read on to learn more about fire administration degrees, including common coursework and potential career outcomes.
Online Fire Administration Degrees
A fire and emergency management degree tends to be the bachelor’s degree of choice for fire and emergency services professionals looking for career mobility. It’s one of the most common majors for firefighters because it develops valuable leadership skills that assist in their work.
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During a fire administration degree, students spend their time studying an array of important topics. If you were to pursue this degree, you could expect to analyze strategies and practices that guide fire science and demonstrate the role of personnel in an emergency.
Additionally, you can expect to learn effective communication strategies, how to think critically, and how to lead in a strategic manner. This knowledge is then applied to various administrative challenges through case studies.
Some of the topics you may study include:
- Emergency services management
- Personnel administration
- Finance
- Program development and evaluation
- Fire behavior
- Fire suppression
- Fire protection
Developing your administrative skills and your knowledge of fire protection and prevention can help you qualify for leadership positions in the field. It’s common for fire administration graduates to pursue work as:
- Fire chiefs
- Educators
- Company officers
- Fire marshals
- Public administrators
- Fire safety directors
If the above goals, careers, and subjects interest you, then you might consider pursuing a bachelors degree in fire administration online to advance your expertise and professional qualifications.
Fire Administration Careers & Salaries
A fire administration bachelor’s degree is robust in its approach to fire and emergency services. Not only will you study the common practices involved in fire safety and protection, but you’ll also study leadership methods and principles.
This added focus on applying emergency protocol to administrative and managerial challenges sets a fire administration degree apart from similar degrees. You could learn how to make important managerial decisions that affect the community.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the median salaries of roles associated with fire administration and related fields.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Administrative Services Managers | $100,170 |
| Top Executives | $98,980 |
| Facilities Managers | $97,930 |
| Project Management Specialists | $94,500 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $78,230 |
| Emergency Management Directors | $76,730 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $64,600 |
| Firefighters | $50,700 |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | $42,600 |
| EMTs and Paramedics | $36,930 |
Some graduates apply their skills to careers outside of fire protection and prevention, but most pursue leadership roles in the field of fire services.
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Many factors influence the hiring process, so no degree can guarantee a certain position or salary. That said, a fire administration degree can help you grow your professional qualifications and advance your expertise in the field.
Fire Administration Bachelor’s Curriculum & Courses
A fire administration bachelor’s degree program will expose you to various topics to prepare you for leadership roles in the field. Here are some examples of courses you may take:
- Emergency Planning: In this course, you’ll study the main tenets of survival for natural and man-made disasters, including risk analysis and the formulation of a plan.
- Emergency and Disaster Incident Command: This course provides an overview of both the theories and practices that comprise incident command.
- Managerial Issues in Hazardous Materials: In this course, you’ll study the effect hazardous materials have on wildlife, humans, and the environment.
- Fire Behavior and Combustion: You’ll learn about how fires are started, how they spread, and how they can be controlled.
- Fire Prevention: This course serves as an overview of the history and philosophy of modern fire prevention.
- Applications in Fire Research: In this course, you’ll study how to analyze fire-related research as well as how to conduct independent research.
- Fire and Emergency Services Administration: This course serves as an overview of the field of fire and emergency services administration.
- Fire Service Personnel Management: In this course, you’ll study personnel administration and human resource development as they relate to fire-related organizations.
- Political and Legal Foundations of Fire Protection: This course will familiarize you with both the political and social influences of legal issues in fire services.
- Community Risk Reduction for the Fire and Emergency Services: In this course, you’ll study topics like strategic planning and community programs to better understand fire prevention as a whole.
Every curriculum is different, so it’s strategic to ensure that prospective programs include courses that align with your interests and career goals.
Admissions Requirements
Before you can obtain a fire administration bachelor degree, it’s necessary to first be accepted into a program. Here are some common admission criteria you can expect when applying:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Transcripts from high school and any college coursework
- Minimum of 2 years fire or EMS experience preferred
- Cumulative GPA of 2.0, on average
Admissions requirements can vary by program, so it’s essential to research your specific school’s criteria before applying.
Accreditation
A postsecondary school can receive regional accreditation when a regional accrediting agency reviews the school and determines that it provides students with a high-quality education.
A primary benefit of attending an accredited school is that future employers are more likely to respect your academic credentials. Completing your education at an accredited university certifies that you’ve studied at a high-level and received a trustworthy education.
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You can visit the website of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to verify the accreditation status of prospective schools.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Many students seek financial aid to help them meet the cost of their education, and there are a number of resources available to qualifying students.
The first option for many is federal aid, often in the form of student loans. You can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for need-based assistance from the government. You can also research scholarship and grant opportunities from schools, public organizations, and private institutions. These may be awarded based on area of study, academic merit, athletics, nationality, and more.
If you’re currently working in the fire service field, you can also see if your employer offers tuition benefits for workers seeking higher education.
What Is a Fire Administration Degree?
A fire administration degree is a bachelor’s program that helps students develop the knowledge and skills required for leadership positions within the field of fire services. For instance, you can develop your skills in communication, critical thinking, leadership, and data analysis
A fire administration program also gives you the chance to develop hard skills like leading strategic planning efforts. If you have a passion for fire services, earning a fire administration degree could help you have career mobility within the field.
What Can You Do with a Fire Management Degree?
A fire management degree may open the door to various careers within the fire administration and emergency services fields. It’s a strategic degree path for students seeking career advancement in fire protection, fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and emergency medical services.
A bachelors program in fire administration can help you gain the qualifications to work toward management or leadership positions in the field. As such, it’s common for graduates to pursue careers as fire chiefs, fire marshals, fire safety directors, fire inspectors, and public administrators.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Online Fire Administration Degree?
Obtaining a fire science administration degree usually requires the completion of 120 credits. A bachelors degree usually takes 4 years to complete with full-time enrollment.
Fire administration degrees that are intended for mid-career professionals, though, may be completed in less time if you have credits to transfer into the program. Completing a program online may allow you to go at your own pace. You might enroll part-time for maximum flexibility, or you may choose an accelerated track to try and finish your program sooner.
Is a Bachelor’s in Fire Administration Degree Worth It?
Yes, a bachelor’s in fire administration degree is worth it for many students. The goal of a fire administration degree is to give you an in-depth understanding of both the practices and theories used by fire services professionals.
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Many students earn this degree to work toward leadership and administrative positions in the field. Professionals who understand emergency services protocols are essential to keeping society safe and protected. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4% job growth is projected for firefighters over the next ten years, and 8% job growth is projected for overall management occupations.
Universities Offering Online Bachelors in Fire Administration Degree Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
Bowling Green University offers a BS in Fire Administration program online. Courses aim to teach topics such as communication, public administration, data analysis, employment law, finance, and technology. General education requirements must typically have been completed before admission to the program. Credit for work experience may be granted.
Bowling Green State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Colorado State University offers a BS in Fire and Emergency Services Administration program online. Previous experience working in fire safety is recommended before applying. Courses typically follow a semester schedule and are usually taught in an asynchronous format. Up to 64 of the required 120 credits may be transferred in.
Colorado State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Columbia Southern University offers an online program for a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration. Potential courses include Fire Behavior and Combustion, Introduction to Fire Prevention, and Fire Protection Structure and Systems. Up to 90 of the 120 required credits may be transferred in, and courses are typically 7 weeks long. There are commonly 5 start dates throughout the year.
Columbia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Eastern Kentucky University offers a BS in Fire Protection Administration program online. Minors such as Fire, Arson, and Investigation are also typically offered. The program requires the completion of 120 credit hours, up to 90 of which may be transferred in. Courses are usually 8 weeks long, and there are commonly 6 start dates each year.
Eastern Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Eastern Oregon University offers BA and BS in Fire Services Administration programs online. The courses aim to teach topics such as hazard prevention, communication, critical thinking, civic engagement, and hazard mitigation. Up to 135 of the required 180 credits may be transferred in. Courses are typically 11 weeks long. An optional wildland track is typically also offered.
Eastern Oregon University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Idaho State University offers an online program for a BS in Fire Services Administration. Courses are typically taught via Zoom and Moodle. Potential courses include Fire and Emergency Services Administration, Personnel Management for the Fire Service, and Fire Prevention Organization and Management. In addition to coursework, the program commonly requires the completion of a practicum or internship.
Idaho State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Liberty University offers a BS in Fire Administration entirely online. Courses are typically taught in an asynchronous format. The program requires 120 credit hours, up to 75 percent of which may be transferred in. Courses are typically 8 weeks long, and there are often several start dates throughout the year.
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Point Park University offers a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration with a Fire Services Administration. The University offers a quality fire services administration degree that will enhance you to have the skills and tools needed to become leaders in fire service.
Point Park University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Waldorf University offers an online program for a BS in Fire Science Administration with an optional concentration in Public Relations. The completion of 120 credit hours is required, and courses are typically 8 weeks long. The program commonly offers several start dates throughout the year.
Waldorf University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Western Illinois University offers a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Services Administration program online. The degree is designed for those who are already serving as firefighters or officers. The program requires the completion of 120 credits, up to 90 of which may be transferred in. The program may offer accelerated classes during the summer semester.
Western Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Getting Your Bachelors Degree in Fire Administration Online
A fire administration degree teaches students how to be fire and emergency services leaders. Many fire service professionals pursue this degree in particular if they want to pursue leadership roles such as fire chief, fire captain, fire marshal, fire safety director, and more.
If you’re looking to climb through the ranks of fire and emergency services personnel, then you might consider earning a bachelors degree in fire administration online. A fire science degree online program could offer the flexibility to maintain your current work responsibilities while advancing your professional expertise and qualifications.
You could start researching accredited schools today to find the fire administration program that’s right for you.
