Online Fire Science and Emergency Management Degrees

A fire science degree is an academic degree offered by a college or university that prepares students with knowledge and skills related to fire science, emergency management, or firefighting.

Degrees in fire and emergency management include associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s level degrees. Some universities may focus more on fire science, while others focus on areas such as fire service, emergency management, and leadership.

The curriculum of fire and emergency management programs varies by institution. Some fire science programs focus on helping students gain an understanding of foundational firefighter skills, firefighter safety, building codes, fire prevention, firefighting strategy and tactics, in-depth knowledge of interagency coordination, arson investigation, leadership and management, legal aspects of emergency services, fire and EMS personnel management, and more.

The United States Fire Administration’s Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) initiative works with 2- and 4- year colleges by developing a model curriculum, courses, syllabi, and content for associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs. Degrees in fire science can also be accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC), which is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as a programmatic accreditor of fire and emergency-related degree programs.

Purdue Global’s fire science degrees are accredited by IFSAC and recognized by the U.S. Fire Administration as an official FESHE institution. Our undergraduate programs closely follow the FESHE national curriculum model.

Students can earn a fire and emergency management degree online. Many institutions offer flexible, 100% online fire science degrees that help students continue working while they complete their studies.

A firefighter may pursue a fire science or firefighter degree to help them advance in their career, become competitive, or to gain leadership skills. Earning an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in fire science can help firefighters gain skills and knowledge that they can immediately put to use in his/her department.

What you can do with a fire science degree can vary depending on the degree level. Some jobs with a fire science degree include first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers, firefighter, fire inspectors and investigators, or forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists. Departments may require candidates for positions higher than battalion chief to hold a bachelor’s degree in fire science or a related field to be considered for promotion.

Becoming a firefighter can be done by attending a fire academy and meeting several requirements which include having a high school diploma or GED, passing state-entry level firefighter certifications, minimum number of training hours, and other requirements. Various schools for firefighters exist, so it is important to understand what training, certifications, or education they offer before enrolling. Refer to Purdue Global's State Licensure and Certifications page for state-specific licensure information.

Articulation agreements with fire academies and fire service associations help those pursuing academic fire science degrees receive credit for previously completed courses and professional learning.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

It can typically take 2–4 years of full-time study to complete an undergraduate fire and emergency management degree. Purdue Global offers an associate’s degree in fire science that takes an average of 2 years to complete, while a bachelor’s degree can take an average of 4 years to complete.

Students who attend Purdue Global may be able to graduate faster through articulation agreements with fire academies and fire services associations, earned certifications through organizations such as IFSAC, the Pro Board, including the U.S. Department of Defense Firefighter Certification System, courses completed through the National Fire Academy, or by transferring in college credit.

To become a firefighter, a student must attend and train at a fire academy and fulfill several requirements. The time it takes to become a firefighter can vary depending on your state and sometimes even your department. Requirements may take one year to fulfill and require a minimum number of hours of training.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

The requirements to apply to a fire science degree program vary by university. Professional experience is not required to pursue a fire and emergency management degree. For example, at Purdue Global you must be a high school graduate or possess a General Education Development (GED) certificate or other equivalency diploma. You are also encouraged to complete orientation before you start classes.

Refer to the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.