Program Statement
The mission of the Fire Science program is to provide safe, progressive, and standards-based firefighting education and training to future and current fire and emergency services personnel.
The Fire Science program values diversity, including diversity of thought, understanding that populations are best served when fire and emergency services organizations reflect the diversity of the community.
The Fire Science program is concerned with developing leadership and followership skill and ability, providing students with principles to lead positive change in fire and emergency services.
Nationally, fire and emergency service organizations are facing unprecedented challenges. As such, Fire Science students will be encouraged to think critically and creatively about solving problems. Students will be challenged to think from divergent and contrarian perspectives.
Healthy fire and emergency services personnel are essential to community safety. A strong emphasis on firefighter resilience and community resilience are benchmarks of the Fire Science program.
Ultimately, students in the Fire Science program will gain a broad educational background in fire and emergency services, preparing them for several points of entry in the fire and emergency services fields. Current fire and emergency services personnel will enhance their knowledge, skill, and ability and will be prepared for promotional opportunities and leading crews safely.
Student Expectations
- Honest with themselves, their team, and the public
- Compassionate and kind in caring for those they serve
- Mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy and balanced
- Strong team players who enjoying working as members of a crew
- Hands-on doers who are comfortable and happy being outdoors
- Stress tolerant and able to work in dangerous and changing situations
- Willing to risk their lives, in a highly calculated manner, to save “savable” lives
See our website at www.msubillings.edu/citycollege/programs/ProgFireScience.htm
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate safe, standards-based, entry-level firefighting skills.
- Demonstrate leadership and influence to promote the mission of fire and emergency services and lead change in the fire service.
- Create a personal firefighter resilience portfolio for fire and emergency services work.
- Demonstrate application of National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Blue Card Incident Command to various emergency incidents.
- Analyze modern, research-based fire behavior studies in structural firefighting operations.
- Apply principles of firefighter safety, air management and crew-resource management to fire and emergency services.
- Apply risk assessment techniques to hazardous materials incidents and safely control, contain, and confine hazardous materials while wearing chemical protective equipment.
- Apply human factors principles and National standards to Wildland firefighting incidents.
- Develop a proactive and mission-based fire prevention, inspection, and public education mindset.
- Apply instructional technique and learning theory to training environments in fire and emergency services.
Required Courses
It is highly recommended that all students take Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training before graduation.
