Online Fire Science Associate’s Degree - IFSAC Accredited

Total Courses

$371

Cost per Credit

2 years

Average Completion*

15–18 Hours/Week

Course Effort

Associate’s in Fire Science Overview

It’s time for your comeback. Earn your associate’s degree online and move your fire sciences career forward. Achieve a degree you can be proud of — and that employers will respect.

Build foundational skills in firefighter safety, building codes, fire prevention, code inspection, and firefighting strategy and tactics.
Explore the technical and legal aspects of arson, the technologies used in firefighting, and the psychological effects of fire dynamics.
Learn from professors who are experienced fire science professionals, bringing real-world knowledge to the classroom.
Gain valuable on-the-job experience through an optional internship.

Real, Proven Student Outcomes

We offer high-quality education that you can trust. Each term, we assess fire science and emergency management students on their mastery of course outcomes, which measure the skills, knowledge, abilities, and behaviors employers expect. View a summary of these assessments.

For information on prior learning credits, student success rates and survey results, and the number of graduates for the program, view this document.

Get Halfway to Your Bachelor's

Not only are you earning a valuable credential to make an immediate impact on your career, but this program also lays the groundwork for your next degree. Transfer your associate’s degree into one of our fire science bachelor’s degrees, covering half of the program’s requirements.

Review College Scorecard data for this program.

View Program Degree Plan and Policies

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

FESHE Recognized and IFSAC Accredited

Purdue Global is recognized by the U.S. Fire Administration as an official Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) institution, and this degree program closely follows the FESHE curriculum model. In addition, this degree program is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).

Military Transfer Credit

Servicemembers and veterans, get the recognition you deserve and earn your degree faster with our PME2Degree^® program. Use our Military Transfer Credit Estimator to see how much of your occupational and military training counts as college credit.

Estimate Your Military Credit

Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Estimate how much your prior learning credits can reduce your tuition and time to graduation.

Get Started

What Courses Will I Take?

In the first course, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your degree plan with a faculty member to align your degree path with your career outcomes. Additional coursework addresses general literacy outcomes along with:

Analytical approaches to fire protection and investigation
Disaster and fire defense planning
Hazardous materials management
The role of the fire service within the community

Sample Courses

Fire Behavior and Combustion
Building Construction for Fire Protection
Fire Protection Systems
Principles of Emergency Services Strategy and Tactics
Fire Prevention Tactics

See All Fire Science Courses

Program Requirements

Core Courses

Major Courses

Elective Courses

Total Courses

Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

Not sure if Purdue Global is right for you? Try an undergraduate program for an introductory 3-week trial period.

There’s no financial obligation and no cost to apply. That’s the Purdue Global Commitment.

How It Works

Students who choose to continue at Purdue Global will be billed for the full first term's tuition, including the 3-week trial. See Notes and Conditions below.

You must be a high school graduate or possess a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or other equivalency diploma. You must also complete orientation before you start classes.

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

View Admissions Requirements

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Earn Credit Toward Your Degree

We offer several options to help you earn your online fire science associate’s degree faster:

Articulation agreements with fire academies and fire service associations help you receive credit for previously completed courses and professional learning.
If you earned your certifications through an organization that is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or the Pro Board, including the U.S. Department of Defense Firefighter Certification System, you may be eligible to receive credit toward your associate’s degree.
Courses completed through the National Fire Academy may also be eligible for credit.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

We partner with specific organizations, such as the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), to provide members, staff, and immediate family members a significant tuition reduction on our fire science degree programs.

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions, including community colleges.

Prior Work Experience Reduction

You could earn undergraduate credit for your life and professional career experiences.

Financial Aid

Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.

Grants and Loans

Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.

Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Military Tuition Reduction

Undergraduate tuition savings for military include a 55% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and 38% per credit for veterans.

Prior Military Experience

Earn credit for your military training. The average Purdue Global military student is awarded 54% of the credits needed for an associate's and 45% of the credits needed for a bachelor's.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

General labor market and salary data are provided by Lightcast and may not represent the outcomes experienced by Purdue Global graduates in these programs. Purdue Global graduates in these programs may earn salaries substantially different or less than the amounts listed above. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment that are outside of Purdue Global's control.

Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

99%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

54%

Faculty members who hold a doctorate

484

Faculty publications in 2022–2023

More Than 40,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2022–2023

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2023. 2022–2023 academic year.

Download the Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about the Online Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global. Prepare yourself for success with a associate’s degree in fire science.

View Brochure

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

Connect with an Advisor Apply Online Today

NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

Credit for Prior Learning: Purdue Global does not guarantee transferability of credit from any of these sources. See the University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy.

Firefighting or EMS Jobs: Additional academy training and education may be required for firefighting or emergency management jobs.

Future Programs: The University cannot guarantee that students will be granted admission to any future programs. Speak to an Advisor about transfer credit opportunities and see the University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy.

Internship: The student is responsible for identifying and obtaining approval for an appropriate internship in his or her location.

Three-Week Trial: Students who inform Purdue Global they do not wish to pursue the program during the 3-week trial will not be charged. Students who choose to continue at Purdue Global will be billed for the full first term's tuition, including the 3-week trial, and will need to meet other specific requirements. Classes will be applied toward a degree if satisfactorily completed and students select to continue their studies at Purdue Global. No credits are earned if the student withdraws during the introductory period (3 weeks for new qualifying undergraduate students), which begins day one of the first term. Graduate programs and BS in Professional Flight not included. Additional terms may apply to international and non-U.S. citizen students. For further information, see the University Catalog.

Tuition Reduction: Contact an Admissions Advisor for details. Tuition reduction may not be combined with Purdue Global tuition reductions or ExcelTrack^® pricing.

Online Associate's Degree in Fire Science