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Online Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science

Additional academy training and education not provided by Purdue Global may be required for firefighting or emergency management jobs.

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34
Total Courses
$371
Cost per Credit
4 years
Average Completion*
15–18 Hours/Week
Course Effort

Bachelor’s in Fire Science Overview

Come back and move your fire services career forward. Earn your bachelor’s degree and be ready to lead others, take on new opportunities, and make an impact in your community.

  • Build skills in firefighter safety, building codes, fire prevention, code inspection, and firefighting strategy and tactics.
  • Develop in-depth knowledge of interagency coordination, fire incident command, arson investigation, and life safety education.
  • Complete an optional internship to gain valuable real-world experience.
  • Gain in-demand management, HR, marketing, and accounting skills with an optional concentration in business foundations.

Real, Proven Student Outcomes

Earn a degree you can be proud of — and that employers will respect. 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 additional information related to prior learning credits transferred into the program, student success rates, capstone survey results, and the number of graduates for the program, view this document.

Review College Scorecard data for this program.

View Program Degree Plan and Policies

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

FESHE logo

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.

Calculate Your Time and Cost

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

Get Started

3-Week Trial

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.

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.

Admissions Requirements

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.

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. Program curriculum focuses on:

  • Analytical approaches to fire protection and investigation
  • Disaster and fire defense planning
  • Community risk reduction
  • Fire protection structure and system design

Sample Courses

  • Advanced Principles of Firefighter Safety and Survival
  • Community Risk Reduction for Fire and EMS
  • Fire Prevention Organization and Management
  • Research Analysis for Fire Emergency Services
See All Fire Science Courses

Program Requirements

9
Core Courses
20
Major Courses
5
Elective Courses
34
Total Courses
180
Total Quarter Credits

Concentration Requirements

9
Core Courses
20
Major Courses
1
Elective Courses
4
Concentration Courses
34
Total Courses
180
Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

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 bachelor's degree in fire science online 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 bachelor’s degree.
  • Courses completed through the National Fire Academy may also be eligible for credit.

For details and eligibility requirements, speak to an Advisor. See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Alliances to Help You Save on Tuition

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.

Get a Head Start on Your Master's Degree

Complete your master’s degree sooner with a graduate program pathway. It weaves graduate-level courses into your bachelor’s program, giving you a jump on your master’s degree requirements. You’ll save on time and tuition compared with finishing both programs separately.

Plus, your degrees don’t have to be in the same fields. You can customize your academic journey to support your career goals and interests. To learn more, view the University Catalog or connect with an Advisor.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Earn Credit for Prior Coursework and Experience

The average bachelor's degree student pays $15k and takes 2.3 years to complete their degree.

Get the Credit You Deserve

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Career Opportunities

A bachelor’s degree can lead to leadership opportunities in the industry. In fact, 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.

Average Salary

Range

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.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

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 Bachelor of Science in Fire Science and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global. Prepare yourself for success with a bachelor's degree in fire science.

Your Path to Success Begins Here

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

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.

Credit Toward Master’s Degree: The University cannot guarantee that students will be granted admission to any future programs. Speak to an Advisor about admissions requirements and transfer credit opportunities and see the University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy.

Completion Time and Average Net Price: Cost and completion times for individual programs may vary. Average institutional completion time for Purdue Global degree students who graduated in the 2022–2023 academic year. Average net price reflects all institutional-level charges for all graduates, including those who transferred to Purdue Global, after application of scholarships, tuition reductions, grants (including federal Pell grants for undergraduate students), employer tuition assistance, and/or military tuition assistance. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2023.

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

Graduate Program Pathways: To start a Graduate Program Pathway, students should consult with their Student Advisor to confirm eligibility. Not all Graduate Program Pathways are available on all tracks, and some may require students to meet academic standards to continue taking graduate courses in their bachelor’s degree program. Visit the University Catalog for more information.

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

Job Growth: Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Firefighters, www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/firefighters.htm. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.

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.