FIRE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY: CERTIFICATE

Graduates of the program will be well-prepared to address the challenges of modern fire services and to serve their communities with excellence. With further certifications and experience, you’ll be set to pursue leadership roles such as fire chief or fire marshal. 

The S.C. annual mean wage for firefighters is $44,550. Meanwhile, the S.C. annual mean wage for firefighter supervisors is $72,850, according to 2023 reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Program

The courses in the Fire Science Technology Certificate program have been recognized by the United States Fire Administration’s Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education Initiative (FESHE). FESHE’s mission is to establish an organization of post-secondary institutions to promote higher education and to enhance the recognition of the fire and emergency services as a profession to reduce loss of life and property from fire and other hazards. By completing courses in this certificate, students are eligible to apply for a separate certificate awarded by the National Fire Academy (NFA).

This 18-credit-hour certificate program can be completed in two or three semesters. The program covers key areas such as leadership, supervision, ethics, fundamentals of firefighting, how to operate safely and effectively at an incident, and how the different branches of emergency services overlap and interact. The courses also cover the relationship between fire behavior and modern building construction, as well as the fundamentals of water supply and hydraulics and their relationship to fire control and extinguishment.

In addition, certificate courses will transfer into the Business Administration Associate Degree for individuals choosing to seek a degree.