Fire Science Certificate of Professional Preparation

The field of fire science involves much more than fighting fires. The Fire Science Certificate of Professional Preparation is customized for bachelor’s degree holders interested in advancing their skills related to the organization and administration processes required in fire protection services. With a curriculum modeled on the federal Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) recommended course learning outcomes, this program builds on fire science education to support career advancement and the development of leadership, analytical and management skills.

Related Programs

Getting Started: Fall Term

Aug. 19:  Application

Aug. 26:  Classes Begin

Other Important Dates »

Why Seminole State?

  • Unique program: One-of-a-kind degree for Central Florida geared to train future leaders across a variety of agencies
  • Industry-driven curriculum: Courses developed with input from the regional public safety community
  • Online degree: Degree offered 100% online, so you can study when and where you want 
  • Dedicated faculty: Quality instruction from faculty with industry experience as well as academic credentials
  • Affordable tuition: Significantly lower costs than Florida's universities
  • Small class sizes: most classes have fewer than 30 students.

Additional Information

Fire Science
Type: Certificate of Professional Preparation
Major Code: FIRE-BC
CIP: 5554302030

Program Description

Available Course Course Not Offered Spring 2025
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Political and Legal Foundations of Fire Protection
3
Credits
This course examines the legal aspects of the fire service and the political and social impacts of legal issues. This course includes a review of the American legal system and an in-depth coverage of legal and political issues involving employment and personnel matters, administrative and operational matters, planning and code enforcement, and legislative and political processes with regard to the fire service.
Applications of Fire Research
3
Credits
This course examines the basic principles of research and methodology for analyzing current fire-related research. This course also provides a framework for conducting and evaluating independent research in the following areas: fire dynamics, fire test standards and codes, fire safety, fire modeling, structural fire safety, life safety, firefighter health and safety, automatic detection and suppression, transportation fire hazards, risk analysis and loss control, fire service applied research and new trends in fire-related research.
Fire Prevention Organization and Management
3
Credits
This course empowers students with knowledge, methods and concepts for effective leadership of comprehensive fire-prevention and risk reduction programs.
Fire and Emergency Services Administration
3
Credits
This course is designed to be a progressive primer for students who want more knowledge about fire and emergency services administration. The course demonstrates the importance of the following skills that are necessary to manage and lead a fire and emergency services department through the challenges and changes of the 21st century: persuasion and influence, accountable budgeting, anticipation of challenges and the need for change, and using specific management tools for analyzing and solving problems. A central part of the course focuses on how the leadership of a fire and emergency services department develops internal and external cooperation to create a coordinated approach to achieving the department's mission.
Personnel Management for Fire and EMS
3
Credits
This course examines relationships and issues in personnel administration and human resource development within the context of fire-related organizations, including personnel management, organizational development, productivity, recruitment and selection, performance management systems, discipline, and collective bargaining.
Community Risk Reduction for Fire and EMS
3
Credits
This course introduces the Fire or EMS professional to the benefits of community information and community relations. Students explore issues in marketing, crafting the message, identifying the audience, developing programs and creating press releases. This course includes a theoretical framework for the understanding of the ethical, sociological, organizational, political and legal components of community risk reduction and a methodology for the development of a comprehensive community risk reduction plan.
Fire Service Ethics
3
Credits
This course examines the basic principles of ethics as related to fire service operations and management with special attention given to current issues in the fire service.
Total Credits: 21

Your tuition shouldn’t go against your intuition.

Your pursuit of higher education is admirable. So why struggle with high tuition in the process? Here we make life’s next steps affordable. Whether you’re seeking a university transfer (A.A.) degree, a four-year bachelor’s, an Associate in Science degree or even earning a post-baccalaureate certificate, you’ll find reasonable tuition and payment plans that make sense.

Go For Less.

Tuition and Fees*


Seminole State
Tuition and Fees$1,799
Room and Board-0-
Books and Supplies$500
Total$2,299

For more information on Seminole State's tuition and fees, please see the current fee schedule.

* Tuition costs are based on 15 total credit hours for this program in the current term for in-state students. Book expenses are estimates and may vary by course. Lab fees and other fees that may assessed at the time of registration may be viewed in the College fee schedule. As Seminole State is a commuter college with no residence halls on its campuses, costs for room and board are not calculated.