Do you need a college degree to be a firefighter? What about to become a fire chief or work in other roles in fire departments and emergency services?
For students interested in the file of firefighting and fire protection services, an education beyond a high school diploma can be valuable. Many schools today give students the opportunity to earn a bachelors in fire science online. Through these programs, online students can deepen their knowledge of firefighter safety and prepare for a variety of careers within and outside the fire department.
Prospective students are sure to find some excellent programs to consider on our list of the best online fire science degree options in the nation.
What Is a Fire Science Degree?
The most common title for programs of study that pertain to firefighting and fire protection services is fire science. In a fire science degree program, students may take coursework in everything from fire dynamics and fire hazards in building construction leadership skills for managing fire service organizations.
Studies in fire science and fire prevention may also make up part of the curriculum in degree programs in emergency management, fire protection and fire safety engineering.
Most institutions that offer a fire science degree, a degree in emergency management or other fire-related programs of study cover a comprehensive curriculum that includes coursework in areas like the following:
- An overview of fire and emergency services
- Firefighting
- Fire prevention and protection techniques
- Fire inspection
RELATED: What Classes will I take in a Fire Science Bachelor’s Degree ?
The focus of a degree in fire science doesn’t always revolve entirely around understanding fire behavior and ways to protect people and property from fire. Many fire science programs at the bachelor’s degree level provide graduates with more general skills needed in the emergency services workforces, including financial management and fiscal responsibility, human resource management and technology. In general, fire science degree programs prepare students to enter the public service and public safety workforce after graduation.
The Best Bachelor’s in Fire Science Degrees Online
There’s no question that having an associate or bachelor’s degree in a field like fire science can give your career in fire services a boost. Whether you want to rise through the ranks of your local fire department or get a job with a more emergency management organization like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), your education will be an asset. For many prospective students, the question isn’t whether they should pursue a degree in fire science but rather where they should go for their education.
What do the best colleges for fire science have that set them apart from the rest? For one thing, they are recognized and highly respected schools in other fields as well as fire science. Often, this includes having a long history of academic excellence, an engaged student body, strong institutional rankings and regional institutional accreditation.
At the best schools for fire science, the online fire science curriculum strikes a balance between breadth and depth, equipping students with the knowledge and technical skills they will need for life after graduation. Ideally, the program should earn either Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Recognition or accreditation from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).
Read on to learn more about the top 10 fire science degree programs online.
1. University of Florida
Leading our list of the best fire science colleges is the University of Florida. This public university in Gainesville, Florida, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Why Study Fire Science at the University of Florida
The University of Florida boasts an enrollment of more than 55,000 students as of Fall 2021, including more than 5,000 online students. The school is one of the largest single-campus universities in the United States. The campus consists of 2,000 acres and is home to upwards of 900 buildings. Approximately 180 research centers and institutes are part of the college, as are 16 individual academic colleges.
U.S. News & World Report has recognized the University of Florida on its lists of national universities, top public schools, best value schools, most innovative schools and best colleges for veterans.
The University of Florida offers more than 300 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. More than 200 programs are available online, including both bachelor’s degree and master’s degree programs in fire and emergency services
Coursework in the University of Florida’s Fire & Emergency Services Program
In the Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services, students develop skills for a variety of careers in emergency services. This degree program is offered through the Rinker School of Construction Management, part of the College of Design, Construction and Planning.
Required coursework for this degree includes studies in the following areas:
- Principles of fire and emergency services management
- Strategic planning for fire and emergency services
- Fire and emergency services financial management
- Disaster planning and control
- Communication and informational technology
- Fire and emergency services public relations
- Fire and emergency services ethical practices and leadership
The program offers a Fire Specialization, along with an Emergency Management Specialization and Emergency Medical Services Management Specialization, that allows students to focus their coursework. Core coursework for students pursuing the Fire Management Specialization includes:
- Political and legal foundations of fire protection
- Fire and emergency services administration
- Management of fire prevention programs
- Community risk reduction for emergency services
- Command and control at catastrophic fire-rescue incidents
- Fire and emergency services human resource management
- Applications of fire research
The bachelor’s degree in fire science program is open to both new students and transfer students.
The Master of Fire and Emergency Sciences program is a 33-credit graduate program that encompasses 11 courses. This non-thesis program covers courses in areas like the following:
- Fire suppression systems
- Disaster mitigation
- Emergency planning
- Technological innovations for fire and emergency management
- Homeland security
RELATED: What Are My Master’s Degree Choices in Fire Science?
The online fire science programs at the University of Florida are accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).
2. Fayetteville State University
Another of the top online fire science degree programs is offered out of Fayetteville State University in North Carolina. This Historically Black university was founded in 1867, making it the second-oldest state-supported institution in North Carolina. The public institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Why Study Fire Science at Fayetteville State University
U.S. News & World Report has included Fayetteville State University on its college rankings lists of top public schools, regional universities int he South, Historically Black colleges and universities and top performers on social mobility.
Today, the student body at Fayetteville State University numbers 6,500 students. Fayetteville State University is best known for its programs in teaching and nursing, but the school offers more than 60 total bachelor’s and master’s degrees out of four colleges:
- College of Education
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Broadwell College of Business and Economics
- Lloyd College of Health, Science, and Technology
The school also offers a number of online degree completion programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services Administration program.
Coursework in Fayetteville State University’s Fire and Emergency Services Administration Program
The online Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services Administration degree at Fayetteville State University is a FESHE-Recognized program. The curriculum, which is offered through the Broadwell College of Business and Economics, includes coursework in the following areas:
- Fire prevention organization and management
- Community risk reduction for fire and emergency services
- Fire service organizational dynamics
- Fire service personnel administration
- Fire-related human behavior
- Managerial Issues in an all hazards environment
- Fire dynamics
- Fire investigations
- Political and legal foundations of fire protection
- Applications of fire research
- Advanced fire administration
- Applied fire service ethics
Fayetteville State University’s fire science bachelor’s degree is intended for students who have an associate’s degree and/or fire service work experience.
3. New Jersey City University
Another school where students will find a top-notch fire science bachelors degree online is New Jersey City University. This public institution located in Jersey City was founded in 1927.
Why Study Fire Science at New Jersey City University
U.S. News & World Report has included New Jersey City University on its rankings lists of top public schools, regional universities in the North and top performers on social mobility.
Although New Jersey City University was originally established as a teaching school, the institution now encompasses four colleges and schools:
- The Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education
- The William J. Maxwell College of Arts & Sciences
- The NJCU School of Business
- The College of Professional Studies
Close to 8,0000 students attend New Jersey City University. The school now offers more than 47 programs for undergraduates and 30 programs for graduate students. Additionally, its online offerings include nearly two dozen bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and certificate programs. The most popular and largest programs at New Jersey City University include music, nursing, psychology and early childhood education. For students who are interested in fire and emergency services, though, the most noteworthy program of study is the online Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science
Coursework in New Jersey City University’s Fire Science Program
The Fire Science Department at New Jersey City University and its programs are accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). Coursework in the Bachelor of Science in Fires Science program includes studies in subjects like the following:
- Introduction to fire science
- Problems in fire engineering
- Introduction to ladder company operations
- Introduction to engine company operations
- Fire officer company management
- Emergency personnel fitness
- Fire prevention & related codes
- Fire detection & suppression systems
- Fire department organization & administration
- Firefighting strategies
- Firefighting tactics
- Hydraulic technology
- Fire investigation & arson
- General fire insurance
- Building construction
- Hazardous materials
- Transportation & industrial fire hazards
Through this program, students prepare for roles that range from firefighters to fire investigators, code enforcers and jobs in the fire protection systems industry.
4. Columbia Southern University
Another of the best online fire science degree programs can be found at Columbia Southern University. This private, for-profit higher learning institution is an online college that is headquartered in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Why Study Fire Science at Columbia Southern University
At Columbia Southern University, online programs aren’t an afterthought. The was founded in 1993 for the purpose of educating adult learners through convenient and affordable online education. Over the school’s 30-year history, it has educationed upwards of 60,000 students and awarded more than 100,000 degrees. Today, Columbia Southern University employs 1,000 faculty and staff and educates nearly 16,000 students.
Columbia Southern University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The school is also a member of the American Council and Education and has historically been accredited by the Distance Education Accreditation Commission. To keep improving the quality of the online education it offers, Columbia Southern University is taking steps to implement Quality Matters (QM) standards into its programs.
With nearly 100 active online degree programs and more than 450 online courses available, online learners at Columbia Southern University have plenty of academic options. Programs of study include associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctorates and certificates. One of these programs is the Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration.
Coursework in Columbia Southern University’s Fire Administration Program
Columbia Southern University’s fire science bachelor’s degree is a 120-credit undergraduate program recognized by FESHE. Students in this program can acquire the expertise required to become firefighters. The program’s comprehensive curriculum covers fire protection and fire prevention strategies. The 36 semester hours of fire science major coursework includes studies in the following areas:
- Principles of fire and emergency services
- Principles of fire and emergency services safety and survival
- Introduction to fire prevention
- Fire behavior and combustion
- Fire prevention organization and management
- Fire protection structure and systems
- Community risk reduction for the fire and emergency services
- Fire and emergency services administration
- Fire service personnel management
- Political and legal foundations of fire protection
- Building construction for fire protection
- Applications in fire research
Students also devote 12 semester hours to program elective courses. Options for these courses include the following:
- Fire dynamics
- Human behavior in fire
- Fire protection and code enforcement
- Analytical approaches to public fire protection
- Fire protection hydraulics and water supply
- Fire ground tactics
- Management of incident command systems
- Terrorism incident management and emergency procedures
- Legal aspects of emergency services
Southern Columbia University also offers a Master of Science degree in Fire Executive Leadership. This program allows students to choose one of four concentration areas:
- Emergency Services Management.
- Occupational Safety and Health
- Public Administration
- Human Resource Management
This program emphasizes decision-making and managerial skills for working in the field of fire science and protection.
5. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh also offers a great online fire science bachelor’s degree program. This public institution of higher learning dates back to 1871.
Why Study Fire Science at the Univesity of Wisconsin
At this school, the students – of which there are well over 12,000 – can choose from close to 200 programs of study. The degrees at the bachelor’s master’s and doctoral levels of study. The University of Wisconsin also offers more than 30 online programs of study.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh on its lists of national universities, top public schools and top performers on social mobility.
The University of Wisconsin is best known for its programs of study in biology, nursing and elementary education. It also is home to an excellent fire science degree for online students.
Coursework in the University of Wisconsin’s Fire and Emergency Response Management Program
The online program in fire science at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is known as a Bachelor of Applied Studies degree. The major’s official title is Fire and Emergency Response Management, or FERM. The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s curriculum is both FESHE-recognized and accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.
Core coursework for the program as a whole includes:
- Intro to public administration
- Intro to leadership
- Critical thinking and writing
- Fire & emergency services leadership
- Public personnel administration
- Services personnel
- Mentoring for emergency
- Budgeting for managers
- Conflict resolution for the emergency services
- Administrative law
- Government and economy
- Applied research in emergency management
Students who choose the Fire Service Management Emphasis take classes such as:
- Management of emergency services
- Fire prevention organization and management
- Community risk reduction for fire & emergency services
- Occupational safety and health in emergency services
- Intercultural communication
Learning outcomes of completing this program include the ability to apply theoretical leadership concepts to real-world fire services management, utilize systematic planning in emergency response management, understand the natural science behind fire response and approach fire and emergency practice from the diverse perspectives of fire.
6. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is another school that offers a great fire science bachelor degree online. UNC Charlotte is a public university established in 1946.
Why Study Fire Science at the University of North Carolina
UNC Charlotte isn’t only the third largest university located in North Carolina. The school also bills itself as the fastest-growing college in the state. The total enrollment in Fall 2021 amounted to over 30,000, including more than 6,000 graduate students.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on college rankings lists including national universities, best value schools, top public schools and best colleges for veterans.
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte encompasses seven academic colleges, plus a Graduate School and an Interdisciplinary Studies division. The academic colleges at UNC Charlotte include:
- Belk College of Business
- Cato College of Education
- College of Arts + Architecture
- College of Computing & Informatics
- College of Health & Human Services
- College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- The William States Lee College of Engineering
All told, there are over 170 bachelor’s degree programs of study and more than 150 graduate programs at UNC Charlotte. The online division of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, UNC Charlotte Online, is where working professionals study through the School of Professional Studies. Students can choose from more than 50 online programs of study, including the Bachelor of Science in Fire & Safety Engineering Technology degree.
Coursework in UNC-Charlotte’s Fire Safety Engineering Technology Program
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s online undergraduate degree in fire services focuses on engineering technology, particularly as it pertains to fire safety. As such, this program is as well suited for students interested in roles like fire inspector, fire prevention officer, building code official and corporate safety specialist as it is for aspiring firefighters.
Coursework in the program includes the following areas of study:
- Fire dynamics
- Active fire protection
- Fire safety in the built environment
- Risk management
- Electronic circuits and devices
- Industrial hazards & electricity
- Industrial hygiene
- Environmental pollution control
- Advanced fire service administration
- Command and control of major disasters
- Engineering economics
- Research investigation
- Adult learning theory in safety
- Fire and safety capstone
This fully online program of study is a degree completion program. The 61-credit curriculum is designed to build upon an Associate of Applied Science degree in fire science, fire protection or a related program of study.
RELATED: What is the Difference in a Fire Science vs. Fire Protection Engineering Degree?
UNC Charlotte also offers an online professional development certificate program known as Fire & Rescue Management Institute. This program is intended for established fire and rescue personnel. The curriculum covers a variety of aspects of professional development, including leadership, communication, strategic planning and team building.
7. Colorado State University, Fort Collins
Next on our list of the top online fire degrees is Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
Why Study Fire Science at Colorado State University
Colorado State University, Fort Collins is a public institution founded in 1870. This Tier 1 Research institution is celebrated as one of the best research universities in the nation. Students and faculty at Colorado State University work hand-in-hand to explore infectious illnesses, innovations in environmental science, mysteries of atmospheric science, and breakthroughs in clean energy technologies. The school also reports an 85% job placement rate within six months of graduation.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Colorado State University among the top public schools, best value schools, national universities and best colleges for veterans.
Colorado State University educates more than 33,400 students, and its faculty is growing to match. The school is home to eight colleges Students can choose from close to 300 academic programs. CSU Online, the college’s distance learning division, offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral degrees in the following fields:
- Agricultural sciences
- Arts and music
- Busienss and communications
- Computer science and technology
- Education
- Engineering
- Government studies
- Health, biology and social sciences
- Natural resources management and tourism
- social work
- Student affairs
- Exploratory studies
The Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services Administration at Colorado State University is part of the Natural Resources Management and Tourism area of study.
Coursework in Colorado State University’s Fire & Emergency Services Administration Program
Working professionals with prior college credits to transfer and a background in fire and emergency services can complete the bachelor’s program in fire and emergency administration at Colorado State University in as little as two years.
The core curriculum for this program consists of 37 credits of coursework in areas like the following:
- Fire emergency services administration
- Essentials of emergency management
- Fire service leadership
- Trends in fire science technology
- Structure influence on tactics and strategy
- Proposals/reports in fire service management
- Human resources for fire and emergency
- Fire and emergency services budgeting
- Legal considerations in fire and emergency
Students also complete elective coursework in areas such as:
- Industrial process and fire protection
- Fire protection through model building codes
- Emergency medical service management
- Indident command system s
- Prevention program management
- Policy and public administration
- Training management program
Students in the program learn to successfully apply the academic knowledge they gain to managerial and administrative roles in fire and emergency. In doing so, they not only develop the skills to improve their career in their current workplace settings but also prepare for future career advancement.
8. The University of Nebraska at Omaha
Another institution to consider for a fire science degree is the University of Nebraska at Omaha. This school’s interesting history dates back to 1908. Although the University of Omaha was initially a private school, the college was made a public institution – which it remains today – in 1930.
Why Study Fire Science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha
More than 15,000 students are enrolled at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. To teach and serve these students, the school employs nearly 2,100 faculty and staff.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha has been recognized with the Carnegie Foundation’s Elective Classification for Community Engagement. The school is home to six colleges:
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business Administration
- College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media
- College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
- College of Information Science & Technology
- College of Public Affairs and Community Service
the school offers more than 60 online undergraduate degree, graduate degree and certificate programs. One such program is the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management with a Concentration in Fire Service Management.
Coursework in the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Emergency Management Program
The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s fire science online program is technically a degree in emergency management. Fire Service Management is one of more than a dozen areas of concentration students can pursue within this online program.
The core curriculum for the emergency management degree includes coursework in the following areas:
- Introduction to emergency management
- Introduction to public administration
- Emergency management strategies and communication
- Disaster response and recovery
- Preparedness/planning and risk mitigation
- Agency collaboration during disasters
- Political and legal foundations in emergency services
- Applied statistics and data processing in the public sector
- Internship in emergency management
- Capstone project in emergency management
Students in the Fire Service Management Concentration take the following classes:
- Fire prevention, organization, and management
- Fire and emergency services administration
- Strategies and tactics in fire and emergency services
- Analytical approaches to public fire protection
- Codes and inspections
Students in the emergency management degree program at the University of Nebraska Omaha complete two separate 15-credit concentrations, amounting to 30 total l credits of concentration coursework. Among the secondary concentration options students may wish to pair with their fire services coursework are Natural Disasters, Public Administration and Management, Planning and Preparing for Urban Hazards and Nonprofit Management.
Students must earn120 credits to graduate with their emergency management degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha.
9. American Public University System
If you’re not opposed to earning your fire science degree online from a for-profit institution, turn your attention to American Public University. The American Public University System is a private online system that is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Why Study Fire Science at American Public University
In addition to housing American Public University and its fire science degree program, the American Public University System also encompasses the American Military University. The parent company behind the American Public University System is a private-sector organization called American Public Education, Inc.
The American Public University System is best known for offering programs in areas like business, homeland security and disaster management and liberal arts and humanities. Currently, the American Public University System teaches 89,291 students and employs more than 1,600 faculty members. The school offers more than 270 academic programs, including certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctoral programs. These programs are offered out of the following academic schools within the American Public University System:
- Dr. Wallace E. Boston School of Business
- School of Arts, Humanities & Education
- School of Health Sciences
- School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
- School of Security & Global Studies
APUS offers an online Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Management program is offered through
Coursework in American Public University’s Fire Science Management Program
Students pursuing online fire science degrees from American Public University complete 66 semester hours of required courses for the major. Subjects of required study include:
- Fire behavior and combustion
- Fire dynamics
- Fire prevention
- Principles of fire and emergency services safety and survival
- Fundamentals of fire protection
- Fire protection systems
- Fire protection hydraulics and water supply
- Fire protection structure and system design
- Fire protection in building construction
- Community risk reduction for the fire and emergency services
- Community fire mitigation and protection
- Emergency planning
- Emergency and disaster incident command
- Managerial issues in hazardous materials
- Fire administration and finance
- Fire regulation, policy, and law
- Fire safety and risk regulation
- Incendiary fire analysis and investigation
- Applications of fire research
- Psychology of disaster
The curriculum of this program introduces students to students fire suppression methods, safety, protection and fire prevention as well as firefighting leadership and management. American Public University ystemsS’s bachelor’s degree in fire sciences and management is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.
10. Anna Maria College
Completing our list of the best fire science schools at the bachelor’s level is Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts.
Why Study Fire Science at Anna Maria College
Anna Maria College is a private, nonprofit Catholic college founded in 1946. Its 260-acre campus is less than an hour from Boston. The school is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
U.S. News & World Report has included Anna Maria College on its lists of the top regional universities in the North and top performers on social mobility.
for the most recent year for which Anna Maria College currently has data available (2019), total enrollment amounted to more than 1,400. Online students accounted for nearly one-quarter of the total student population (175 undergraduate and 177 graduate students).
At Anna Maria College, 99% of students receive some form of financial aid. That’s a big consideration for prospective students who are on a budget, especially since not all roles in the fire protection services are well paid.
The institution offers undergraduate programs of study in more than 30 areas, as well as graduate degrees and certificates. Among the online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs available online from Anna Maria College is a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science program.
Coursework in Anna Maria College’s Fire Science Program
If you want to ascend to roles like fire investigator, fire chief or fire marshal, Anna Maria College’s fire science degree may be for you. The FESHE-recognized curriculum encompasses 60 credits of coursework.
Required courses for the online fire science program include studies in areas such as:
- Fire behavior and combustion
- Fundamentals of fire prevention
- Principles of emergency services
- Fire protection systems
- Building construction for fire protection
- Fire protection hydraulics & water supply
- Analytical approaches to public fire protection
- Applications for fire research
- Fire service ethics
Students also take six elective courses, seminar courses, an optional internship course and courses that meet college-wide requirements in areas like writing and quantitative reasoning. Together, this requirement adds up to 20 total courses.
Anna Maria College’s online program is intended as a bachelor’s degree completion program. Applicants should have either an associate degree or 60 credits of prior college coursework. Professional work experience and certification in roles like Fire Officer I is also valuable.
Prospective students who want to take their education even further may be interested in Anna Maria College’s fast-track Master of Public Administration program. Under this program, students in their final year of the bachelor’s degree program take some graduate-level courses that apply to both their bachelor’s and master’s programs. This allows them to complete the MPA curriculum in just one additional year of study instead of two. The Master of Public Administration program with a Fire and Emergency Services Specialization includes studies in labor-management relations, policy and strategy and customer service in addition to public policy, strategic planning and executive leadership.
