Wildland Firefighter Education
from theysaid
3/7/05
Lobotomy here.... since several folks have been sharing what they feel is
necessary for a "wildland fire" education, I thought I'd share what
my degree field is. My degree field is Fire Science and is not
recognized by the 0401 standard. I have worked for the wildland feds
for 22 years and my degree field is directly relevant to the
positions that I currently hold and will hold in the future... but
the words "Fire Science" are taboo to many ologists in the
Agencies.... I am not saying that other degrees are not important to
the wildland fire community... I am saying that "Fire Science"
is very important in a mixed complexity/responsibility career as a
wildland firefighter. Agriculture, Biology, Natural Resources, and
Forestry should not be the only "Natural Sciences" that qualify for
0401.
Objectives
The student who graduates with a major in fire science will be able
to:
- Recognize the
legal basis for public safety responsibility and product
liability.
- Explain fire
fighting and disaster planning as practiced in other parts of
the world.
- Write reports
and make presentations of the quality expected by senior
management.
- Use computer
technology to inform and enhance operational and strategic
management decisions.
- Use current
information technology to access relevant managerial and
educational resources worldwide.
- Develop a
comprehensive hazardous materials management program, including
pre-incident planning, on-site emergency response, and
post-incident analysis and investigation.
- Apply skills
in analysis and evaluation to complete fire-risk assessment.
- Apply project
management strategies to design disaster and fire-defense
planning.
- Apply design
principles to detect, control, and suppress fires in buildings
and other structures and use fire modeling to analyze fire
propagation.
- Apply a
systems analysis approach to solving problems of incendiary-fire
investigation and fire protection.
- Apply risk
assessment methods to analyze pre- and post-occurrence factors.
- Apply skills
in human resource management to deal with the psychological
effects of emergency situations.
- Evaluate
fire-prevention techniques, procedures, programs, and agencies.
- Think
critically and constructively and perform research in fire
science using appropriate quantitative and qualitative
analytical tools to understand and evaluate fire and emergency
situations and scenarios.
- Apply
analytical and problem-solving methods in resolving fire and
other emergency problems and issues.
- Analyze the
domestic and global dimensions of fire science.
- Develop
effective written and oral communications consistent with the
fire-service and related professional environment.
- Understand
and apply current computer applications and technology in the
workplace.
- Develop
innovative leadership and team-management skills necessary for
success in a diverse and changing workplace.
- Apply
appropriate information technology to analyze problems and
issues, develop business research, report key data, and
recommend management strategy and action plans.
- Describe the
history and development of theories and concepts in fire
prevention and emergency management and their application to
various situations.
- Evaluate
ethical, social, civic, cultural, and political issues as they
relate to fire prevention and management, human resources and
human factors, information systems, and governmental
regulations.
Required Core Courses (15 s.h.)
Students must take the following core courses:
Supplemental Major Courses (15 s.h.)
Students must take five of the following courses:
Additional
Required Coursework (3 s.h.)
To complete the general education requirement in
computing, students must take one of the following courses:
Recommendations
The following courses are recommended; credit may be
applied to general education or elective requirements, as
appropriate.
|
