Firefighting Specialist

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Campus Location: Calmar, Peosta

Program Entry: Enrollment may occur during any term. Fall term is the start of the program course sequence.

Award: Associate of Applied Science degree

Description: This program is designed for firefighters affiliated with an existing paid or volunteer fire department.

Emphasis is placed upon specialized firefighting courses offered through the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau and the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety. This program will expand a firefighter’s knowledge and develop leadership for emergency response.

Program Admission: In addition to the College enrollment process , applicants must be affiliated with a volunteer or paid fire department.

Academic Requirements: To receive an Associate of Applied Science degree, a student must complete all of the general education courses and bring in a certificate of completion for the required firefighting courses and 5 elective firefighting courses. These 33 credits, in addition to the 32 NICC credits, will meet the minimum 64-credit requirement for an AAS degree.

A minimum of 64 credit hours, with at least 18 earned at NICC.
A minimum GPA of 2.0 and a passing grade in all required courses.
Coursework electives (articulated from the Fire Service Training Bureau).

The firefighting courses are offered by the Fire Service Training Bureau and are offered at various times and locations throughout the year.

Minimum Credits: 65.5

Course Sequence

Term 1: Fall

BCA 112 - Introduction to Data Processing
or
BCA 212 - Introduction to Computer Business Applications
ENG 105 - Composition I
FIR 320 - Essentials of Firefighter I 4.0 Credit(s) ¹
FIR 338 - Technical Agricultural Rescue ²
MGT 102 - Principles of Management
SDV 179 - The College Experience

Term 2: Spring

CHM 110 - Introduction to Chemistry
CHM 111 - Introduction to Chemistry Lab
SPC 112 - Public Speaking
Fire Science Elective 3 Credit(s) (See Below)
Math Elective 3.0 Credit(s) (See Below)

Term 3: Summer

FIR 280 - Instructional Techniques for Fire Service Training (Fire Instruction I) 3.0 Credit(s) ¹
FIR 301 - Fire Department Officer I 3.0 Credit(s) ¹
FIR 325 - Essentials of Firefighting II 2.0 Credit(s) ¹
FIR 948 - Special Topics 1.5 Credit(s) ³
PHI 105 - Introduction to Ethics
Fire Science Elective 4.0 Credit(s) (See Below)

Term 4: Fall

FIR 306 - Fire Inspection Principles and Practices 3.0 Credits ¹
FIR 322 - Hazardous Materials: Operations Level 1.0 Credit(s) ¹
PSY 111 - Introduction to Psychology
or
PSY 112 - Psychology of Human Relations
Fire Science Electives 8.0 Credit(s) ⁴ (See Below)
Physics Elective 3.0 Credit(s)

Electives

15 Credits of Fire Science Electives

FIR 201 - Incident Command Series I
FIR 202 - Incident Command Series II
FIR 203 - Incident Command Series III
FIR 210 - Incident Safety Officer
FIR 302 - Fire Department Officer II
FIR 308 - Health and Safety Officer
FIR 309 - Strategy and Tactics for Initial Company Operations
FIR 312 - Arson Detection for First Responders
FIR 391 - Preparing for Initial Company Operations
FIR 392 - Decision Making for Company Operations
FIR 393 - Training Operations In Small Departments
FIR 401 - Leadership I
FIR 402 - Leadership II
FIR 403 - Leadership III
related fire service coursework

Math Electives

Notes:

¹ Offered through the IA Fire Service Training Bureau (or equivalent out-of-state certificate)

² Offered through National Education Center for Agriculture Safety (NECAS), Peosta, Iowa

³ Driver Operator; Pumping

⁴ Students with a terminal EMS certificate are awarded 5 credits towards the electives, EMT or EMT B, Advanced EMT or Iowa Paramedic, Paramedic or Paramedic Specialist (State of IA or National Registry).