Program Codes:
FIRE.AAS
Associate in Applied Science
Explore careers, salaries, and local job opportunities >
This program meets the continuing education needs of professional and volunteer firefighters. It enables firefighters to perform their current duties more effectively and to prepare for greater levels of responsibility within the fire service system.
Introduces the history and philosophy of fire protection including a review of statistics of loss of life and property by fire; introduction to agencies involved in fire protection systems and extinguishing agents; firefighting strategy and tactics; fire department organization and equipment; legislative developments; and the discussion of current related problems and future needs related to fire protection, including the study of legal rights, duties, liability concerns and responsibilities of fire department organizations.
This course represents an elementary review of selected fundamentals of chemistry and physics that are most relevant to fire. The course will cover the fire characteristics of materials, the properties of combustion products, fire extinguishing agents and procedures and movement of smoke.
One year of high school chemistry or CHM-010
Through a variety of writing projects requiring competence in clear, correct, and effective English, students use inferential and critical skills in the process of composing documented essays. Extensive reading materials serve as structural models and as the bases for discussion and for the writing of essays involving response, analysis, and synthesis.
RDG-011 may be taken as a co-requisite if not previously completed with a grade of "C" or better.
Basic mathematics with an emphasis on the technical, manipulative skills that are required in a technological society. Emphasis is on understanding concepts in each of the many application-oriented problems. Stresses the importance of precision, accuracy and the clear presentation of results. Topics include arithmetic operations, measurement, rounding, conversions, fractions, decimals, percents, ratio, proportion, scientific notation, use of calculators, metric system, solving linear equations and systems of equations, and graphing linear equations. The first semester of a two-semester course. TI83/84 graphing calculator required.
Appropriate score on the College placement test, MAT-013 or equivalent
Physical/Health Education Elective
This course defines computers and computer applications and their use in business, industry and government. Students completing this course will be computer fluent. Students will understand the capabilities and limitations of computers and know how to use them. In addition, students will understand computers and their ethical, legal and societal implications. Topics include the history of computers, hardware devices, software programs, terminology, privacy of information, ethical behavior and the influence of computers on people and society. Hands-on experience includes: using a Windows operating system, a word processor, designing and implementing spreadsheets and producing presentations. This course is recommended for anyone who will be involved with computers and the use of computer application software.
A grade of “C” or better in ENG-121
A continuation of MAT 107. This course stresses technical mathematical skills and applications. Topics include solving right triangles, logarithmic and exponential functions and radicals. Also includes the statistics topics of frequency distribution, presentation of statistical data (graphs, charts and tables), measures of central tendency and dispersion, the Normal distribution and introduction to probability theory.
With advisor approval students may select a higher level mathematics sequence.
Provides fire service personnel with an understanding of the basic principles of building construction and how design considerations and materials selection affect the life safety of both the building's occupants and firefighters. The five different types of construction will be covered in detail: wood frame, ordinary, non-combustible, and fire-resistive. Case studies of catastrophic fire losses will be examined from the building construction viewpoint and new construction materials and techniques will be explored.
FSC-103 or written permission of the department chairperson
Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Humanities (GE HUM).
Principles of fire control through preplanning and fire ground decision making: the size-up emphasizes life safety of occupants and fire fighting personnel as well as effective utilization of manpower, apparatus, and equipment for preservation of life and confinement of fire. Case studies of fire ground decisions are reviewed.
FSC-103 or written permission of the department chairperson
Chemical characteristics related to storage, transportation and handling of hazardous materials, i.e., flammables, combustibles, oxidizers, explosives, compressed gasses. Emphasizes emergency response, mitigation and fire suppression. Students will also receive certification in the awareness and operational levels of hazmat responder requirements as per OSHA 1910.120. Provides an introduction to the technician and incident commander levels of hazmat responder requirements.
FSC-103 or written permission of the department chairperson
Fundamentals of design and installation of fixed fire protection systems. Selection and application of fire suppression and detection systems as well as engineering principles are covered. Systems studied will include, but are not limited to: sprinkler, standpipe, dry chemical, foam, halon, carbon dioxide, smoke/heat/fire detection, evacuation/public address and explosion. Case studies address issues related to systems selection, installation and maintenance.
FSC-103 or written permission of the department chairperson
A comparative analysis of the state, county and municipal levels of government in the United States is offered. Particular attention is given to New Jersey government and politics, state party organizations, interest groups and electorate behavior, as well as the formal governmental structure.
A study of the many operations of today's heavy rescue companies. Emphasis will be placed on the fire disciplines of rescue, rope rescue, confined space, trench rescue, motor vehicle extraction, and building collapse and shoring. The duties and responsibilities of the rescue companies on the fire ground will also be examined. There will be hands-on training activities as well.
Fire causes, natural and accidental; fire and police investigation; orientation and introduction to arson and incendiarism; laws of arson; technical analysis of arson and fraud; collection and preservation of evidence; photography, diagrams and notes; interviewing and detention of witnesses; records, reports, briefs and court procedures; arson prevention; processing of criminal evidence and pertinent procedures required by statute.
FSC-103 or written permission of the department chairperson
Basic principles of fire prevention and inspection, emphasizing recognition of fire hazards and the protection systems minimizing and/or coping with these hazards; includes methods of building inspection, enforcement of applicable laws, codes and ordinances and consideration of practical test facilities.
FSC-103 or written permission of the department chairperson
An introduction to industrial hygiene. This course examines the sampling and analytical techniques required to evaluate the safety and health hazards associated with the chemical, physical, biological and other stresses in the industrial environment. This course gives the student an understanding of the Fundamentals of Occupational Safety and Health and prepares the student for further training in Industrial Hygiene.
CHM-107 or equivalent
Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Humanities (GE HUM).
Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Social Science (GE SS).
Contact Name: Donna Howell, department chair
Contact Phone: 732.906.2592
Contact Email: dhowell@middlesexcc.edu
Department Web: https://www.middlesexcc.edu/natural-sciences/
Articulation agreements with public and private institutions offer students who earn the A.A.S. degree the opportunity to transfer all of their coursework to the four-year institution. Students in specialized programs, or who earn an A.A.S. degree should discuss the transfer process with an advisor.
Students develop skills and knowledge in protection systems, hydraulics, hazardous materials, building construction and codes, departmental organization, investigation, fire ground strategy and tactics, and fire prevention and inspection.
Algebra I is a prerequisite for all majors. Algebra I competency may be verified with a passing score on the College’s placement test or completion of the appropriate course. Students must also have a grade of “C” or better in one year of high school laboratory chemistry.
Fire Science courses are offered exclusively in the evening. Once students complete developmental coursework (if needed), the degree can be completed in two years of full-time study. They can shorten the amount of time by taking courses in the summer and winter sessions.