2020-2021 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Fire Service Administration (A.S.)*


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A.S. Degree: 64 Hours

The Fire Service continues to place an emphasis on formal education for all ranks within a fire department organization. The OTC Fire Science Program developed the Fire Service Administration degree in conjunction with the OTC Fire Science Technology Advisory Board in order to provide that formal education and better prepare future company officers and chief officers. The overall goal of this degree is to provide learning opportunities which introduce, develop and reinforce academic and occupational knowledge, skills and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention and advancement. Additionally, the program provides opportunities to retrain and upgrade present knowledge and skills. Career choices for Fire Service Administration students include the following: firefighter, fire inspector, fire instructor, fire investigator, fire protection systems installer, U.S. Forest Service, as well as various military branches. OTC graduates have employment opportunities locally, statewide, nationally and internationally. 

While this degree can be completed without pre-requisites, the ability to take the Missouri Division of Fire Safety certification exams may require other course certifications prior to being eligible for testing. The OTC Fire Science Program Director can provide those details.

OTC has developed procedures for evaluating past training experiences and certifications for professional equivalency college credit; inquiries should be directed to the lead instructor or department chair.

Students wishing to transfer to a four-year institution are strongly encouraged to seek the advice of the lead instructor or department chair of the FST program to determine courses appropriate for transfer.

General Education Requirements - 28 Credit Hours


CORE 42 is a statewide general education course of study intended to ensure that all graduates possess a common core of college-level skills and knowledge. CORE 42 specifies the basic competencies and knowledge areas that all students completing degrees at a Missouri public institution of higher education must complete. CORE 42 is comprised of dozens of courses distributed across five knowledge areas. These courses are designated with a Missouri Transfer (MOTR) course number, which guarantees the one-to-one transfer of these courses among all Missouri public institutions of higher education. Please refer to MDHE Core Transfer Curriculum for detailed information on CORE 42 courses.

All knowledge areas below, designated with the CORE 42 logo indicate all courses in that area have been evaluated and provided a MOTR number for transfer to all Missouri public institutions of higher education.

Written Communication - 6 Credit Hours


Oral Communication - 3 Credit Hours


Humanities and Fine Arts - 3 Credit Hours


Natural Sciences - 4 Credit Hours


Social and Behavioral Sciences - 9 Credit Hours (include at least one Civics course, PLS 101 or HST 120 or HST 130)


Program Specific Course - 3 Credit Hours


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