Associate in Science | SC Program: AS.1240

The Fire Technology curriculum is planned to serve both as an in-service program and as a pre-employment two-year program for community college students aspiring to enter the field of firefighting. Fire Technology majors may be required to fulfill a tour of duty at a local fire station. The suggested course sequence has been supplied to the Counseling Division by the Instructional Division. Students are urged to use this outline along with the Shasta College catalog. Particular attention should be paid to course prerequisites and to whether a class is taught Fall or Spring semester or both. Courses listed may be offered either spring or fall semesters, or at the discretion of the division.

This degree is approved through the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. Upon satisfactory completion of all degree requirements and filing an application for graduation with Admissions and Records, the student’s transcript will reflect completion of this degree.

Choose your path

Map your education by viewing the program map for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below. Meet with a counselor to create your official comprehensive education plan.

A program map shows all the required and recommended courses you need to graduate and a suggested order in which you should take them. The suggested sequence of courses is based on enrollment and includes all major and general education courses required for the degree.

Fall Semester, First Year

21 Units Total
FIRS 104
M 21
Fire Fighter 1 Academy
FIRS 104
Units 21
Advisory: FIRS 397 with a grade of P

Notes:
1. The California State Fire Marshal's Office requires that all Firefighter I summative tests be completed with a minimum score of 80% (a grade of B or higher). Any student who does not meet this standard will have failed FIRS 104 and will not receive credit for the course.
2. Any student enrolling in FIRS 104 must have completed the prerequisites of FAID 132 or FAID 332 at Shasta College (or their equivalents at another institution), OR FAID 75 at Shasta College (or the equivalents at another institution). Students who attempt to satisfy these prerequisites with courses from another institution must provide transcripts that verify a minimum grade of B (80%) has been met.

This course provides the skills and knowledge needed for the entry level professional fire fighter to perform his/her duties safely, effectively, and competently. The curriculum is based on the current edition of NFPA 1001 Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, the current edition of NFPA 1051 Standard for Wildland Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, and the current edition of NFPA 472 Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents. The overarching themes of the California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Fire Fighter 1 and 2 curriculum are: general knowledge germane to the profession, fire department communications, fireground operations, rescue operations, preparedness and maintenance, wildland suppression activities, flammable liquids and gas fire fighting, and hazardous materials/WMD. This academy is an Accredited Regional Training Program approved by the California State Board of Fire Services. Final certification as an IFSAC/Pro Board certified Fire Fighter 1 is achieved upon successful completion of the California Office of the State Fire Marshal's manipulative and cognitive testing for Fire Fighter 1. Certification as an OSFM Fire Fighter 2 is achieved upon successful completion of the California Office of the State Fire Marshal's manipulative and cognitive testing for Fire Fighter 2, and is verified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal after the student completes the Academy and works as a volunteer Fire Fighter for one year or a full-time paid Fire Fighter for six months. Students successfully completing this course will receive numerous standalone certificates in structure and wildland fire suppression; Auto Extrication, Confined Space Awareness, Hazardous Materials Operations (Pro Board), and others. Note: This course meets five days a week with occasional night classes, and additional weekend days as required. Preset/scheduled dates and times may be shifted as needed to accommodate facility usage, equipment demands, weather, skills development needs and instructor availability. When dates and times are shifted, the total amount of required class time will not differ from those hours as listed on the first class handout.
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Spring Semester, First Year

15 Units Total
BUAD 66
GE 3
Business Communications
BUAD 66
Units 3
Note: Student must complete all assignments using a computer. Handwritten assignments will not be accepted.

This course applies the principles of ethical and effective communication to the creation of letters, memos, emails, and written and oral reports for a variety of business situations. The course emphasizes planning, organizing, composing, and revising business documents using word processing software for written documents and presentation-graphics software to create and deliver professional-level oral reports. This course is designed for students who already have college-level writing skills. This is a required course for many major and certificate programs and an alternate requirement or suggested elective in others. This class also satisfies the A.S. General Education requirement in English. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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BUAD 14
GE 3
Personal Finance
BUAD 14
Units 3
An introduction to personal finance, providing an in-depth study of time value of money, loan options and savings vehicles, retirement planning, tax strategies, and the implications of inflation. The course will strengthen quantitative reasoning skills including algebraic models and statistical data analysis. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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PSYC 1A
GE 3
General Psychology
PSYC 1A
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 190 with a grade of C or higher or English Placement Level 6 or higher.

This course provides an introduction to psychology as a science and as an applied field. The course provides an integration of physiological, cognitive, social-behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, cultural, and evolutionary perspectives. Topics include research methods, the nervous system, perception, learning, thinking, memory, human development, social behavior, emotions, motivation, personality, abnormal behavior, and psychotherapy. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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FIRS 70
M 3
Fire Protection Organization
FIRS 70
Units 3
This course provides an overview to fire protection and emergency services; career opportunities in fire protection and related fields; culture and history of emergency services; fire loss analysis; organization and function of public and private fire protection services; fire departments as part of local government; laws and regulations affecting the fire service; fire service nomenclature; specific fire protection functions; basic fire chemistry and physics; introduction to fire protection systems; introduction to fire strategy and tactics; life safety initiatives. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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FIRS 74
M 3
Fire Protection Equip/Systems
FIRS 74
Units 3
This course provides information relating to the features of design and operation of fire alarm systems, water-based suppression systems, special hazard fire suppression systems, water supply for fire protection and portable fire extinguishers. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Fall Semester, Second Year

12 Units Total
HIST 17A
GE 3
United States History
HIST 17A
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 190 with a grade of C or higher, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.

This course is a survey of the history of the United States from Pre-Columbian Peoples to the end of Reconstruction. Topics include contact and settlement of America, the movement toward independence, the formation of a new nation and Constitution, westward expansion and manifest destiny, the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and Reconstruction. This course satisfies the CSU requirement for US History (US-1). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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CMST 60
GE 3
Public Speaking
CMST 60
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 190 with a grade of C or higher, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.

This course is an introduction to the process of human communication with emphasis on public speaking. The subjects covered are speech topic selection, audience analysis, information competency (e.g. researching, evaluating and using supporting materials), presentation outlining, principles of effective speech delivery, critical evaluation of speeches, and presentation of informative and persuasive speeches. Most students will have the opportunity to be recorded and to use presentational technology. College level writing skills will be expected on all papers, outlines and short essays. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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HIST 2
GE 3
World Civilization to 1500 CE
HIST 2
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 196 with a grade of C or higher, or English Placement Level 6 or higher

This course is a comparative survey of the major ancient world civilizations which developed between 3500 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E. It examines political institutions, religious ideologies, the rise and fall of empires, and the major cultural innovations of each of the major world civilizations. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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NUTR 25
GE 3
Nutrition
NUTR 25
Units 3
This course includes a study of the science of food, the nutrients and other substances therein, and their actions, interactions, and balance in relation to health and disease. The class emphasizes the positive contributions of nutrition to life and health. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Spring Semester, Second Year

12 Units Total
FIRS 71
M 3
Fire Behavior and Combustion
FIRS 71
Units 3
This course of study presents theory and fundamentals of how and why fires start, spread, and are controlled; an in-depth study of fire chemistry and physics; fire characteristics of materials; extinguishing agents; and fire control techniques. The equivalent of this course in content and objective may also be offered on the Internet.
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FIRS 79
M 3
Fund of Personal Fire Safety
FIRS 79
Units 3
This course will introduce the student to fundamental issues relating to firefighting safety and survival. Students will evaluate case studies in which firefighters have been killed or injured, and each student will be required to give an oral presentation based on an analysis of a "near miss" fatal fire/rescue scenario. Additionally, this course will introduce the student to the National Firefighter Life Safety initiatives, which focus on the need for both cultural and behavioral change throughout the emergency services disciplines. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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FIRS 72
M 3
Fire Prevention Technology
FIRS 72
Units 3
This course provides fundamental knowledge relating to the field of fire prevention. Topics include history and philosophy of fire prevention; organization and operation of a fire prevention bureau; use and application of codes and standards; plans review; fire inspections; fire and life safety education; and fire investigation. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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FIRS 86
M 3
Bldg Construction-Fire Protect
FIRS 86
Units 3
This course is the study of the components of building construction that relate to fire safety. The elements of construction and design of structures are shown to be key factors when inspecting buildings, preplanning fire operations, and operating at fires. The development and evolution of building and fire codes will be studied in relationship to past fires in residential, commercial, and industrial occupancies. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Please see a counselor to discuss options for meeting general education requirements for transfer to California State Universities (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) campuses, as well as any specific additional courses that may be required by your chosen institution of transfer.

*Alternative Courses: Please see a Shasta College counselor for alternative course options. You can also view the following to find other courses to meet degree/certificate requirements:

Need a print out? Feel free to download and/or print out a copy of the sample program map(s).

Contact Us for More Information

Academic/Instructional Division Office

Location 1800
Division office is located on campus in Room 1800 (north of the gymnasium)

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