Associate of Fire Protection Technology

1st Year

Fall Semester

• English
• Mathematics for Modern Technology
• Introduction to Fire Protection
• Fire Investigation Methods

Spring Semester

• Fire Safety in Building Design & Construction
• Incident Management for Emergency Responders
• Fire Sprinkler System Design
• Fire Prevention

2nd Year

Fall Semester

• Fire and Life Safety Education
• Fire Detection & Suppression Systems
• Fire Service Administration
• Professional Communications and Presentations
• Basic Chemistry

Spring Semester

• Hazardous Materials
• Fire & Safety Issues for Business & Industry
• Field Experience I
• Field Experience II
• Human Relations

Policy Alert: By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you must have completed your required General Education English, Mathematics, and Communications (Speech) requirements.

Real-world experience

You will have the opportunity to visit local fire stations and go on calls with battalion commanders. You will also be able to visit the Training Center for Fire and Hazardous Materials and learn what it takes to be a building inspector.

You may participate in a 15-week internship, which consists of a full-time assignment in a fire protection agency. Our internship program provides valuable fire-related experience with regional fire organizations, such as fire departments, private fire investigation organizations, hazardous material compliance organizations, and others.

Also, our majors are encouraged to participate in special projects, such as fire training, educational tours, and fire-related research projects. These experiences will help you learn what a career in that area of fire protection is all about, and will aid you in making important career decisions.

Our graduates work in fire protection and prevention, the design and application of fire-extinguishing equipment, and the application of fire codes and standards. They are employed in municipal, industrial, state, federal, and private agencies as:

• Firefighters and paramedics
• Emergency response specialists
• Special hazards technicians
• Safety and environmental coordinators

Our graduates work across the region and beyond, for organizations such as the Akron Fire Department, Summit Metro Parks, Ohio Fire Academy, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Emergency Medical Services department in Washington, D.C., and more.

In many fire departments, having this associate degree will make you eligible for the promotion. This degree is also a pathway to bachelor’s degrees, such as UA’s Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security — providing even greater opportunities for career advancement.