The Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Fire Service Management

ASU's Polytechnic campus Fire Service Programs prepare students and practitioners to successfully perform managerial duties in federal, state, and local, fire departments and related fire service organizations, including institutions of higher learning by providing them with cutting edge technology, education, and skills in the areas of fire service.

The Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Fire Service Management (BAS-FSM) is a flexible, 60-semester hour degree designed specifically for students who have earned an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree from a community college. In completing the BAS, students complete all ASU graduation requirements.

The goal of the program is to provide students with management, leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills - along with significant work in fire service management - that will broaden their career horizons, promote life-long learning, and enrich their personal and civic life.

BAS Degree in Fire Service Management
The Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Fire Service Management provides students an opportunity to continue their fire service education beyond the community college.

BAS FSM Objectives

• Prepares students for positions as professional firefighters in public and private fire departments.
  
  
• Prepares students for supervisory and management positions in fire departments and as fire safety specialists in industry.
  
  
• Provides students with the opportunity for personal and professional growth that will better prepare them for promotional opportunities and other special projects in their employment.
  
  
• Provides students an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in their chosen field while furthering their personal and professional development.
  
  
• Prepares students for matriculation into the Master of Science in Technology Degree in Fire Service Administration program
  
  

To be admitted to the BAS program, students must:

• Complete an AAS degree at a regionally accredited postsecondary institution with a minimum of 60 semester hours earned with at least a “C” grade.
  
  
• Have a GPA of 2.0 or higher for all coursework (a 2.5 GPA is required for non-resident applicants).
  
  

In completing the BAS, students will complete all ASU graduation requirements. For more information located in the ASU Catalog use the following link. http://www.asu.edu/admissions/howtoapply/ 

BAS Application Process
Information regarding the application process and an on-line application form can be found at the ASU Student Affairs Admissions Web site: https://www-sec.asu.edu/default.sph/ugapp . Applying electronically will ensure that your application is processed quickly. Applications are also available on the Polytechnic campus, at all other ASU registration sites, and by mail from:

Undergraduate Admissions
Arizona State University
PO Box 870112
Tempe, AZ 85287-0112

Whether applying online or through the mail, be sure to indicate on the application what you are applying for:

Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) (or applied science)
Program: Fire Service Management (FSM)
College: College of Technology and Innovation (CTAS)
Campus: Polytechnic

Start Date: Indicate Semester and Year you want to start, (Fall or Spring Only).

BAS Requirements

Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Fire Service Management
The BAS-FSM is a 60-semester hour program, divided into four segments:

• General Studies - 19 semester hours
  
  
• BAS Core 15 - semester hours
  
  
• Concentration 20 - semester hours
  
  
• Assignable Credits - 6 semester hours
  
  

General Studies (19 semester hours)
In consultation with an advisor, students choose courses from the ASU General Studies list that contribute to a coherent overall curriculum that helps them meet their educational goals. General Studies include Numeracy, Lab Science, Literacy, Humanities, and Social and Behavioral Science courses, including history, culture, global awareness areas. All courses required by ASU must be upper division courses.

BAS Core (15 semester hours)
The BAS Core Curriculum focuses on management and organization, professional communication, statistical processes, and computer competencies. Students must take at least one three-semester hour course in each of these four general categories. The remaining three semester hours are devoted to a second course in one of the above areas.

Concentration (20 semester hours)
Students devote at least 20 semester hours to the Fire Service Management concentration, either choosing from set curricula, or developing a custom curriculum with the help of their advisor. Assignable Credits may be used to enhance the area of concentration.

Assignable Credits (6 semester hours)
Assignable Credits allow space in the curriculum for prerequisite courses some students might need to succeed in the program. Assignable credits may be used to strengthen specific capabilities, to strengthen knowledge of core areas, or can be used as elective courses. The use of Assignable Credits is worked out between the student and their advisor.

BAS Fire Service Management Courses

FSM 304 Fire Personnel Management and FSM 425 Fire Service Administration are required in the Core requirements. The below courses are used to complete the concentration section and the assignable credits section in the BAS FSM Check Sheet.

FSM Course Listings in ASU Catalog

FSM 304 Fire Personnel Management [3 semester hours]: Promotion, personnel development, career and incentive systems, validation of physical requirements, managerial and supervisory procedures. Topics include current cases, disciplinary issues, progressive personnel management, humane behavior, diversity, ethics, and self-discipline. FSM 304 is a core course.

FSM 305 Quality Emergency Services [3 semester hours]: Covers quality issues relating to services delivered by progressive fire departments. Course covers the management of personnel and resources during organizational change. Topics include customer service, ethical behavior, developing quality control programs to improve services.

FSM 306 Fire Prevention Organization and Management [3 semester hours]: Examines and evaluates the techniques, procedures, programs, and agencies involved in preventing fires. Topics include the role of fire and building codes, the politics of regulations, the role of fire prevention and education in the community, working with community stakeholders, and providing customer service.

FSM 307 Fire Department Safety Organization and Management [2 semester hours]: Focus is on the management of fire department safety programs. Topics include personnel safety, safety on emergency incidents, safety in fire facilities, and working with other safety organizations at the local, state, and federal levels.

FSM 308 Fire Department Budgeting [3 credits]: Examines the role of fire department budgets and their relationship to other levels of government as a planning tool. Topics include budget activities, preparing a budget, using a budget as a planning tool, the relationship between budgeting and measuring performance, and the politics of budgeting.

FSM 309 Emergency Medical Services Organization and Management [3 semester hours]: Focus is on the administration and management of emergency medical services delivered by a fire department. Topics include BLS and ALS services, emergency services transportation, and working with the medical community.

FSM 363 Computer Applications in Emergency Management [3 semester hours]: Specific computer programs will be explored which are currently in use for contingency planning, tracking chemical inventories, and response resources. This course is cross-listed as ETM 363. Credit is allowed only for ETM 363 or FSM 363.

FSM 400 Human Behavior and the Fire Threat [3 semester hours]: Proper ways of conducting post-fire interviews; emphasizes the psychological effects of communications during emergencies. Topics include working with juveniles, understanding victims, collaborating with the community, and working with firefighters.

FSM 401 Labor Relations in the Fire Service [3 semester hours]: Examines the relationships between management and unions using the Relations by Objectives model. Topics include the roles of managers and labor leaders, working together on RBO teams, strategic planning, and the role of the union in personnel issues.

FSM 404 Fire Service Program Management and Fire Service Accreditation [3 semester hours]: Examines how to develop, manage, and implement fire department programs including an examination of the ICMA/IAFC accreditation process. Topics include training, public education, personnel, support, and emergency operations programs. Also included is an examination of the ICMA/IAFC accreditation process.

FSM 405 Fire Service Leadership [3 semester hours]: Focus is on developing personal and organizational leadership qualities required to be successful in the fire service. Examines the leadership qualities of successful fire service leaders and how fire service managers and executives can learn to be more successful leaders.

FSM 421 Political and Legal Consideration in Fire Science [3 semester hours]: Study of legal and political considerations that affect the decision making of fire service managers. Topics include the players in the political and legal environment, what makes an issue political, legal and ethical issues in decision making, and the influence of the organizational structure on politics.

FSM 425 Fire Service Administration [3 semester hours]: Presentation of modern management and planning techniques that apply to organizing a fire department. Topics include organizational theory, how fire departments are structured, the decision making process, organizational behavior, managing human and physical resources, emergency services, and other service delivery issues. FSM 425 is a core course.

FSM 460 Incident Management Systems and Emergency Operations Center [3 semester hours]: Covers IMS, terminology, players, and management philosophy, EOC setup, activation, operation, and terminology, EOC funding and politics. This course is cross-listed as ETM 460. Credit is allowed for ETM 460 or FSM 460.

FSM 493 Fire Service Management Senior Project [2 semester hours]: This is a capstone applied project. Knowledge learned from FSM coursework is applied to solve a practical fire service problem. Students complete a project that demonstrates mastery of the several courses they competed in their program of study. The project typically addresses a practical problem or issue in the fire service or their fire department.

FSM 494 Technical Project [2-3 semester hours]: Student completes a specific project that addresses a fire department issue or problem under the direction of someone in the fire department and in collaboration with their faculty advisor.

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