Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

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EKU’s Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Administration will prepare you for a variety of careers in the fire science and safety field. The courses encompass all areas of fire study from emergency scene operations and fire investigation, to hazardous materials and fire dynamics.

Ultimately, the goal of the Fire Protection Administration program is to prepare you to be a leader in the fire services. You will probably start your career as a firefighter. However, having your bachelor’s degree will put you in a better position for promotions and increased salary opportunities.  Additionally, the knowledge you gain from the degree program will help you make quick decisions during a crisis situation.

The combination of what you learn in the classroom at EKU and the experience you’ll gain through internships, co-ops and your first job will make you very valuable to the industry.

Some careers available with a Fire Protection Administration degree are:

• Firefighter
• Fire Chief
• Fire Marshal
• Fire Safety Director or Officer
• Building Inspector
• Fire Investigator
• Hazardous Materials Specialist

Job Summary

The chief officer manages and leads the fire department and also commands at the scene of an emergency. He prepares the budgets, administers department policies, supervises training and manages day-to-day operations. He also acts as an advisor to local government and keeps the community prepared for emergency response.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Protection Administration is a dynamic curriculum using an approach designed to adapt different learning styles and schedules for current and future professionals in the fire and safety industry. The program will provide learners with knowledge and understanding of integration in the various technical aspects of fire service management.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the Fire Protection Administration curriculum will be able to:

1. Apply principles of transformational leadership to negotiate, mentor, motivate, and lead others toward a shared and ethical organizational vision or goal.
2. Apply knowledge of leadership, change, business models, organizational issues, and regulations to ensure organizational effectiveness, resulting in the    
       improvement of emergency services.
3. Utilize the methods and resources of research, science, and technology to effectively manage emergency services.
4. Utilize appropriate communication strategies and methods to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.
5. Utilize appropriate assessment and planning skills to improve organization and community risk management for emergency services.

General Student Outcomes

Upon completion of the FAEI Program at EKU, students will demonstrate the following learned professional capabilities:

1.   Students will demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the functions of planning, organizing, directing and controlling as applicable to leadership in the
         fire and emergency services.
2.   Students shall describe the methods and to perform an analyze of the appropriateness of coverage of a fire protection agency.
3.   Students will demonstrate an understanding of crisis management, fire suppression and modern extinguishment methods.
4.   Students will be able to express basic understanding of the requirements and processes needed to achieve leadership positions in the fire service.
5.   Students will demonstrate understanding and appreciation of the skills necessary for planning, direction and management of the operations of the Fire
         Department.
6.   Students will demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the functions of fire prevention/protection, fire suppression, emergency preparedness planning,
         public fire safety education, and related code enforcement.
7.   Students will demonstrate understanding and awareness regarding accountability for results in terms of costs, personnel and methods.
8.   Students will be able to make logical presentations and produced technical reports  on topics effecting a fire protection agencies various functions.
9.   Students shall be able to apply the National Standards of Care to the operations of a fire protection agency
10. Students shall apply knowledge of the proper management techniques of a fire protection agency.
11. Students shall demonstrate the ability to perform hazard analysis and emergency planning.
12. Students shall integrate the professional development model into the operations of a fire protection agency.
13. Students completing this degree will demonstrate the ability to work within a team to assess and suggest methodologies to provide fire related
          emergency services to communities.
14. Students will correlate widely variant issues, assign priorities to each, and synthesize given information into a unified approach to solving preventing and
          mitigating fire conditions.
15. Students demonstrate understanding of the need to integrate hazard assessment, hazard mitigation and emergency response capabilities in the
          umbrella of emergency service systems.
16. Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate fire department needs to political bodies, managers, citizens and others within the fire
          department organization.
17. Students will demonstrate understanding of nationally accepted codes, laws and standards that are applicable to fire and emergency service
          organizations in providing comprehensive emergency services to a community.