Thinking about getting your fire science degree from a good college so that you can land a high-paying job? Well, don’t think too fast. There are some important things that you need to know first.
What is a fire science degree?
By the time you graduate, you should understand the causes and effects of all fires. Your knowledge should include facts about prevention and safety too. Fire scientists are vital to social services, so students usually work with law enforcement and emergency medical services. Most of the time, they’re found digging into legal jargon, ethics, and physics.
Required classes for your future career
Degree requirements can vary widely depending on what you want to do with your credentials. Many courses overlap, but your studies tend to streamline once you reach higher learning levels. For example, arson investigators will probably look at court cases to learn the ins and outs of a crime scene.
Meanwhile, all fire scientists have to complete the following classes to earn their degree:
- Fire Prevention
- EMT Basics
- Fire Codes and Laws
- Hazardous Material Management
- Disaster and Fire Defense Planning (DFDP)
- Fire Chemistry
- Basic Physics
In some cases, you might also have to take a few mathematics classes or pass general language courses before getting your degree. So, talk to your admissions counselor for more specific information.
FACT: You can get a decent job with just a bachelor’s degree in fire science, but the real money comes when you earn a Master’s or Doctorate.
Top jobs for fire science degrees
So, what can you do with a degree in fire science? Well, a lot of things, actually. It’s one of the most in-demand jobs and the pay isn’t too bad either. On average, college-educated fire scientists can make about $50,000 a year before bonuses.
Of course, your salary will depend on several factors, including which school you attend and how you performed while you were there. Higher grades equal better-paying jobs, so don’t forget to study. If you do a good job in class, these are some of the careers that await you:
- Firefighter – Put out community blazes and make around $50k doing it.
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Save lives every day for upwards of $70,000 a year.
- Arson Investigator – Determine the cause of a fire while raking in around $60,00 annually.
- Fire Marshall – Organize rescues and investigations for about $56k a year.
- Smoke Jumper – Drop into hot zones to earn about $35,000 annually, plus hazard pay.
The best fire science colleges
Ready to get started right away? Earning your stripes isn’t as hard as it seems. In fact, there are several colleges that focus on fire science degrees so much that they’re known for their curriculum. Here are just a few of them to get you going:
- Shasta College in Redding, CA – Most Affordable
- Kilgore College in Kilgore, TX – Most Popular
- Apollo Career Center in Lima, OH – Most Career Focused
This degree usually takes between 2 and 4 years to complete. But you can possibly speed things up by attending a reputable online school for fire science.