Master's Degree in Fire Science

One of the most prominent heroic icons we have in American is that of the firefighter. We have always considered firefighters as the true heroes who rescue people in danger and come to save the day when the powers of nature seem out of control. But especially since September 11, 2001 the image of the firefighter has inspired awe and reverence. They are the ones who rush in when everyone else rushes out. Society habitually owes these firefighters and others like them an enormous debt of gratitude. Fortunately, there are many new individuals stepping up to become firefighters every year. And also fortunately, there is a diverse field of opportunity besides firefighting that a fire safety or fire sciences degree will afford. Find the best fire safety training classes below. We have listed all the fire science school masters degree programs we know of and hopefully you can start your career training today.

The traditional career path to take with a masters degree in fire sciences is to become a firefighter and work for a city's fire department. This degree can help someone down the path of becoming a firefighter which would require other training beyond a fire safety degree or can help an individual obtain an administrative position at a department. Thanks to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) both of which are departments that hire individuals with fire degrees careers in firefighting are much safer than they have been traditionally.

Firefighters are the once who typically receive the most recognition from society, as they are the ones actually reporting to fires and expending their physical labor to help those in distress. A fire department is structured on a hierarchy, however, and many firefighters work their way up over their years, eventually attending less fires and working more administrative positions. Firefighters also get cross-trained on a number of skills, including becoming paramedics. Of course, the specific responsibilities and opportunities for growth vary on the size and location of the department.

Beyond the red trucks and flashing lights of the fire department, there are many other careers available to individuals pursuing a fire safety or fire sciences degree. A fire-related job includes becoming an Emergency Medical Technician; like a fireman, an EMT is a first responder, and job growth for this profession will increase, especially in cities that contain private ambulance services. But this is not a strictly fire-based field. More on target with a focus on fire would be a fire inspector or investigator. These jobs put you at the forefront of preventing fires before they happen or determining the cause of fires after they occur. Here, you'll be working the government, developers, and other entities responsible for making sure that buildings and usages are up to code. As an investigator, you will visit sites of fires and help determine causation.

Related to being an investigator is the field of forensic science technician; here, like other careers related to fire, a cross-training in an array of fields in addition to fire makes one the most marketable for a career. Or, without special forensic science training, one might take themselves on the path toward becoming a police officer, a detective, or even an FBI agent.

Fire is one of the most powerful, intimidating, and unexpected forces of nature. While we might not always have control over where it comes from or what damage it does, we can at least have individuals trained in the safety and science of fire to help protect us from its dangers. Like the firefighters who will forever be branded with the stigma of heroism, all fire specialists deserve their own recognition for their contributions to society. Find your fire science school today and get started on your new degree.