The Fire and Emergency Services degree program is designed to add the academic substance to prepare graduates to lead public or private sector fire, EMS, and emergency management. Students earn a bachelor of science with the ability to specialize in fire, emergency medical services management, or emergency management.
This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ufl.edu.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
School Information
The mission of the M. E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management is to be the center of excellence for construction. The Rinker School will pursue this by promoting professional and ethical behavior in education and practice, advancing the industry by creating new knowledge through research and scholarly activities, educating individuals in principles, knowledge, and skills required to be successful in their professional careers, and providing service and transferring knowledge to the citizens of Florida, the construction industry, professional societies, the nation, and the world. Website
The program specializations offer the student the ability to focus their degree in three different aspects of the emergency services industry. The program prepares the graduates for advancement in the ranks for the fire service, EMS and emergency management. In addition, graduates can find jobs at the local, state and national level of government, insurance companies, industry, and other areas. Students may apply to the university at the junior year after earning the Associate of Arts degree from a Florida state college or other regionally accredited academic institution. Freshman and sophomore coursework will be taken at a Florida state or public college or other regionally accredited academic institution.
After being accepted, students can pursue a Bachelor of Science without moving to Gainesville. Coursework for the junior and senior years will be offered via electronic distance learning, and UF faculty will teach and advise students in the program.
Students need access to a personal computer capable of connecting to the Internet.
Course requirements for the Degree
The B.S. degree is for students with different professional objectives. All students, regardless of specialization, are required to take FES 3015 Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Management as their opening course.
Each specialization has a specific set of required core courses required courses and electives of upper-division courses that represent important interdisciplinary topic areas. Core courses provide students with the knowledge and fundamental concepts essential to the specialization. The required courses are designed to be applicable across all specializations. The electives allow the students to select courses that meet their career interest. Upper-division courses are designed to build knowledge, competency and skills applicable to professional development.
Students should meet with an advisor as early as possible in their academic careers to choose their specialization and to plan their course of study.
For students seeking careers in emergency management in the public or private sector.
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
The School of Construction Management offers an accessible Bachelor of Science program for members of the fire and emergency services. This degree program is designed to build on students' experience in the fire service and to add the academic substance to prepare students to lead public or private sector fire and emergency service units.
Before Graduating Students Must
Demonstrate ability in management, labor issues and operations.
Demonstrate ability in services related to medical, disaster and human resources.
Demonstrate ability in public relations, ethical practices and leadership.
Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.
Students in the Major will Learn to
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Content
Identify and evaluate organizational problems associated with fire and emergency services.
Identify and demonstrate proper knowledge and use of comprehensive emergency management/command and control skills in major catastrophic incidents in fire and emergency services.
Illustrate knowledge and legal application of safety, health and environmental regulations at state and federal levels.
Critical Thinking
Demonstrate effective leadership behavior and skills in fire and emergency services.
Properly address issues of management, code regulations and the labor market in fire and emergency services.
Communication
Demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills for leadership in fire and emergency services.
