2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin

Fire Science, Bachelor of Science

Description. The major in Fire Science concentrates on the analysis of fire vulnerabilities to reduce losses of life and property in both the public and private sectors.  The program prepares students for careers as fire safety specialists, managers, consultants and entrepreneurs.  

Learning outcomes. Students will:

  • Identify and categorize the core mechanisms of fire growth and suppression
  • Appraise and evaluate the built environment and its relationship to fire growth and suppression
  • Develop and critique fire protection designs
  • Organize and disseminate the policy and processes of fire safety and fire protection

Credits Required.

Fire Science Major 37
General Education 42
Electives 41
Total Credits Required for B.S. Degree 120

Coordinator. Professor Robert Till, Department of Security, Fire and Emergency Management (212-484-1379, rtill@jjay.cuny.edu). Students should see the Major Coordinator for advice regarding selection of courses, meeting the science requirement and choice of electives.

Advising resources. Major Advising Resources including a Sample Four Year Degree Map..
Students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in fire protection engineering are strongly encouraged to meet with the major coordinator to develop a plan for additional classes in order to meet the entry requirements of such graduate programs. 

Prerequisites. If students choose to take PHY 203, MAT 241 is a  prerequisite and MAT 242 is a prerequisite or co–requisite for PHY 203. These math courses can fulfill the Required Core: Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning area of the College’s general education requirements.

Requirements. This major requires one semester of physics. This course will fulfill the College’s general education requirements in Flexible Core: Scientific World area.

Additional information. Students who enrolled at the College for the first time or changed to this major in September 2016 or thereafter must complete the major in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose the form shown here or the earlier version of the major. A copy of the earlier version may be obtained in the 2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin.

Part One. Science Requirements

Required
PHY 101College Physics I (Liberal Arts Physics)

4

OR

PHY 203General Physics I

4

Subtotal: 4

Students who opt to take PHY 203 may have to take additional prerequisite math courses to meet the course prerequisites (i.e. MAT 105 College Algebra, and/or MAT 141 Pre-Calculus, and/or MAT 241 Calculus I).

Part Two. Core Requirements

Required
FIS 101Introduction to Fire Science

3

FIS 205Fire Service Hydraulics

3

FIS 210Fire Safety Administration

3

FIS 230Building Construction and Life Safety Systems I

3

FIS 257Fire Dynamics

3

FIS 319Hazard Identification and Mitigation

3

FIS 330Building Construction and Life Safety Systems II

3

FIS 401Seminar in Fire Protection Problems

3

Subtotal: 24

Part Three. Electives

Select three
FIS 106Safety Engineering

3

FIS 202Fire Protection Systems

3

FIS 207Water-based Fire Suppression Systems

3

FIS 220/MAT 220/PSC 220Survey of the Concepts of Operations Research

3

FIS 303Fire Investigations

3

Subtotal: 9

Total Credit Hours: 37