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Drop and Withdraw Dates
The full academic calendar with dates and deadlines can be viewed here.
Monday, January 16, 2023 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Campus Closed)
Tuesday, January 17, 2023 – Full-semester classes begin
Drop and Withdraw Dates for Full Semester Courses:
DROP A CLASS
Last day to drop and have full-semester class deleted from academic record with
100% refund – Monday, January 23, 2023
50% refund – Thursday, February 2, 2023
SPRING BREAK
March 20 – 26, 2023 – Campus open, no classes
WITHDRAW FROM A CLASS
Final Day to Withdraw from full-semester class (tuition may still be owed, class will remain on academic record)
Friday, March 31, 2023
Students who withdraw from a class should be aware that it may affect their financial aid and have other consequences. Find information here:
https://www.msudenver.edu/registrar/frequently-asked-questions/
Find information about and instructions to Drop and Withdraw here:
https://www.msudenver.edu/registrar/student/drop-and-withdrawal/
Drop dates for courses that do not meet for the full semester will vary according to class meeting dates. Please see your Detailed Class Schedule on the Student Hub for drop dates for these courses.
Apply for Graduation!
Seniors, you must apply to graduate in order for your degree to be conferred. Go to your Student Hub and find the Apply For Graduation button near the bottom of the page. This application to graduate is required whether or not students participate in a commencement ceremony.
Bachelor of Science in Fire & Emergency Response Administration
The mission of the MSU Denver Fire and Emergency Response Administration (FERA) degree program is to promote higher education and to enhance the value of the fire and emergency response professions in order to promote a safer community and to reduce the loss of life, property, and the number of physical and emotional casualties from fire and other life-threatening events.
MSU Denver is one of only a few college and university programs in the country to carry the “Certificate of Recognition” from the National Fire Academy-Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education for every FESHE course offered by the university.
Fire and Emergency Response courses at MSU are part of a nationally standardized curriculum based on the National Fire Academy-Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Model Curriculum and are intended to meet higher education criteria set forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).
For more information about the FESHE coursework at MSU Denver please email Dr. Brian Bagwell or call him at 303-615-0143.
FERA Coursework
The Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Response Administration (FERA) degree at MSU Denver broadly encompasses all emergency services response disciplines in the public and private sectors and is designed to provide students with foundational skills in fire research, emergency response administration, personnel safety, emergency management, disaster planning and control, and community risk reduction. The degree program is designed to give students a competitive edge in the emergency response job market, and support emergency response personnel and other first responders to increase their administrative and management knowledge, as well as occupational and life safety awareness. The FERA degree also prepares students to face new challenges in technology, human resource management, and fiscal responsibility.
MSU Denver is recognized by FEMA and the National Fire Administration as an official Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) institution and students completing the FESHE coursework receive a National Fire Academy certificate for each completed course. Beyond the six FESHE core bachelor-level courses, seven additional non-core courses have also been approved for students to receive NFA certificates – a unique advantage of taking classes at MSU Denver.
| Required courses: | |
| FER 3000 – Applications of Fire Research | 3 |
| FER 3110 – Community Risk Reduction for Fire and Emergency Services | 3 |
| FER 3140 – Fire and Emergency Services Administration | 3 |
| FER 3200 – Fire Prevention, Organization, and Management | 3 |
| FER 3430 – Personnel Development for Fire and Emergency Services | 3 |
| FER 3460 – Political and Legal Foundations for Fire Protection | 3 |
| FER 3911 – Cultural Competence for First Responders | 3 |
| FER 4610 – Disaster Planning and Control | 3 |
| Required Courses: | 24 |
| Choose 16 credits from the following: | |
| FER 3300 – Understanding International Terrorism | 3 |
| FER 3330 – Introduction to Homeland Security | 3 |
| FER 3980 – Internship: Fire and Emergency Response | 3 to 6 |
| FER 4100 – Analytical Approaches to Public Fire Protection | 3 |
| FER 4220 – Fire Dynamics | 3 |
| FER 4260 – Fire Investigation and Analysis | 3 |
| FER 4310 – Fire Protection Structures and Systems | 3 |
| FER 4420 – Fire-related Human Behavior | 3 |
| FER 4510 – Managerial Issues in Hazardous Materials | 3 |
| HSP 3220 – Conflict Resolution and Decision Making | 3 |
| HSP 1020 – Trauma-Informed Care | 3 |
| HSP 2105 – Foundations of Trauma Counseling | 3 |
| HSP 3940 – Victim Advocacy for Survivors of Interpersonal Violence | 3 |
| HSP 4160 – Human Trafficking | 3 |
| COMM 3010 – Business and Professional Speaking | 3 |
| MGT 3000 – Organizational Management | 3 |
| MGT 4530 – Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| PSC 3020 – Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PSC 3170 – Leadership Studies | 3 |
| Total: | 40 |
| B.S in Fire and Emergency Administration | |
| General Studies | 33 |
| Major | 40 |
| Minor | 18-24 |
| Electives | 19-25 |
| Total hours required for degree | 120 |
A grade of “C” or better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree.
You must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours in order to graduate and 40 of those credit hours must be upper division (3000 or 4000 level).
Note: If you are on a catalog year prior to 2012, your required coursework will be different than the information presented here. See a department advisor to review a degree progress report to verify which classes you need to complete the program
Bachelor of Science in Fire & Emergency Response Administration, Extended Major
The Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Response Administration (FERA) extended major is a completion degree for for students with 24 credits of Firefighter I, EMT-Basic, and Hazardous Material Operations coursework from a regionally accredited Colorado Community College. Alternately, students may possess state or national certification in these areas.
A minor is not required with the FERA Extended Major.
FERA Extended Major Coursework
In addition to the 24 required credits and 12 elective credits listed below, the FERA Extended Major requires the following 24 credits hours to be taken at a regionally accredited Colorado Community College. These credits may also be fulfilled by state or national certification in these areas.
Firefighter I: 9 credits
EMT Basic Certificate: 12 credits
Hazardous Materials Operation Certificate: 3 credits
Please contact Dr. Brian Bagwell at [email protected] to discuss these requirements.
MSU Denver is recognized by FEMA and the National Fire Administration as an official Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) institution and students completing the FESHE coursework receive a National Fire Academy certificate for each completed course. Beyond the six FESHE core bachelor-level courses, seven additional non-core courses have also been approved for students to receive NFA certificates – a unique advantage of taking classes at MSU Denver.
| Required courses: | |
| FER 3000 – Applications of Fire Research | 3 |
| FER 3110 – Community Risk Reduction for Fire and Emergency Services | 3 |
| FER 3140 – Fire and Emergency Services Administration | 3 |
| FER 3200 – Fire Prevention, Organization, and Management | 3 |
| FER 3430 – Personnel Development for Fire and Emergency Services | 3 |
| FER 3460 – Political and Legal Foundations for Fire Protection | 3 |
| FER 3911 – Cultural Competence for First Responders | 3 |
| FER 4610 – Disaster Planning and Control | 3 |
| Required Courses: | 24 |
| Choose 16 credits from the following: | |
| FER 3300 – Understanding International Terrorism | 3 |
| FER 3330 – Introduction to Homeland Security | 3 |
| FER 3980 – Internship: Fire and Emergency Response | 3 to 6 |
| FER 4100 – Analytical Approaches to Public Fire Protection | 3 |
| FER 4220 – Fire Dynamics | 3 |
| FER 4260 – Fire Investigation and Analysis | 3 |
| FER 4310 – Fire Protection Structures and Systems | 3 |
| FER 4420 – Fire-related Human Behavior | 3 |
| FER 4510 – Managerial Issues in Hazardous Materials | 3 |
| HSP 3220 – Conflict Resolution and Decision Making | 3 |
| HSP 1020 – Trauma-Informed Care | 3 |
| HSP 2105 – Foundations of Trauma Counseling | 3 |
| HSP 3940 – Victim Advocacy for Survivors of Interpersonal Violence | 3 |
| HSP 4160 – Human Trafficking | 3 |
| COMM 3010 – Business and Professional Speaking | 3 |
| MGT 3000 – Organizational Management | 3 |
| MGT 4530 – Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| PSC 3020 – Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PSC 3170 – Leadership Studies | 3 |
| Total: | 40 |
| B.S in Fire and Emergency Administration | |
| General Studies | 33 |
| Major | 36 |
| Extended Major | 24 |
| Electives | 27 |
| Total hours required for degree | 120 |
A grade of “C” or better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree.
You must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours in order to graduate and 40 of those credit hours must be upper division (3000 or 4000 level).
Note: If you are on a catalog year prior to 2012, your required coursework will be different than the information presented here. See a department advisor to review a degree progress report to verify which classes you need to complete the program
Our Fire and Emergency Response Administration program meets national Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education guidelines.
Student Learning Outcomes
Our program is designed to provide students with the following outcomes:
Develop awareness of current global management issues in emergency services.
Develop a broad knowledge base of emergency services.
Apply management models compatible with the National Incident Management System.
Understand community risk reduction and mitigation efforts.
Understand the science and data behind fire investigations and tactical operations.
Gain insight into human behavior during emergencies.
Acquire insight into modern political and legal limitations on emergency services.
Understand the need for ethical leadership.
“The type of people we’re training are the ones who don’t run away from crisis; they run toward it. Getting more people trained properly to be leaders in the emergency response field is something our society really needs.”
Brian Bagwell
Professor; Program Director, Fire and Emergency Response Administration Program
FERA Program Graduates
Our FERA students go on to work in various positions in the Emergency Response field. The January 2022 Denver Fire Department Graduation Ceremony, held on Auraria Campus, included several of our graduates.
Academic Advising
Staying connected with academic advising is one of the best ways to ensure your path to successful degree completion. We are here to support you!
Your academic advisors are
Monique Left Hand Bull
[email protected]
for General Studies and FERA advising
Kim VanHoosier-Carey
[email protected]
for FERA advising and FERA Certificate approvals
Dr. Brian Bagwell
[email protected]
for FERA and FERA Extended Major advising
The Brooking Industries Scholarship
The Brooking Industries offers a scholarship program for dependents of current, full time qualified First Responders or commissioned Law Enforcement officers. Applicants must be either a high school senior or a college student.
This annual scholarship awards $10,000 to the winning submission and $500 to each of four runner-up submissions.
March 1, 2022 is the next deadline to submit your application.
Follow this link for more information and to apply online.
Job Opportunities
There are no current opportunities to post. We will share job opportunities here as they are received.
FERA supports the overall MSU Denver mission in the following ways:
- High-Quality Education: Educational coursework is based on research-based, best practice models to provide Fire and Emergency Response Administration majors with opportunities to broaden their understanding of the fire and emergency services within the information age in order to contribute to their academic and professional development while encouraging lifelong learning and contributing to the diverse communities to which they will belong to and serve. A focus on excellence in learning is one of the key features of this major.
- Successful Careers and Employment Opportunities: This program prepares students for successful entry into a career in the fire and/or emergency services or a related emergency response-related career field. The classroom provides students with an opportunity to network with other students and professionals currently working in the field, and the faculty is comprised of professionals who not only are scholarly in their particular field of study, but also have significant hands-on experience and/or are currently working as firefighters, fire officers, fire investigators, or other first responders.
- Community Engagement in Application of Knowledge: This program engages the community through a number of service-learning opportunities in which students combine their time in the classroom with field experiences in which they interact directly with the community in a variety of settings with a number of our community partners that include fire and emergency awareness exercises, arson investigation, the American Red Cross, the Center for Excellence in Aerial Wildland Firefighting, and many of the metropolitan area fire departments.
Contact Us
Find our office contact information here.