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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. Mike Williams [email protected].
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
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.
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
Dr. Mike Williams
[email protected]
for FERA 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.
Ride-Along With Denver Fire Department
We are thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership between FERA and the Denver Fire Department! This collaboration provides current FERA students with an incredible opportunity to:
- Visit the Fire Station: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the daily operations and culture of the fire department.
- Experience a Ride-Along: Immerse yourself in the life of a firefighter and witness firsthand the challenges and rewards of this vital profession.
You can find more information on FERA’s Ride-Along initiative, here.
Contact Us
Find our office contact information here.