Wildland Fire Management (AAS)
Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Major: Wildland Fire Management
Program Code: 1363
About This Major . . .
This program is designed for students who want the credentials of an associate degree combined with the technical training that meets the National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) standards. The courses offered align with the NWCG Curriculum.
This degree provides graduates with a competitive advantage in gaining employment in the Wildland fire and land management career markets. Graduates are qualified to apply for jobs with the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife, as well as state, county, and contracted wildland firefighting entities.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit CMU Tech's Programs of Study page.
All CMU/CMU Tech associate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
- Demonstrate proficient formal and informal communication and writing skills that are professional in nature (Communication Fluency)
- Apply mathematical concepts required of entry level wildland firefighters. (Quantitative Fluency)
- Demonstrate specialized and holistic knowledge of interagency Wildland Fire Management (Specialized Knowledge)
- Demonstrate proficiency in basic skills required for entry level Wildland Fire Management professionals (Applied Learning)
- Evaluate leadership and ethical issues specific to Wildland Fire Management (Specialized Knowledge)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU and CMU Tech Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- 60 semester hours minimum.
- Students must complete a minimum of 15 of the final 30 semester hours of credit at CMU/CMU Tech.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/CMU Tech coursework.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
- Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 20 semester credit hours for an AAS degree.
- Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Specific to this program:
- 62 semester hours total for the AAS, Wildland Fire Management.
Essential Learning Requirements
(16 semester hours)
See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below. If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.
Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Communication | ||
ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
English Composition II-GTCO2 | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Speechmaking | ||
Mathematics | ||
MATH 108 | Technical Mathematics (or higher) 1 | 4 |
Other Essential Learning Core Courses | ||
Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences, History, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts or Humanities course | 3 | |
Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences, History, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts or Humanities course | 3 | |
Total Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
- 1
MATH 108 is a 4 semester credit hour course. 3 credits apply to Essential Learning. A higher course will satisfy the mathematics requirement for this AAS, and MATH 110, MATH 113, or higher may be required for BAS and BS degrees at CMU. See next intended degree for details if continuing to baccalaureate study after completion of AAS.
Should a student successfully complete a higher MATH course for 3 semester credit hours, this would fulfill the Mathematics Essential Learning Requirement and reduce the Essential Learning hours to 15. It would also reduce the overall hours for degree to 61, which is sufficient for graduation with this degree only when this hour difference is due to successful completion of a higher level MATH course at 3 semester credit hours.
Other Lower Division Requirements
Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Wellness Requirement | ||
KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
KINA 127 | Physical Conditioning | 1 |
Total Semester Credit Hours | 2 |
Program Specific Degree Requirements
(44 semester hours, must earn a grade of “C” or better in each course.)
Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
ENVS 101 | Introduction to Environmental Science-GTSC2 | 3 |
GEOL 103 | Weather and Climate-GTSC2 | 3 |
GEOG 131 | Introduction to Cartography | 3 |
FSWM 100 | Introduction to Wildland Fire Basic Fire Guard School | 5 |
FSWM 142 | Portable Pumps and Water Use | 2 |
FSWM 144 | Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface | 2 |
FSWM 147 | Ignition Operations | 2 |
FSWM 151 | Basic Air Operations | 1 |
FSWM 153 | Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior | 2 |
FSWM 155 | Initial Attack Incident Commander/Basic Incident Command System | 3 |
FSWM 156 | Firefighter Type 1 and Fire Line Leadership | 3 |
EMTS 115 | Emergency Medical Responder | 3 |
Restricted Electives | ||
Select 12 hours from the following Restricted Electives: | 12 | |
Principles of Supervision | ||
Principles of Plant Biology and Principles of Plant Biology Laboratory | ||
Principles of Chemistry-GTSC1 and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory-GTSC1 | ||
Introduction to Professional Writing-GTCO3 | ||
Introduction to Ecosystem Management and Introduction to Ecosystem Management Laboratory | ||
Fire Ecology and Fire Ecology Laboratory | ||
Introduction to Emergency Management | ||
Emergency Medical Technician - Basic II | ||
Expanded Dispatch Recorder | ||
Introduction to Incident Information | ||
Wildfire Chainsaws | ||
Status/Check-In Recorder | ||
Interagency Incident Business Operations | ||
Helicopter Crew Member | ||
Wildland Fire Origin & Cause Determination | ||
Advanced Firefighter Position Task Book | ||
Topics | ||
Extended Attack Incident Commander | ||
Fire Engine Operator | ||
Wildland Training for Structural Fire Fighters | ||
Supervised Work Experience | ||
Topics | ||
Internship | ||
Human Relations In Business | ||
Principles of Management | ||
Total Semester Credit Hours | 44 |
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
FSWM 100 | Introduction to Wildland Fire Basic Fire Guard School | 5 |
FSWM 153 | Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior | 2 |
ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
Essential Learning Social and Behavioral Science, History, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts or Humanities course | 3 | |
Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
Spring Semester | ||
FSWM 142 | Portable Pumps and Water Use | 2 |
FSWM 147 | Ignition Operations | 2 |
GEOG 131 | Introduction to Cartography | 3 |
MATH 108 | Technical Mathematics | 4 |
Restricted Electives | 5 | |
Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
FSWM 151 | Basic Air Operations | 1 |
FSWM 156 | Firefighter Type 1 and Fire Line Leadership | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
English Composition II-GTCO2 | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Speechmaking | ||
GEOL 103 | Weather and Climate-GTSC2 | 3 |
KINA 127 | Physical Conditioning | 1 |
Essential Learning Social and Behavioral Science, History, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts or Humanities course | 3 | |
Restricted Electives | 2 | |
Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
Spring Semester | ||
FSWM 144 | Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface | 2 |
FSWM 155 | Initial Attack Incident Commander/Basic Incident Command System | 3 |
EMTS 115 | Emergency Medical Responder | 3 |
ENVS 101 | Introduction to Environmental Science-GTSC2 | 3 |
Restricted Electives | 5 | |
Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
Total Semester Credit Hours | 62 |
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters, while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a degree and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the Graduation web page.
If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.