Fire Technology
Associate of Science
Associate of Applied Science
Division: Business, Social and Behavioral Science, and Professional/Public Service
Division Chair: Kristie Morris, kmorris@sunyrockland.edu
Department Chair: Clifford M. Ader, cader@sunyrockland.edu
Department Support Staff: Collette Gercken, cgercken@sunyrockland.edu
Department Office: Technology Center, Room 8242, Phone: 845-574-4298
Why Study Fire Technology?
New technology and an increased range of responsibilities have created exciting new opportunities for firefighters. Firefighters are invaluable team members in emergency medical services, disaster recoveries, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues, incident management, ensuring building safety compliance, providing public education and more.
The AAS degree in Fire Protection Technology is designed for students seeking immediate employment in the field. Students who plan to continue their education with a four-year degree, or want to pursue or advance their career in fire or emergency management, should consider the AS degree in Fire Science Technology instead.
Degrees Offered:
Occupational Objectives:
In addition to an increased demand for skilled firefighters and professional fire and emergency service practitioners, there are career opportunities in public safety and telecommunications, for corporate safety specialists, deputy fire marshals, fire and building code inspectors, fire prevention and training specialists and dispatchers. Employment of firefighters is expected to grow 19 percent between 2008 and 2018, faster than the average for all occupations.
5 Top Reasons
To Study Fire Technology at RCC:
- VALUE: Affordable tuition, financial aid, scholarships
- HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE: Fieldwork provides real-world experience
- FLEXIBILITY: Part-time study can accommodate work, family or other time commitments. On campus childcare available
- FACULTY: Learn from instructors from one of the premier fire departments in the nation, as well as other career firefighters and emergency responders
- TRANSFER agreements with four-year colleges
Opportunities at Rockland Community College:
RCC is committed to fostering confident, clear-headed leaders within the fire service, with the support and participation of students, faculty and administration. Fire Protection Technology students are taught by instructors of every rank from one of the top fire departments in the country.
Program Goals:
The degrees are designed to provide students with an effective, rigorous, and dynamic fire technology-based program that will attract, motivate, and prepare students to support the community by providing fire and emergency services when required. In addition, it will prepare students for the increasing responsibility of firefighters to provide emergency medical treatment, assist in recovery from natural disasters and manage cleanup of hazardous materials.
The program meets or exceeds the guidelines established by the New York Emergency Management System and the National Interagency Integrated Management System (NIIMS) under the Department of Homeland Security.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective knowledge of Fire Technology content areas, including fire safety, critical incident command, emergency planning, fire scene operations, fire exercise planning, fire and emergency operation center organization and management, leadership, resource planning and utilization of national fire science operation guidelines
- Apply the knowledge base of necessary skills to be able to function within the fire profession at all levels
- Demonstrate critical thinking, communication and management skills by analyzing situations, determining proper action, understanding the cost and benefit of actions, evaluating possible alternatives and unforeseen circumstances and then taking appropriate action as an incident manager