Get your Associate Degree in Fire Science online through a fully accredited distance learning program. Fire science Associate degrees emphasize the study of fire and its role in nature.

Demand for fire science professionals is growing, as wildfires rage through the West Coast and communities all over the U.S. work to boost their fire response readiness. Online Associate's degrees in fire science, including concentrations in fire prevention and fire suppression, offer you the chance to gain a practical knowledge base while you continue to work full-time.

Online fire science degrees typically cover a broad range of topics. Courses may include fire prevention, international fire codes, fire prevention systems and fire extinguishers, and fire rescue practices. Due to the nature of the topic, online Associates degree programs in fire science typically include a hands-on component, so you may have the opportunity to train on location in a burning building, smoke tower, or fire pit.

These academic programs focus on natural fire regimes for different ecosystem types, the effects of different kinds of fire on the landscape, the behavior of fire under different conditions, the effectiveness of foams and retardants and the effects of different tactics used to put fires out. Fire science also focuses on the restoration and rehabilitation of wildlands after fire moves across watersheds, offering new insight into enhancing native species of trees and plants.

Key components of the Fire Science degree include: prevention, detection, and fire fighting methods. Find out more about this highly rewarding degree and career path below, and request more information from each of the top schools offering this accredited online degree program.

Fire science Associate degrees help to prepare you for entry-level positions in firefighting with specializations in fire investigation, hazardous material, or pump operations. You might also earn your Associate's degree to advance toward a management position in the fire service.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Employment of fire fighters is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014." Fire fighters often receive benefits packages including medical and liability insurance, sick leave, vacation time, and paid holidays, as well as the opportunity for over-time pay. While no degree can guarantee a specific job or salary, in May 2004 the median hourly wage of fire fighters was $18.43 per hour.