Fire Science Management & Emergency Response
Southern Arkansas University Tech's Fire Science Management and Fire and Emergency Response degrees provide professional education and training in firefighting, hazardous materials, and emergency medical services. SAU Tech offers both of these degrees entirely online.
SAU Tech has an articulation agreement with Southern Arkansas University so that students can transfer and earn a bachelor's degree in business with a fire science management minor. Speak to our advisor for more information.
The following process is used to award credit for courses completed by students through the Arkansas Fire Training Academy (AFTA). The credentials that students can complete are listed below. Refer to the attached degree plans for the courses that make up these credentials.
- Associate of Applied Science Fire & Emergency Response
- Associate of Science Fire Science Management
- Technical Certificate Fire & Emergency Response
- Technical Certificate Fire Science Management
- Certificate of Proficiency in Fire & Emergency Response
- * Certificate of Proficiency Fire Inspector
- * Certificate of Proficiency Fire Instructor
- * Certificate of Proficiency EMS Driver/Operator
- * Certificate of Proficiency Emergency Medical Technician
- * Certificate of Proficiency Fire Officer
* These Certificates of Proficiency (CPs) cannot be awarded to students who completed the courses that make up the CP before fall 2022. However, if a student started a sequence of courses included in the CP before fall 2022 and finished after fall 2022, he/she can be awarded the CP.
Course Schedule
AFTA Assistant Director will provide a schedule for Standards schools, Emergency Medical Technician I (FS 2026), and Driver/Operator (FS 2134) classes each year to the Registrar, Associate Vice Chancellor for Instruction, Vice Chancellor for Academics & Planning, Assistant Controller and Director of Financial Aid.
Standards School is offered as listed below.
- Camden Location (5 classes/year) - 150 students
- Little Rock (2 classes/year) - 60 students
- Northwest Arkansas (2 classes/year) - 60 students
Additional courses for which students can receive college credit at the time they take the courses are listed below.
- Emergency Medical Technician (FS 2026) – Five (5) classes/year
- Driver/Operator (FS 2134) – Five (5) classes/year
Note: Students can only be awarded the CPs associated with these courses if the courses are taken through AFTA. Students who receive credit for these courses using the Credit for Prior Learning are not eligible to be awarded a CP
Payment
In addition to Standards School and FS 2013 EMS First Responder, the courses listed below will be paid for using the Fire Occupational Scholarship.
- FS 2026 Emergency Medical Technician I
- FS 2134 Driver/Operator
The FSM courses currently offered for the AS Fire Science Management courses will continue to be offered until students currently enrolled in that degree complete. Payment for those classes should continue to be handled using the current process using the Fire Scholarship.
Residency Requirement
If a student has not taken any classes from SAU Tech, completing the nine (9) hours for Standards School satisfies the SAU Tech residency requirement for the AAS in Fire & Emergency Response, AS Fire Science Management, and embedded certificates of proficiency and technical certificates.
Standards School (Camden, Central Arkansas, and Northwest Arkansas)-Procedure
|
Responsible Party |
Action |
|
Registrar |
Based on the schedule received from AFTA, build course sections in the student information system. |
|
Advisor |
Visit the AFTA site (off-site locations will be done via Zoom) and have students complete the admissions application and registration form for the classes listed below. · Standards School · FS 1123 Firefighter I · FS 1133 Firefighter II · FS 2003 Hazardous Materials Awareness & Operations · FS 2013 EMS First Responder (Note: Two packets are taken at the time of registration for the above courses. One is for students who completed FS 2013, and one is for students who did not complete FS 2013.) Packets will be provided to offsite locations to be distributed to students. Forward admissions paperwork to Admissions Office. |
|
Admissions Office |
Enter admissions information into the student information system and notify the advisor when complete. |
|
Advisor |
Based on the registration forms received, register students into the classes. |
|
AFTA Instructor |
Enter grades into the student information system for students enrolled in the classes. |
|
Registrar’s Office |
Provide course rosters to Assistant Controller. |
|
Asst. Controller |
Apply payment to accounts using the Fire Occupational Scholarship. |
|
Advisor |
After completing a CPs, submit the CP Award form to Registrar’s Office. Upon completion of TCs, AS, and AAS, have the student complete and submit the Graduation Application. |
|
Registrar’s Office |
Post awards in the student information system. |
Other Standards Schools-Procedure
|
Responsible Party |
Action |
|
Fire Department |
Thirty days before the class start date, send a class request to AFTA. |
|
AFTA Staff |
Approve request and forward approval form to Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Services/Registrar. |
|
Registrar |
Build course sections in the student information system. |
|
Fire Department |
Two weeks before the class start date, have students complete an application and send it to AFTA. |
|
AFTA Staff |
Send applications to SAUT Admissions Office. |
|
Admissions Office |
Enter applications into the student information system. |
|
AFTA Instructor |
Upon completion of testing for each class, have students who pass the exam complete the registration form. Note: The registration form will be included in the testing packet. |
|
AFTA Staff |
Send registration form and grade list to Advisor. |
|
Advisor |
Enroll students into the appropriate class sections and forward the grade list to Registrar’s Office. |
|
Registrar’s Office |
Enter grades and forward roster to Assistant Controller. |
|
Asst. Controller |
Apply payment to accounts using the Fire Occupational Scholarship. |
|
Advisor |
After completion of CPs, submit the CP Award form to Registrar’s Office. Upon completion of TCs, AS, and AAS, have the student complete and submit the Graduation Application. |
|
Registrar’s Office |
Post awards in the student information system. |
Driver/Operator and Emergency Medical Technician I Classes- Procedure
|
Responsible Party |
Action |
|
Registrar |
Based on the schedule provided by AFTA, build course sections in the student information system. |
|
Advisor/AFTA Instructor |
Have students complete the application and registration form. Send forms to Admissions Office. |
|
Admissions Office |
Enter applications into the student information system. Forward registration form to Advisor. |
|
Advisor |
Enter registrations into the student information system. |
|
AFTA Instructor |
Enter grades into the student information system. |
|
Registrar’s Office |
Provide course rosters to Assistant Controller. |
|
Asst. Controller |
Apply payment to accounts using the Fire Occupational Scholarship. |
|
Advisor |
Upon completion of CPs, submit the CP Award form to Registrar’s Office. Upon completion of TCs, AS, and AAS, have the student complete and submit the Graduation Application. |
|
Registrar’s Office |
Post awards in the student information system. |
Awarding Credit for Other AFTA Courses
AFTA students can receive college credit for other AFTA courses that make up the degrees and certificates referenced in the Introduction section. The student will complete the Credit for Prior Learning Form and attach the appropriate documents to receive credit.
Get in Touch
Temeke Butler, Program Advisor
Jodi Eppinette, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academics