Course Overview!

The Undergraduate Certificate in Fire Service Administration at California State University, Los Angeles, is designed for fire service personnel holding associate degrees. It aims to enhance their knowledge and skills for effective functioning in modern fire departments. The curriculum covers essential aspects of fire service administration, including planning, prevention, disaster management, public administration, personnel management, and budgeting. The program is structured to provide a solid foundation in the practical aspects of fire service operations and management, equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge required to excel in leadership roles within the fire service industry. The program is a combination of theory and practical application, designed to directly benefit students' careers and their fire service organizations.

Course Structure

The certificate program comprises 15 units of upper-division coursework. This includes 12 units of required courses and 3 units of electives. Required courses cover key aspects of fire service administration such as fire defense planning, fire and emergency services administration, fire prevention organization and management, and organizational management from a political science perspective. Elective courses offer further specialization within the field, with options including wildland/urban interface administration, personnel management for the fire service, and dynamics of urban administration. The specific courses and their corresponding course numbers are listed in the program details. Students can choose any three units of electives from the choices provided to meet the program's requirements.