The City of Pineville, Louisiana

The two-year associate of applied science degree program in fire science includes areas of concentration in fields that are often incorporated in fire protection responsibilities. In addition to pursuing a fire science technology concentration, students can also choose areas of concentration in occupational safety and health technology or environmental technology.

Fire protection today is an applied science that requires advanced training. Fire department officers, insurance personnel, industrial fire specialists, and fire equipment sales representatives must know the scientific principles of fire prevention, detection, and suppression. They must also be able to educate the public in how to prevent fires and how to save lives and property if a fire occurs.

The LSUE program in fire science emphasizes basic principles, practical applications, and safety engineering. In addition to receiving classroom instruction, students also use LSUE's laboratory facilities in fire science and arson investigation.

Safety and health issues are major concerns for business and industrial firms because they must meet governmental requirements and, more importantly, because they want to protect their workers and the public from any unsafe or unhealthy conditions. The occupational safety and health technology area of concentration provides students with knowledge and skills to help industry deal proactively with the challenge of maintaining a safe, healthy work environment.

In addition to a core of fire science classes, the concentration includes courses in industrial safety, safety management, occupational health and safety, industrial hygiene, loss control engineering, training and professional development, and fire safety inspection.

Dealing proactively with environmental issues has become central to the operation of many businesses and industries, which must comply with numerous regulations. In addition, skilled technicians will be needed to help implement strategies to deal with a variety of ecological challenges facing the nation and international markets. Environmental technology encompasses such areas as hazardous material and toxic waste, environmental sampling and analysis, natural resource management, environ- mental assessment, and compliance and enforcement.

Students who choose the environmental technology area of concentration will take classes covering industrial hygiene, environmental health science, environmental management, environ- mental regulations, site assessment, training and professional development, or other courses in environmental science.

Students enrolled in the fire science curriculum have the opportunity to earn up to six credits through internships and practical experience at business or industrial firms and agencies. Credit is awarded for a practicum course after the student success- fully completes a previously approved program of structured work experience. One credit will be awarded for a minimum of 60 hours of successful practicum experience. The credit value of the practicum must be approved before the student begins work. Students can enroll in a practicum course only after completing an application that has been approved by the student's faculty advisor and the Head of the Division of Business and Technology. To enroll in a practicum, a student must have earned at least 24 college credits with appropriate course work in the student's area of concentration.

For details, consult the LSUE Catalog or speak with your faculty advisor.

Shelly Fontenot and Tammy Austin,

two fire science students, are shown

using a hazardous material sampling kit.

* Areas of Concentration

Fire Science Technology (21 credits): Fire Science or Forensic Science approved electives (21 cr.).

Occupational Safety and Health Technology (21 credits): Fire Science 1062 (3 cr.), Fire Science 1065 (3), Fire Science 1070 (3), Fire Science 1090(3), Fire Science 1091 (3), Fire Science 2010 (3), Fire Science 2210 (3).

Environmental Technology (21 credits): Fire Science 1090 (3 cr. ),Fire Science 1091 (3), Fire Science 1700 (3), Fire Science 1720 or Environmental Studies 1051 (3), Fire Science 2705 (3), Fire Science 2710 (3), Environmental Studies 1000 (3).