Bachelor of Fire & Safety Studies
Important Notice About BFSS
JIBC is pleased to announce a new degree, the Bachelor of Public Safety Administration (BPSA). The Bachelor of Fire & Safety Studies (BFSS) degree is the foundation for the BPSA, and as a result of the transition to the new degree, the BFSS will be phased out over the next three years.
The BPSA was designed using the public safety administration content from the BFSS. In addition to the existing public safety administration content, the new degree allows for specialization in fire and safety, law enforcement, or paramedicine through electives.
The new degree offers inter-professional education to develop strong managers and leaders in public safety. Reflecting the changing needs of public safety organizations, which require their staff to have a greater breadth of knowledge and skills, the BPSA will develop students’ technical, managerial, and administrative competencies so they can thrive as effective public safety managers and leaders. As such, the learning outcomes are consistent with the BFSS, but with a much stronger inter-professional focus.
With the transition to the new degree offering, JIBC is no longer accepting applications to the BFSS degree. The BFSS will be completely phased out in December 2015.
Current BFSS students have two transition options:
- Transfer to the BPSA as early as June 2013. All courses that you currently have credit for in the BFSS will be transferred into the new BPSA; or
- Remain in the BFSS and complete the degree by December 2015.
Please review detailed information on the BPSA on our website and then contact Greg Metcalfe, at 604.528.5676 or gmetcalfe@jibc.ca by February 1, 2013 to discuss the best option for you to pursue.
Overview of BFSS
The Bachelor of Fire & Safety Studies (BFSS) will assist you, as a member of the fire service, achieve your career and educational goals while supporting the broader goal of enhanced community safety.
This degree is designed for active mid career fire service personnel who aspire to more senior officer positions. The BFSS develops your technical, managerial, and administrative competencies so that you will be able to function as an effective manager in the fire service - and beyond.
Program Objectives
You will develop:
- your knowledge within and outside your area of specialty;
- critical thinking, reading, and writing skills;
- sensitivity to diversity; and
- insight into ways of influencing communities through the study of the economic, socio-historical, and cultural contexts of fire service
Format (Learning Format/Structure)
Classes are available online and in a classroom setting.
Courses
|
Liberal Studies Foundational Course |
Course Code |
Credits |
| (Recommended for Year 1 but may be taken in a different sequence) | ||
|
Communication Skills |
FSS100 |
3 |
|
Statistics (or equivalent) |
100 |
3 |
|
Computer Applications (or equivalent) |
100 |
3 |
| CCR141 | 3 | |
|
Other Liberal Studies Courses (Recommended for Years 1 and 2 but may be taken in a different sequence) |
||
| Choose one course from each of the following groups: | ||
|
Sociology/Psychology (or equivalent) |
100 |
3 |
|
Physics/Chemistry (or equivalent) |
100 | 3 |
|
9 credits from any approved second- or third-year liberal studies courses, including approved JIBC justice and human services courses |
9 | |
|
Year 1 |
|
|
|
FSS110 |
3 |
|
|
FSS120 |
3 |
|
|
FSS130 |
3 |
|
|
FSS140 |
3 |
|
| Electives (Choose of of the following to earn three credits) | ||
| Incident Command System (ICS 100 through 400) |
FSS122 | 3 |
|
Emergency Scene Management (FOCP 112 and FOCP 122) |
FSS175 | 3 |
|
Fire Investigator (Fire Cause & Origin I through III) |
FSS216 | 3 |
| FS129 | 3 | |
| FIP100 | 3 | |
| FIP150 | 3 | |
|
Foundations of Emergency Management I Planning & Preparedness |
ESM142 | |
Year 2 |
|
|
| Strategic Planning for Community Risk Reduction |
FSS215 |
3 |
|
Organizational Behaviour and Managing Change in the Fire Service |
FSS220 |
3 |
| Leading Inclusive Cultures in Emergency Services |
FSS225 |
3 |
|
FSS230 |
3 |
|
|
FSS235 |
|
|
|
FSS245 |
3 |
|
| Electives (Choose two of the following to earn six credits) |
|
|
|
ABL106 |
3 |
|
|
FIP200 |
3 |
|
|
FSS282 |
3 |
|
|
ESM244 |
3 |
|
|
ESM245 |
3 |
|
| Students may shoose to exit at this point with a Diploma in Fire & Safety Studies | ||
Year 3 |
|
|
|
FSS310 |
3 |
|
|
FSS314 |
3 |
|
|
FSS315 |
3 |
|
|
FSS320 |
3 |
|
|
Statistical Foundations for Decision Making in the Fire Service |
FSS340 |
3 |
|
ESM235 |
3 |
|
|
Electives (Choose two of the following to earn six credits) |
|
|
|
Public Sector and Non-Profit Management (UVic312) |
FSS312 |
3 |
|
FSS350 |
3 |
|
|
FSS381 |
3 |
|
|
FSS390 |
3 |
|
Year 4 |
|
|
|
Managing Service Delivery (UVic407) |
FSS407 |
3 |
|
FSS410 |
3 |
|
|
Public Policy Process (UVic420) |
FSS420 |
3 |
|
Ethical Public Management (UVic422) |
FSS422 |
3 |
|
FSS430 |
3 |
|
|
Public Sector Program Evaluation and Performance Measurement (UVic437) |
FSS437 |
3 |
|
FSS499 |
3 |
|
| Electives (Choose two of the following to earn six credits) |
|
|
|
FSS480 |
3 |
|
|
Managerial Issues in Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Incidents |
FSS482 |
3 |
|
FSS483 |
3 |
|
|
FSS484 |
3 |
|
|
Total Credits |
|
123 |
Books & Supplies
Please review the course outline for your course to determine which books are required. All books are available from the JIBC Store.
Admission Requirements
The Bachelor of Fire & Safety Studies (BFSS) degree is being transitioned to the Bachelor of Public Safety Administration (BPSA).
With the transition to the new degree offering, JIBC is no longer accepting applications to the BFSS degree. The BFSS will be completely phased out in December 2015.
Last updated May 1, 2013
