The Fire Science program is designed to serve the needs of students in the fire service and to prepare others to enter the service. There are three certificate options: Basic Fire Suppression Tech, Advanced Suppression Specialist and Fire Service Administrator. There is also an option to complete the associate in applied science degree. Courses are recognized for certification by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal for those eligible.

Graduates of the fire degree and certificate programs will have the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience needed to perform a variety of firefighting functions, including fire scene operations, fire prevention, fire instruction, and hazardous materials operations. Graduates can apply their skills fighting fire, performing fire prevention inspections, and operating fire equipment. Graduates will be able to evaluate a fire scene, develop strategies for handling different types of fire incidents, develop pre-fire plans, evaluate a business/industry for fire hazards, and evaluate/manage a hazardous materials incident. Topics of study include: techniques of firefighting, hazardous materials, fire apparatus, fire service instruction, fire prevention, and first responder.

Graduates will have the potential for employment as a firefighter, fire investigator, arson investigator, fire prevention officer, fire service executive support specialist, fire service vehicle operator, fire apparatus engineer, fire instructor, training program manager, fire officer, safety educator, or fire prevention inspector.

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District #529 (IECC) is located in o 3.000- square-mile (7,800 km) area of South-eastern Illinois near the lllinois-lndiana border.

The multi-college District includes Frontier Community College (FCC) at Fairfield, Lincoln Trail College (LTC) at Robinson, Olney Central College (OCC) at Olney, and Wabash Valley College (WVC) at Mt. Carmel.

Each of the colleges is located in a small-town setting, with convenient access to larger cities in Illinois and Indiana.

One major difference noted by international students is that grades ore based on weekly assignments, papers, and projects rather than solely on examinations.

As on international student, studying in on American classroom can be a life changing experience. You will be able to express yourself freely, make friends, build your confidence, and challenge your friends and professors on topics in class. Many international students find very noticeable differences between classroom culture in the U.S. and in their home countries.

IECC host cultural enrichment trips throughout the school year. Their campuses are centrally located making travelling easy. IECC campuses offer safe and friendly environments making it easy to create friendships with Americans and other international students.

Your academic advisor con provides advice on course selection and help plan your program of studies.