Youngstown State University introduces new Fire Science degree

Youngstown State University is offering a new online program beginning in the Fall 2025 semester. The Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science degree has been designed to be flexible enough for individuals who are already working in public safety and will educate students about fire response, building construction, leadership, and decision making in high-stakes scenarios. 

According to an article on Youngstown State University’s website, Carl DeCarlo, who is a retired fire chief and the program coordinator for the new Fire Science program, was quoted as saying of the topics that will be taught in the curriculum, "This isn’t just about fire suppression. This is about building safer communities through leadership, science and systems thinking. The fire service has evolved, and this program reflects that evolution. This is about connecting the pieces. We don’t need to replicate what already exists but we need to create the right on-ramps and off-ramps. How do we help someone become certified and then continue on toward leadership? That’s the role higher education can play.”

The program will be useful for individuals already employed in emergency management roles, as an EMS, or with the fire department, as well as for students who are new to fire science and emergency. Students in the program will study traditional emergency response concepts and more modern public safety protocols, as well as other topics like mental health for firefighters, cancer prevention, and emergency management.

DeCarlo has a doctorate in Higher Education Organizational Development and graduated from the U.S. Fire Administration’s Executive Fire Officer Program, as well as being a retired fire chief, providing him with extensive knowledge and experience on the topics the program will be covering.

"I’ve never viewed a single day in the firehouse or in higher education as work, it’s always been a way of life. I’ve been fortunate to learn from people who believed in education as a way to elevate the entire profession. That’s what we’re doing here at YSU. We’re helping people lead,” said DeCarlo.

For more information about Youngstown State University, visit the school’s website.