Fire Investigations

Associate of Applied Science Degree

(575) 527-7746

Information based on the 2009-10 DACC Catalog

Fire investigations is a complex career field that involves multiple disciplines, including the criminal justice system. Fire investigators must be analytical, as well as knowledgeable in criminal investigations, the rule of law, and arrest, search and seizure. They usually rely on scientific principles and research in an analysis of fire remains to determine the cause and origin of the fire. Investigators work to determine whether the fire was deliberately set and what contributed to its subsequent growth. These findings can become an integral part of a criminal investigation that may require legal action to be taken against the responsible party.

Fire investigation findings can also be used in the evaluation of existing fire codes and development of legislation to prevent and reduce the loss of life and property due to fire. The fire investigations program provides the fire student with a basic foundation in fire science and law enforcement to actively seek a career in the field of fire investigations.

In order to receive credit toward the associate degree, a student must earn a grade of C or better in all classes.

NOTE: All courses in this program may be applied toward a Bachelor of Applied Studies or Bachelor of Individualized Studies degree at NMSU. This program does not certify the student as a fire investigator, but promotes professional development to help reduce the loss of life and property from fire. Students seeking fire investigator certification should consult the various professional associations granting certification.

Required Skills and Abilities

This program requires that the student be able to—

• lift, carry and balance up to 125 pounds (250 pounds with assistance)
• assume a variety of postural positions and be capable of physical maneuvers ranging from crawling, kneeling, squatting, twisting, turning, and bending, to climbing stairs and ladders)
• withstand varied environmental
  

Leveling Courses (28 Credits)

Students without a degree in Fire Science Technology will also need to complete the courses in this section. They may be taken while a student is enrolled in the Fire Investigations program.

Leveling Courses     28 Credits

	OEEM 115OEEM 115: First Responder Prehospital Professional - 3 cr. (2+3P) Provides training in prehospital medical and traumatic emergencies. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Corequisite: OEEM 101. Requires a C or better to pass. Restricted to majors. – First Responder Prehospital Professional	3
	OEFS 114OEFS 114: Fire Behavior and Combustion - 3 cr. Explores the theories and fundamentals of how and why fires start, spread and are controlled. Meets or exceeds NFPA standards. Community Colleges Only. – Fire Behavior and Combustion	3
	OEFS 115OEFS 115: Hazardous Materials Responder - 4 cr. Training for personnel expected to respond to and handle defensively, emergencies involving hazardous materials in order to protect people, property and the environment from as much exposure as possible. Preparation for Awareness Level I and Operations Level II. Meets or exceeds NFPA 471, 472, 473, OSHA 1910.120 part Q, HMER plan. – Hazardous Materials Responder	3
	OEFS 126OEFS 126: Fire Prevention - 3 cr. Provides fundamental information regarding the history and philosophy of fire prevention; organization and operation of fire prevention bureau; use of fire codes, identifications and correction of fire hazards; and the relationships of fire prevention with built-in fire protection systems, fire investigations, and fire and life safety education. Meets or exceeds NFPA 1031. – Fire Prevention	3
	OEFS 210OEFS 210: Building Construction for Fire Protection - 3 cr. Studies the components of building construction that relate to fire and life safety with a focus on fire fighter safety. The elements of construction and design of structures are shown to be key factors when inspecting buildings, preplanning fire operations and operating at emergencies. Meets or exceeds NFPA standards. – Building Construction for Fire Protection	3
	OEFS 216OEFS 216: Chemistry of Hazardous Materials - 3 cr. Educates the student on genetic make-up of chemicals to assist with the confrontation of unplanned hazardous materials releases, and how to eliminate and avert catastrophes. Meets or exceeds NFPA standards. – Chemistry of Hazardous Materials	3
	OEFS 223OEFS 223: Fire Investigations - 3 cr. Provides the student with theory on the principles of cause and origin determination, preservation of evidence, interview techniques, with special emphasis on the firefighter's role at the fire scene. Meets or exceeds NFPA 921, NFPA 1033 standards. Community Colleges Only. – Fire Investigations	3
	OEFS 225OEFS 225: Fire Protection Systems - 3 cr. Features design and operation of fire detection and alarm systems, including heat and smoke control systems, special protection and sprinkler systems, water supply for fire protection, specialized extinguishing systems and portable fire extinguishers. Meets or exceeds NFPA standards. Community Colleges Only. – Fire Protection Systems	3
	OEFS 233OEFS 233: Practical Approach to Terrorism - 3 cr. Gives responder an overall safety approach in recognizing and responding to incidents involving terrorism. Presents an overview in types of harm, explosive weapons, chemical weapons, biological weapons and radiological weapons. – Practical Approach to Terrorism	3

Associate Degree (66 credits)

Core Requirements      23 Credits

	C S 110C S 110: Computer Literacy - 3 cr. Evolution and application of computers; economic and social implications; introduction to programming on microcomputers. – Computer Literacy	3
	CHEM 110GCHEM 110G: Principles and Applications of Chemistry - 4 cr. (3+3P) A survey of the properties and uses of the elements and their compounds. In addition to classical chemistry, attention is paid to the materials from which consumer products are made, to the production of energy, and to environmental considerations. Prerequisite: 3 years of high school math or CCDM 114N. – Principles and Applications of Chemistry	3
OR	COMM 253GCOMM 253G: Public Speaking - 3 cr. Principles of effective public speaking, with emphasis on preparing and delivering well-organized, logical, and persuasive arguments adapted to different audiences. – Public Speaking COMM 265GCOMM 265G: Principles of Human Communication - 3 cr. Study and practice of interpersonal, small group, and presentational skills essential to effective social, business, and professional interaction. – Principles of Human Communication	3
	ENGL 111GENGL 111G: Rhetoric and Composition - 4 cr. Skills and methods used in writing university-level essays. Prerequisite: ACT standard score in English of 16 or higher during regular semester (20 or above during summer) or successful completion of a developmental writing course or the equivalent. – Rhetoric and Composition	4
OR OR	ENGL 203GENGL 203G: Business and Professional Communication - 3 cr. Effective writing for courses and careers in business, law, government, and other professions. Strategies for researching and writing correspondence and reports, with an emphasis on understanding and responding to a variety of communication tasks with a strong purpose, clear organization, and vigorous professional style. – Business and Professional Communication ENGL 211GENGL 211G: Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences - 3 cr. Theory and practice in interpreting texts from various disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. Strategies for researching, evaluating, constructing, and writing researched arguments. Course subtitled in the Schedule of Classes. – Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences ENGL 218GENGL 218G: Technical and Scientific Communication - 3 cr. Effective writing for courses and careers in sciences, engineering, and agriculture. Strategies for understanding and presenting technical information for various purposes to various audiences. – Technical and Scientific Communication	3
	MATH 210GMATH 210G: Mathematics Appreciation - 3 cr. Mathematics and its role in the development and maintenance of civilization. Prerequisites: High school algebra, and an adequate score on the Mathematics Placement Examination. – Mathematics Appreciation	3
	PSY 201GPSY 201G: Introduction to Psychology - 3 cr. (3+3P) Methods and principles of behavior. Topics include human evolution and development, biopsychology, perception, learning, thinking, motivation, social interaction, and the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal behavior. – Introduction to Psychology	3
	SOC 101GSOC 101G: Introductory Sociology - 3 cr. Introduction to social theory, research, methods of analysis, contemporary issues in historical and cross-cultural contexts. Covers groups, deviance, inequality, family, gender, social change, and collective behavior. – Introductory Sociology	3
OR	SPAN 111SPAN 111: Elementary Spanish I - 4 cr. Spanish for beginners. Not open to Spanish-speaking students except by consent of instructor. Prerequisite: language placement and assessment by departmental examination. – Elementary Spanish I SPAN 213SPAN 213: Spanish for Native Speakers I - 3 cr. Emphasis on development of native language reading skills. Covers speaking, writing and vocabulary activities to strengthen command of the language. For Spanish-speaking students only. Prerequisite: language placement and assessment by departmental examination. – Spanish for Native Speakers I	3-4

Technical Requirements     36-37 Credits

	NOTE: Some of the following courses may have prerequisites found in the “Leveling Courses” section.
	C J 101GC J 101G: Introduction to Criminal Justice - 3 cr. Examination of crime and justice within the broader social and cultural context of U.S. society from interdisciplinary social science perspectives. Includes critical analysis of criminal justice processes and the ethical, legal, and political factors affecting the exercise of discretion by criminal justice professionals. – Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
	C J 205C J 205: Criminal Law I - 3 cr. Rules, principles, and doctrines of criminal liability in the United States. The historical development, limits, and functions of the substantive criminal law. – Criminal Law I	3
	C J 210C J 210: The American Law Enforcement System - 3 cr. Historical and philosophical foundations of law and order. An in-depth examination of the various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. – The American Law Enforcement System	3
	C J 221C J 221: Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation - 3 cr. Investigation procedures from crime scene searches, collection of evidence, and case preparation. Community Colleges only. (Note: students completing C J 221 may not take C J 321.) – Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation	3
	C J 250C J 250: Courts and the Criminal Justice System - 3 cr. Structures and functions of American courts. Roles of attorneys, judges, and other court personnel; operation of petit and grand juries, trial and appellate courts. – Courts and the Criminal Justice System	3
	LAWE 201LAWE 201: Introduction to Juvenile Delinquency - 3 cr. An introductory overview of the juvenile justice system of due process, custody, detention and release. Note: course does not meet upper division requirements towards completion of Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Community Colleges Only. – Introduction to Juvenile Delinquency	3
	LAWE 202LAWE 202: Police Patrol Procedures - 3 cr. A critical review of police procedures and the influences on police behavior; policy development, including the police role; discretion; police community interaction and arrest, search and seizure. Community Colleges only. – Police Patrol Procedures	3
	LAWE 205LAWE 205: Crime in America - 3 cr. A look at the American crime problem in a historical perspective including factors affecting the distribution of crime trends, crime prevention tactics and New Mexico crime trends. Note: course does not meet upper division requirements towards completion of Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Community Colleges only. – Crime in America	3
	LAWE 206LAWE 206: Systems and Practices in Corrections - 3 cr. An introduction to analysis and examination practices of control and treatment of offenders. Note: course does not meet upper division requirements towards completion of Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Community Colleges only. – Systems and Practices in Corrections	3
	LAWE 207LAWE 207: Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement - 3 cr. An evaluation of police authority including responsibilities, civil liability, liability implications, legal obligations, legal restraints, laws of arrest, and search and seizure. Community Colleges only. – Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement	3
	OEFS 226OEFS 226: Fire Investigations II - 3 cr. (2+1P) Advanced continuation of cause and origin determination with technical emphasis on investigative techniques, fire behavior including fire modeling. Meets and exceeds NFPA standards. Prerequisite: OEFS 223. – Fire Investigations II	3
	Electives, if needed, to complete 66 credits Leveling courses can be used to fulfill this requirement	0-4