Career Information

The Fire Science and Public Safety Administration program is designed to prepare our graduates to advance in the evolving field of public safety. Whether it is a career in the fire service or any number of related fields, our Fire Science and Public Safety Administration degree is designed to help our graduates compete for a job and then advance in their career.  We are very proud so say that in 2011, two recent graduates and a part-time student advanced to the rank of chief officer in the Philadelphia Fire Department. Two were promoted to Battalion Chief and the other graduate achieved the top civil service position of Deputy Chief. They joined the long list of graduates who are serving in leadership positions in the Fire Service. 

The promotional process in career fire departments is very competitive and a degree can be very important.  We believe that earning a degree in Fire Science and Public Safety Administration provides our graduates with the knowledge and confidence to advance in the fire service or a related field. The Philadelphia Fire Department demonstrates quantitatively the value of our degree. Our graduates, who are members of the Philadelphia Fire Department, receive a bonus of one full point on every promotional examination they take. 

Fire Science and Public Safety Administration students can participate in the Cooperative Education program. This is a program that allows students to earn college credit for working in the fire service or in a related field. Our graduates use their experience in the Cooperative Education program to start or to improve their careers. Our 2009 Graduate Survey revealed that our graduates are working in a number of different careers that include firefighter, fire officer, chief officer, fire chief, code enforcement officer, risk manager, fire protection systems designer, paramedic officer, fire science educator, fire alarm inspector, and petroleum pipeline controller.  All of the graduates that replied to this survey felt:

• that the Fire Science and Public Safety Administration courses helped them with their careers
• that their experience at Holy Family University was either extremely satisfactory or very satisfactory, and
•  all of the respondents stated that they would recommend the Fire Science and Public Safety Administration program to others.