This Degree program will provide the student with training in hand crew formation, fire line construction, and the use of wild land equipment. The behavior of fires, protective clothing, and wildland fire tools will also be addressed. The Wildland Fire Technology Associate Degree program is for those students who desire to gain an understanding of Wildland fire investigation, fire prevention and support operations. This program also meets the requirements for the U.S. Forest Service to be hired as an entry-level Wildland firefighter. This degree pro- gram will also aid currently employed municipal firefighters with the learning domains and knowledge base to respond to and mitigate a Wildland conflagration.
Please contact the Student Success Team for this program if you have any questions.Course | Units | Typically Offered |
1st Semester | ||
WFT 101 - Wildland Fire BehaviorM | 3.0 | |
WFT 101 - Wildland Fire Behavior (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 030 or ENLA 034 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement; MATH 033 or MATH 033B or appropriate placement This course is one in a series of core courses required for the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science Degree program. This course provides students with information necessary to understand basic wildland fire behavior, wildland fire predictions, and wildland fire operation safety. Wildland fire environmental factors and the tools required to monitor weather and fire behavior will be discussed as it relates to wildland fire predictions. This course meets or exceeds the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements. | ||
WFT 102 - Wildland Firefighter Safety and SurvivalM | 3.0 | |
WFT 102 - Wildland Firefighter Safety and Survival (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 030 or ENLA 034 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement This course is one in a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science Degree program. This course provides students with information necessary to understand occupational safety and hazards associated with wildland firefighting operations. Emphasis will be placed on situational awareness, protective measures, accident avoidance procedures, and the risk management process. Students will also review fire ground near misses, entrapments, and fatalities. This course meets or exceeds the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements. | ||
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (RHC GE 1b and 8a)GE | 3.5 | |
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (3.5 units) Prerequisite: ENGL 035 or ENLA 100 or appropriate placement This composition course enables students to generate logical, coherent essays and reports necessary for academic and professional success. Students become proficient in research techniques, and learn critical reading and thinking skills through expository and persuasive reading selections before applying these skills to creating original essays and a final research paper. The lab component of the course is designed to assist students in improving and refining their writing and language skills: Students complete lab activities that enhance their ability to compose logical, well-supported arguments that exhibit grammatical fluency and correct citation styles. Students meet with composition instructors through individual conferences that address students’ specific writing concerns. This course is designed for students who wish to fulfill the general education requirement for Written Communication. | ||
RHC GE 7a - Fine ArtsGE | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one: | ||
Total Semester Units: | 12.5 | |
2nd Semester | ||
WFT 103 - Wildland Fire OperationsM | 3.0 | |
WFT 103 - Wildland Fire Operations (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 030 or ENLA 034 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement This course is one in a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science Degree program. This course provides students with information necessary to understand ground and air operations associated with wildland firefighting operations. Emphasis will be placed on incident command system use, strategy, tactics, hazards, resource typing, management, and safety procedures during wildland fire incidents. This course meets or exceeds the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements. | ||
WFT 104 - Wildland Fire Investigation, Prevention and Public InformationM | 3.0 | |
WFT 104 - Wildland Fire Investigation, Prevention and Public Information (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 030 or ENLA 034 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement This course is one in a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science Degree program. This course provides students with information and skills necessary to understand the roles and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO, S-203), Fire Prevention Education Team Member (PETM, P-101), and the Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF, FI-110). Various wildland fire associated class projects will challenge the student’s public speaking, report writing, and presentation skills.This course meets or exceeds the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements. | ||
Select one: RHC GE 2 - Math Competency GE | 3.0 | |
Notes: While the above course(s) are recommended, students may take any of the following courses to fulfill this requirement: FIN 101, MATH 060, MATH 073, MATH 130/H, MATH 140, MATH 150, MATH 160, MATH 170, MATH 175, MATH 180, MATH 190/H, PSY 190. † some classes may have higher units. Note: Students intending to transfer should begin at transfer level math. Transfer math courses are numbered 100+. Please meet with a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
RHC GE 6 - Social and Behavioral ScienceGE | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one: | ||
Total Semester Units: | 12.0 | |
Summer 1 | ||
FTEC 044 - Physical Fitness and Ability for the FirefighterM | 3.0 | |
FTEC 044 - Physical Fitness and Ability for the Firefighter (3.0 units) Prerequisite: Student must be able to lift 75lbs., drag a 150 pound "drag dummy", and use a sledge hammer in completion of a physical abilities test. This course is designed to give in-service firefighters and interested students information about conditioning and fire department physical ability test designs and will include manipulative drills in order to be successful in passing California PAT's (Physical Abilities Tests). This course will provide information on the most recently developed tests in Southern California including the CPAT (Candidate Physical Abilities Test) and the Biddle (Biddle and Associate Validated Test). Students will learn about firefighter wellness programs, review basic nutrition and current NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards pertaining to firefighter health and safety. Students must be able to perform basic firefighter activities including climbing, using sledge hammers, dragging 150lb dummies and wearing a self contained breathing apparatus. | ||
RHC GE 8b - Communication/Analytical ThinkingGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
ElectiveEL | 1.0 | |
Select any course that is numbered 40 or above. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 7.0† | |
3rd Semester | ||
WFT 105 - Wildland Fire Logistics, Finance and PlanningM | 3.0 | |
WFT 105 - Wildland Fire Logistics, Finance and Planning (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 030 or ENLA 034 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement This course is one in a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science Degree program. This course provides students with information necessary to understand the responsibilities and functions of the logistics, finance, and planning sections. Emphasis will be placed on how the different incident command system sections are organized and utilized during wildland fire incidents. This course meets or exceeds the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements. | ||
RHC GE 4 - American InstitutionsGE | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one: | ||
RHC GE 5 - Natural Science with LabGE | 4.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one Natural Science with Lab: | ||
RHC GE 7b - HumanitiesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
Total Semester Units: | 13.0† | |
4th Semester | ||
WFT 077 - Wildland Fire AcademyM | 16.0 | |
WFT 077 - Wildland Fire Academy (16.0 units) Prerequisite:FTEC 044 This course is designed for students who want to gain certification as a wildland firefighter through the National Wildland Coordinating Group (NWCG). This course provides training in hand crew formation, fireline construction, and the use of wildland fire equipment. Certification is included in Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service (NWCG L-180), Firefighter Training (NWCG S-130), Firefighter Type 1 (NWCG S-131), Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (NWCG S-190), Portable Pumps and Water Use (NWCG S-211), Firing Operations (NWCG S-219), Basic Air Operations (NWCG S-270), American Heart Association (AHA) First Aid/CPR/AED Certification, California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI) Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness (FRA) and Hazardous Material Operations (FRO), and California State Fire Marshal (CSFM) Low Angle Rope Rescue Operations (LARRO). Students learn about wildland fire crews (engine crews, hand crews, hotshot crews, helitak crews, and smokejumpers), wildland fire behavior, wildland firefighter personal protective equipment, wildland firefighter safety, helicopter safety, dozer safety, wildland fire pumps, and wildland fire tools and firing devices. This course includes arduous physical conditioning including hiking with up to 45 pounds of weight and other strenuous outdoor activities. The academy exceeds the United States Forest Service (USFS) minimum training requirements for an entry-level wildland firefighter for certification purposes. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 16.0 | |
Total Units for Wildland Fire Technology AS program | 60.5† | |
AP exams and courses taken outside of Rio Hondo College may fulfill general education and/or major requirements. Please check with a counselor. |
† | Some classes may have higher units |
M | Major course; course may also meet a general education requirement |
GE | General Education course |
EL | Elective Course |
Course | Units | Typically Offered |
1st Semester | ||
WFT 101 - Wildland Fire BehaviorM | 3.0 | |
WFT 101 - Wildland Fire Behavior (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 030 or ENLA 034 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement; MATH 033 or MATH 033B or appropriate placement This course is one in a series of core courses required for the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science Degree program. This course provides students with information necessary to understand basic wildland fire behavior, wildland fire predictions, and wildland fire operation safety. Wildland fire environmental factors and the tools required to monitor weather and fire behavior will be discussed as it relates to wildland fire predictions. This course meets or exceeds the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements. | ||
WFT 102 - Wildland Firefighter Safety and SurvivalM | 3.0 | |
WFT 102 - Wildland Firefighter Safety and Survival (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 030 or ENLA 034 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement This course is one in a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science Degree program. This course provides students with information necessary to understand occupational safety and hazards associated with wildland firefighting operations. Emphasis will be placed on situational awareness, protective measures, accident avoidance procedures, and the risk management process. Students will also review fire ground near misses, entrapments, and fatalities. This course meets or exceeds the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements. | ||
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (CSU GE A2)GE | 3.5 | |
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (3.5 units) Prerequisite: ENGL 035 or ENLA 100 or appropriate placement This composition course enables students to generate logical, coherent essays and reports necessary for academic and professional success. Students become proficient in research techniques, and learn critical reading and thinking skills through expository and persuasive reading selections before applying these skills to creating original essays and a final research paper. The lab component of the course is designed to assist students in improving and refining their writing and language skills: Students complete lab activities that enhance their ability to compose logical, well-supported arguments that exhibit grammatical fluency and correct citation styles. Students meet with composition instructors through individual conferences that address students’ specific writing concerns. This course is designed for students who wish to fulfill the general education requirement for Written Communication. | ||
CSU GE C1 - ArtsGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
Total Semester Units: | 12.5† | |
2nd Semester | ||
WFT 103 - Wildland Fire OperationsM | 3.0 | |
WFT 103 - Wildland Fire Operations (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 030 or ENLA 034 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement This course is one in a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science Degree program. This course provides students with information necessary to understand ground and air operations associated with wildland firefighting operations. Emphasis will be placed on incident command system use, strategy, tactics, hazards, resource typing, management, and safety procedures during wildland fire incidents. This course meets or exceeds the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements. | ||
WFT 104 - Wildland Fire Investigation, Prevention and Public InformationM | 3.0 | |
WFT 104 - Wildland Fire Investigation, Prevention and Public Information (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 030 or ENLA 034 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement This course is one in a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science Degree program. This course provides students with information and skills necessary to understand the roles and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO, S-203), Fire Prevention Education Team Member (PETM, P-101), and the Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF, FI-110). Various wildland fire associated class projects will challenge the student’s public speaking, report writing, and presentation skills.This course meets or exceeds the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements. | ||
MATH 130 / MATH 130H / MATH 150 / FIN 101GE | 3.0† | |
MATH 130 - Statistics (4.0 units) Prerequisite: MATH 062 or MATH 070 or MATH 070D or MATH 073 or MATH 073B with a grade of "C" or better or appropriate placement This course is designed for students majoring in business, social sciences, and life sciences. This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics. The students learn to read, interpret and present data in a well-organized way. This includes frequency distributions, graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation and linear regression. While discussing inferential statistics, the students learn to make generalizations about populations. This includes probability, sampling techniques, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests. MATH 130H - Statistics Honors (4.0 units) Prerequisite: MATH 062 or MATH 070 or MATH 070D or MATH 073 or MATH 073B with a grade of "C" or better or appropriate placement; Minimum GPA of 3.0; ENGL 101 This course is designed for students majoring in business, social sciences, and life sciences. This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics. The students learn to read, interpret and present data in a well-organized way. This includes frequency distributions, graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation and linear regression. While discussing inferential statistics, the students learn to make generalizations about populations. This includes probability, sampling techniques, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests. This course is intended for students who meet Honors Program requirements. MATH 150 - Survey of Mathematics (3.0 units) Prerequisite: MATH 070 or MATH 070CD or MATH 073 or MATH 073B or appropriate placement In this course students will learn to read and understand quantitative information, solve practical problems, and make sound decisions using numbers. Topics include consumer applications, logic, probability, statistics, algebra, and geometry. This course is for students who need a quantitative reasoning course for graduation or transfer. FIN 101 - Introduction to Financial Planning (3.0 units) Advisory: READ 043 or appropriate assessment This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of financial planning, and is designed to provide students with tools needed to achieve their personal financial goals. Students will learn to make informed decisions related to spending, saving, borrowing, and investing by applying quantitative reasoning concepts. Course topics include the financial planning process, budgeting, cash flow, debt consolidation, investing, and retirement planning. | ||
Select one: POLS 110 / POLS 110H (CSU GE D)GE | 3.0 | |
POLS 110 - Government of the United States (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 035 or ENLA 100 or appropriate assessment; READ 043 or appropriate assessment This course surveys and analyzes the origins, principles, institutions, policies, and politics of U.S. National and California State Governments, including their constitutions. Emphasis is placed on the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and an understanding of the political processes and issues involved in the workings of government. This course fulfills the American Institutions requirement for the Associate Degree. It also is suitable for students wishing to expand their knowledge of local, state and national governments. POLS 110H - Government of the United States Honors (3.0 units) Prerequisite: ENGL 101 This course surveys and analyzes the origins, principles, institutions, policies, and politics of U.S. National and California State Governments, including their constitutions. Emphasis is placed on the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and an understanding of the political processes and issues involved in the workings of government. This course fulfills the American Institutions requirement for the Associate Degree. It also is suitable for students wishing to expand their knowledge of local, state and national governments. This course is intended for students eligible for the Honors Program. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 12.0† | |
Summer 1 | ||
FTEC 044 - Physical Fitness and Ability for the FirefighterM | 3.0 | |
FTEC 044 - Physical Fitness and Ability for the Firefighter (3.0 units) Prerequisite: Student must be able to lift 75lbs., drag a 150 pound "drag dummy", and use a sledge hammer in completion of a physical abilities test. This course is designed to give in-service firefighters and interested students information about conditioning and fire department physical ability test designs and will include manipulative drills in order to be successful in passing California PAT's (Physical Abilities Tests). This course will provide information on the most recently developed tests in Southern California including the CPAT (Candidate Physical Abilities Test) and the Biddle (Biddle and Associate Validated Test). Students will learn about firefighter wellness programs, review basic nutrition and current NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards pertaining to firefighter health and safety. Students must be able to perform basic firefighter activities including climbing, using sledge hammers, dragging 150lb dummies and wearing a self contained breathing apparatus. | ||
US HISTORY (CSU GE C2)GE | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. All CSU campuses have a graduation requirement in American Institutions. Students may choose one of the following US History courses to partially fulfill this requirement: HIST 143, 143H, 144, 144H, 156, 157, 158, 159, 159H, 170. | ||
CSU ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to CSU. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 9.0 | |
3rd Semester | ||
WFT 105 - Wildland Fire Logistics, Finance and PlanningM | 3.0 | |
WFT 105 - Wildland Fire Logistics, Finance and Planning (3.0 units) Advisory: ENGL 030 or ENLA 034 or appropriate placement; READ 043 or appropriate placement This course is one in a series of core courses required by the Wildland Fire Technology Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science Degree program. This course provides students with information necessary to understand the responsibilities and functions of the logistics, finance, and planning sections. Emphasis will be placed on how the different incident command system sections are organized and utilized during wildland fire incidents. This course meets or exceeds the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) requirements. | ||
CSU GE C1 or C2 - Arts or HumanitiesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Arts Humanities | ||
CSU GE B1 - Physical SciencesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
CSU GE B3 - Lab ScienceGE | 1.0 | |
Select one if lab has not been completed in CSU B1 or B2. | ||
CSU GE D - Social SciencesGE | 3.0 | |
Notes: | ||
Total Semester Units: | 13.0† | |
4th Semester | ||
WFT 077 - Wildland Fire AcademyM | 16.0 | |
WFT 077 - Wildland Fire Academy (16.0 units) Prerequisite:FTEC 044 This course is designed for students who want to gain certification as a wildland firefighter through the National Wildland Coordinating Group (NWCG). This course provides training in hand crew formation, fireline construction, and the use of wildland fire equipment. Certification is included in Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service (NWCG L-180), Firefighter Training (NWCG S-130), Firefighter Type 1 (NWCG S-131), Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (NWCG S-190), Portable Pumps and Water Use (NWCG S-211), Firing Operations (NWCG S-219), Basic Air Operations (NWCG S-270), American Heart Association (AHA) First Aid/CPR/AED Certification, California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI) Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness (FRA) and Hazardous Material Operations (FRO), and California State Fire Marshal (CSFM) Low Angle Rope Rescue Operations (LARRO). Students learn about wildland fire crews (engine crews, hand crews, hotshot crews, helitak crews, and smokejumpers), wildland fire behavior, wildland firefighter personal protective equipment, wildland firefighter safety, helicopter safety, dozer safety, wildland fire pumps, and wildland fire tools and firing devices. This course includes arduous physical conditioning including hiking with up to 45 pounds of weight and other strenuous outdoor activities. The academy exceeds the United States Forest Service (USFS) minimum training requirements for an entry-level wildland firefighter for certification purposes. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 16.0 | |
Summer 2 | ||
CSU GE A1 - Oral CommunicationGE | 3.0 | |
Note: All honors courses have a prerequisite. Select one: SPCH 100 ,101, 101H,140 | ||
CSU GE A3 - Critical ThinkingGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
Total Semester Units: | 6.0† | |
5th Semester | ||
CSU GE B2 - Biological SciencesGE | 3.0† | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
CSU GE F - Ethnic StudiesGE | 3.0 | |
Notes: Select one: | ||
CSU GE E - Lifelong Learning/Self DevelopmentGE | 3.0 | |
Select one: | ||
CSU ElectiveEL | 3.0 | |
Select a course that transfers to CSU. Please see a counselor to discuss course options. | ||
Total Semester Units: | 12.0† | |
Total Units for Wildland Fire Technology AS program (Transfer to CSU) | 80.5† | |
AP exams and courses taken outside of Rio Hondo College may fulfill general education and/or major requirements. Please check with a counselor. |
† | Some classes may have higher units |
M | Major course; course may also meet a general education requirement |
GE | General Education course |
EL | Elective Course |
Click or tap here to open the program's advising sheet. |
Students will assess impacts of fuel, weather, and topography on wildland fire behavior.
Students will recognize and avoid the four common denominators of wildland fire fatalities.
Given a wildland fire scenario, students will prepare an incident briefing based on factors of fuel, weather, topography, and man-made hazards.
Students will demonstrate the three components of wildland fire prevention, including education, engineering, and enforcement.
Students will make an operation shift plan that includes the following information: people in charge, operational objectives, resources, supplies necessary to meet the objectives, area map, weather forecasting, and safety briefing using standardized ICS forms.
Rio Hondo College, serving the communities of El Monte, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, and Whittier for over 50 years.
Rio Hondo College
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
Phone: (562) 692-0921
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