Fire Services

TMU's Department of Politics and Public Administration offers the only part-time degree program in public administration in Ontario. Designed for working, adult learners, the program provides several features that assist part-time students attain their career and educational goals.  

The traditional curriculum and program requirements have been modified slightly for fire service professionals to acquire related knowledge and management skills. For the curriculum of the fire services partnership, please see “Program Details” (link below) and, for further information about the Public Administration and Governance program (including the fire services stream), please consult the Student Handbook (see link below).

The Fire Services curriculum is designed for fire services personnel working in the public and para-public sectors. It is structured so that fire service professionals can work towards earning a Level 1 Certificate (opens in new window)  and a Level 2 Certificate (opens in new window)  in Public Administration and Governance. The Level 1 Certificate is also the first level -- and the Level 2 Certificate the second -- of the BA (honours) program in Public Administration and Governance (opens in new window) .  The attainment of a baccalaureate degree is recognised as increasingly necessary for career advancement within the Fire Service and within municipal government more generally.

Through a partnership with the Office of the (Ontario) Fire Marshal (OFM) and the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC), TMU's Department of Politics and Public Administration delivered, from 2000 to 2014, accredited program courses in intensive-mode, week-long format at the Ontario Fire College (OFC) in Gravenhurst. The partnership was formalised in November 2006 with the  (PDF file) signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (opens in new window)  that, among other things, provided recognition -- in the form of a reduced number of Open Elective course requirements -- of the Company Officer, Training Officer, and Prevention Officer Diplomas conferred by the Ontario Fire College (OFC).  Students with such qualification could receive, from TMU, a course credit for OFC-999 which provides credit for six (6), one-semester, Open Electives courses in the PAG program.

When Ontario adopted the accreditation model of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (external link, opens in new window) , NFPA Level Two was deemed equivalent to the former OFC Diplomas, with "NFPA-1021: Fire Officer" replacing the former "Company Officer" diploma; "NFPA-1031: Fire Inspector" replacing the former "Prevention Officer" diploma; and "NFPA-1041: Fire Service Instructor" replacing the former "Training Officer" diploma. This will continue to be recognised by TMU upon presentation of the appropriate Letter of Compliance from Fire Chief or designate. Such Letters of Compliance will be based on post 31 Dec 2015 written and practical skill testing or, for those whose NFPA credentials were issued before 31 December 2015, the Letter of Compliance must show clearly that the credential is based on knowledge, usually the former OFC Diplomas.

Although the Memorandum of Understanding was terminated by the OFM and the OAFC in Fall 2014, the Department is committed to deliver, in alternative format, all of the courses necessary for fire personnel to complete their program(s) of study. All of the courses necessary to complete the Level 1 Certificate are available completely online.  It is now also possible to complete the Level 2 Certificate with courses offered either online or in virtual format (synchronously or asynchronously). 

•  (PDF file) Course renumbering (effective Fall 2011)
• Program Details for students admitted PRIOR to Fall 2011 please contact the department at ving@torontomu.ca or pag@torontomu.ca
•  (PDF file) Program Details for students admitted in or after Fall 2011 (opens in new window) 
• Student Handbook
• The schedule of courses offered on TMU Campus will be posted in the Curriculum section (opens in new window)  of this site, where you will also find:
  
  • A schedule of program (core elective) courses offered on TMU campus for the following three (3) years (approximately); and
    
  • A listing of courses offered in each of term.  As well as the courses being delivered, the documents indicate the delivery format (e.g., in-class, online, hybrid format - synchronously or asynchronously).
    
    • The listing of Spring courses will be posted in March of each year.
    • The listing of Fall and Winter courses will be posted in June of each year.
• To become a student, check the Admissions (opens in new window)  website.