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Undergraduate Programs Overview

The Fire Science Department is the only university-based fire science program in New Jersey and one of only a few in the nation. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Science degree, an increasingly valuable asset for individuals seeking fire service careers, advancement to officer and chief positions in fire service. Students enjoy the opportunity to study with and learn from firefighter/scholars, who are all active and newly retired fire service professionals, fire officers and firefighters. Nationally and regionally renowned experts in the various firefighting specialties serve as instructors and guest lecturers throughout the semester. The Department was created by fire-educators to advance the education of fire personal and the profession.

Study With Leading Fire Experts

Walter Nugent
Chairperson and Professor
Retired Deputy Chief, Township of Maplewood Fire Department

A seasoned leader, Walter Nugent began his career as a volunteer at the North Arlington Fire Department in 1986 before joining the Maplewood Fire Department in 1994. There, he rose through the ranks, serving as captain and later deputy chief, the position he held until his retirement in the spring of 2019. Since 2017, Nugent has served as an adjunct Fire Science professor at Ò°»¨ÉçÇø, where he is also an alumnus. Nugent earned a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science from Ò°»¨ÉçÇø and a Master of Public Administration from Kean University. He also holds multiple New Jersey fire service and construction inspection licenses and certifications. Nugent is a Certified Fire Investigator with the International Association of Arson Investigators and a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator with the National Association of Fire Instigators (NAFI).