Emergency Medical Care

B.S. in Emergency Medical Care — Fire Service

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120 Credit Hours

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Up To 90 Hours

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Cost per Hour

$421

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EKU Online > Online Emergency Medical Care (Paramedic) Degrees > B.S. in Emergency Medical Care — Fire Service

Advance Your Career With Valuable Cross-Training and Leadership Skills

EKU’s online bachelor’s degree in emergency medical care with a concentration in fire service offers the multi-role, cross-training needed for fire service personnel to provide emergency medical services. As demand grows for public safety providers with certifications and degrees, graduates with that combination will have a competitive edge in the job market.

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Benefits
License Requirements
Minors & Certificates
Careers

Benefits of EKU Online

Emergency medicine is a rewarding and fast-paced career field. A degree from EKU’s renowned emergency medical services program can give you a competitive edge in the job market and set you up to thrive in this vital field.

Do I have to be licensed?

Yes. All applicants to EKU’s online EMC program must be currently certified as a paramedic by the NREMT or a state EMS office.

Up to 12 hours from each of the online paramedic classes may be used for NREMT or state renewal in states that accept CAPCE accredited continuing education.

Minors & Certificates

Minors & Certificates can be difficult to complete with this program.  If you wish to explore this option, please work directly with your program advisor.

Emergency Medical Care Careers

Many individuals begin their careers as an EMT. Paramedic training can lead to more opportunities, but training alone may not be enough for long-term career advancement. As the profession grows, individuals will need a college degree to set themselves apart.

Education requirements are expected to increase in the coming years. Those who want to teach in accredited colleges around the country will also need additional education. Lead instructors need associate degrees, and education directors need bachelor’s degrees. As the science continues to evolve, educated practitioners are going to be needed to teach future generations. 

Alumni surveys indicate that EKU emergency medical care students hold administrative positions within two years of graduation.

Find your career

Curriculum

Focused on medical best practices and leadership building, EKU’s curriculum blends academic and professional preparation through a variety of topics such as occupational safety and health principles, organizational behavior in the fire service and the legal aspects of fire protection.

Degree Requirements

A total of 120 credits are required to graduate, including 42 upper-division credits.

View the emergency medical care program degree requirements:

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer up to 90 hours of credit from accredited institutions. Please note that a minimum of 30 credit hours in this degree program must be completed at Eastern Kentucky University.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admittance to EKU for appropriate articulation. Learn more about transferring to EKU.

Sample Courses

For a full list of course descriptions please see section 7 of the University undergraduate catalog.

FSE 225 Legal Aspects of Fire Protection and Safety (3)
A study of legislative and legal decisions relating to personnel practices, employee safety, and public protection. Emphasizes the legal responsibilities, liabilities, and authority of the fire service practitioner.

FSE 320 Principles of Emergency Services (3)
An overview of organizational and management practices in the fire and safety fields. Emphasis on supervision and leadership styles, motivation, morale, and organizational behavior.

EMC 420 Emergency Services Design and Budget (3)
Identify and compare issues with staffing, operations, communications, training and mission with various EMS systems models. Develop and revise sample budgets for EMS systems.

Enrollment

Misty Bailey EKUOnline

Misty Bailey

Enrollment Advisor

Call or email Enrollment Advisor Misty Bailey for information about the EKU Online Emergency Medical Care program.

Contact Info:
859-622-2628
Misty.Bailey@eku.edu

Application Deadlines

Term Application Deadline Classes Begin
Fall A July 5 August
Fall B August 31 October
Spring A November 30 January
Spring B January 31 March
Summer A April 5 May
Summer B  May 31 June

Additional Contact Information

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Success

When I started, I was just really nervous about how this was going to fit into my life with my job and my kids. In EMS, you work odd hours, and you work multiple days so you have to have something that works around your schedule. EKU offered that.
Corissa WaltersEKU Online Emergency Medical Care Graduate

Online Military Students

EKU Online offers veterans and active duty military students an unparalleled online learning experience that provides accessibility, convenience and flexibility.

Special Tuition for Active Duty* Military
Eastern Kentucky University offers reduced tuition expenses to $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and $325 per credit hour for graduate courses to all service members currently serving on active duty.

*Active duty is defined as on federal orders for 180 days or more.

“I’d like to thank the EKU College of Justice & Safety for the opportunity to complete my degree online. It’s very user-friendly, and everyone has bent over backwards to make this happen.”

– 1LT Heath Bergmann, EKU Online Graduate

Heath Bergmann
  • “I can confidently say that — as someone who doesn’t even live in the United States — EKU’s online program has been extremely accommodating and flexible. I can discuss advising appointments over email, and I can have my textbooks shipped to my address overseas.” – Sydney Garner Lewis
  • “After the birth of our first child, I knew I needed to go back and finish what I started,” said McKenzie. “I was happy that I could pick up where I left off at EKU even though I lived in a different state.” – EKU Online student and mom
  • “I chose EKU because I am a unique student with unique needs, and EKU provides an avenue for students like me to succeed.” – EKU Online Psychology student Jason Tate
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