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College of Natural Resources Fire Science Certificate

Undergraduate Certificate

Get Hands-On Experience in Wildlife Fire and Prescribed Burn Management

The Fire Science Certificate at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point prepares students to manage fire in natural environments through a combination of field experience, certifications, and coursework. Whether your interest lies in wildfire suppression, prescribed burns, or habitat restoration, this certificate delivers the foundational knowledge and practical training you need to work in fire-related natural resource management.

Why Earn This Certificate?

  • Gain real-world skills in fire ecology, suppression, and prescribed burn planning
  • Enhance your job prospects in forestry, wildlife, ecosystem restoration, and land management
  • Complete required fieldwork including firefighting certifications and prescribed fire experience
  • Build expertise in managing hazardous fuels, predicting fire behavior, and mitigating wildfire risk

Land management agencies, federal, state, and private, actively seek employees with fire science training. This certificate helps you stand out as a job candidate with specialized qualifications in a high-demand field.

Who Should Consider the Fire Science Certificate?

The Fire Science Certificate is ideal for students pursuing careers in:

  • Natural resource management (forestry, wildlife, water, soil)
  • Wildland fire suppression and prevention
  • Prescribed fire planning for habitat and ecosystem restoration
  • Urban forestry and wildland-urban interface (WUI) planning
  • Utility vegetation management and fire risk mitigation

It complements majors like Forestry, Wildlife Ecology, Environment and Society, and other disciplines within the College of Natural Resources.

What You Will Learn

This skills-based program focuses on:

  • Fire ecology and fire behavior prediction
  • Prescribed and managed fire for resource benefit
  • Wildfire suppression and fuels management
  • Fire prevention and monitoring
  • Federal firefighting standards and certifications

The certificate includes coursework and requires field experience, which may involve prescribed burns at UWSP or summer fire jobs with fire crews or agencies.

Program Details

  • Total Credits: Minimum of 16
  • Includes:
    • 2 National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) training modules
    • Prescribed burn experiences OR completion of a summer job with fire-related duties
  • Administered by: Forestry Discipline, College of Natural Resources
  • Format: In-person with applied training components

Career Opportunities

This certificate boosts your credentials for positions with:

  • U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service
  • State DNRs and fire protection agencies
  • Tribal and local fire crews
  • Environmental consulting firms
  • Utility companies and municipal vegetation management teams

Employers value applicants with both academic training and hands-on fire experience, and this certificate delivers both.

Learn More

Take your natural resources education to the next level with UWSP’s Fire Science Certificate. Learn how to safely and effectively use fire as a management tool—while building qualifications that open doors to exciting and essential careers.

Talk to your advisor or visit the UWSP Catalog page to learn more.