Answers from the Chief to Frequently Asked Questions

William M. Kramer, MBS, PhD
Career Fire Fighter and Director of CAS Fire Science

Our mission is to improve fire fighting performance through graduates who are well schooled in the latest advances in fire science.

Bill Kramer rose through the ranks to assistant chief in Cincinnati, then served as fire rescue chief for the Indianapolis Airport and recently retired as chief of the Deerfield Township Fire Department in Ohio. He has authored several books and articles and serves as technical advisor and educational commentator for the Working Fire video series. He holds multiple degrees in business and industrial management.

How do I apply to the college?
To officially pursue our degree at the University of Cincinnati, fill out an Admission Application Form and send it along with a non-refundable application fee of $40 to the Office of Admissions, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 210091, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0091 or fill out an application on line at www.uc.edu/admissions. Students must send high school transcripts and all college transcripts to the Admissions Office. Once you receive an offer letter, please mail back the requested information (Supplemental Information form) along with the $50 matriculation fee (only if you will be a full-time student,), to indicate that you intend to accept admittance to the program. Once that form has been returned and you are confirmed a folder will be sent to us. Transcripts, certificates, etc. will be pulled and sent to various departments for review. You will then receive a letter and curriculum sheet listing all advanced standing and degree requirements.

Can I transfer previous college credit to this fire science degree?
Yes. Students wishing to transfer any post-secondary education (collegiate) credits to our degree must first send official college transcripts to the Admissions office for approval. We also accept certain courses taken through the National Fire Academy at Emmitsburg, MD that have been evaluated by the ACE guidelines. A minimum of 45 credits must be taken for credit at the College of Applied Science. Once you are accepted as a degree-seeking student you must submit course descriptions to the appropriate Department Head before you can take classes at other institutions.

Do I need to matriculate before I register for classes?
No. You may begin taking classes before you officially declare a major with the university but due to new university policy, students should matriculate (become degree-seeking students) so that they will receive in-state tuition. We strongly suggest that you matriculate into our degree program within the first six months after beginning classes, since degree requirements are subject to change.

How do I register for a course?
All students register on-line at www.onestop.uc.edu If you are a first time student, or have not taken classes in awhile, please call the OLFS Office at (513) 556-6583 first to receive all necessary paperwork.

How do I obtain my course materials?
When you register for a course, your assignments will be sent to you by your instructor or they will be on Blackboard. You will also be required to purchase the textbook(s) and course guide for your courses through MBS Books, a centralized distribution center. To order your book(s), call MBS at 1-800-325-3252, give them the number of the course you are taking, and they will send you the required textbook(s). You may also order on-line at www.mbsdirect.net

How do I take my final exams?
To maintain the integrity of the program, final exams for each course are sent to a proctor of your choice. You may download a Proctor Form off the web site, requesting the name, title, and address of your proctor. Simply fill out this form, send one to your instructor and one back to our office with your second assignment, and your instructor will send your final exam to the proctor. You will then schedule a time with your proctor to take the exam, and they will return the test to us.

Who qualifies to serve as proctors?
Qualified proctors are: faculty members of a university or school system, clergymen, city officials, librarians, or similar professionals. To maintain integrity of the program, we do not permit fire chiefs and training officers within the fire department to serve as proctors.

What types of assignments are given for distance learning courses?
For most of our distance learning courses, you will be required to complete three assignments. Each assignment contains several essay questions that are based on the assigned readings from your textbook(s) or Course Guide or additional web research. You will also be required to take a final exam or complete a final project which will be sent to a proctor of your choice.

What is the tuition per credit hour?
Tuition is subject to change from quarter to quarter. Most courses are 3-5 credit hour classes. If you sign up for 12-18 credit hours per quarter (full-time student) you are charged one flat fee. For current tuition fees visit: www.onestop.uc.edu/fees.asp

The University of Cincinnati accepts MasterCard, Discover or American Express only for online payment with a 2.5% service fee assessed. Echeck payments online are accepted without a service fee.

Is financial aid available? Who do I contact for financial aid?
Yes, please contact the Financial Aid Office at (513) 556-6982

How do Residency Workshops fit into my degree program?
Twice a year we offer a Residency Workshop program for our students. While our residencies are strictly voluntary, these accelerated classes are designed so that students may complete one five credit hour course in a five days. Students complete the same readings and assignments as you would for a regular 10-week distance-learning course. Many of our students have found that this is an excellent way to accelerate the completion of their degree while having an opportunity to network with other fire professionals throughout the country.

Do your courses focus on training firefighters?
No we are not a training program. Our courses are focused for company level and chief officer level in the fire service. Most of our students are currently firefighters seeking advancement or promotional opportunities within the fire service or are preparing for life after the fire service.

What is the difference between a quarter and a semester?
The University of Cincinnati schedules classes based on a quarter system, which means that our classes run for 10 weeks, four times a year, as opposed to a semester system where classes run for 16 weeks, three times a year. To apply semester credit hours, we multiply the number of semester hours by 1.5 to obtain the number of quarter hours transferred.

What is the best way to contact the Fire Science office?
William M. Kramer, Ph.D. - Department Head – William.Kramer@uc.edu
Kathy Angne- Program Coordinator – Kathleen.Angne@uc.edu

Our telephone number is: (513) 556-6583

Our fax number is: (513) 556-4856