The University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering offers graduate and undergraduate degrees through its Department of Fire Protection Engineering, the only such accredited department in the United States. Students working toward a bachelor of science degree must complete 121-125 credits in course areas. Courses include thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, structural fire protection and fire modeling. The department also offers master of science and master of engineering degrees, which require students to complete 24 credits of coursework and six hours of thesis research.
University of Maryland
A. James Clark School of Engineering
Department of Fire Protection Engineering
3106 J.M. Patterson Building
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-3031
301-405-3992
www.fpe.umd.edu
Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Department of Fire Protection Engineering offers three options for students, including a five-year program in which students work toward both a bachelor of science degree in a traditional engineering field, such as mechanical or electrical, as well as a master of science degree in fire protection engineering. This program can save students as much as $10,000 in education costs, according to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute website. The department also offers a separate master of science degree, which requires 30 credit hours, with thesis and non-thesis options. Candidates for a doctorate must complete an additional 90 credit hours after receiving a bachelor's degree, or 60 hours after receiving a master's degree, including 15 hours of fire protection engineering credits and 30 hours of research for a dissertation. Courses include fire dynamics, operations risk management and explosion protection. Classes also are offered to working professionals through a distance learning program.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Department of Fire Protection Engineering
100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609-2280
508-831-5593
www.wpi.edu/academics/Depts/Fire/
California Polytechnic State University offers a master of science degree in fire protection engineering through its Continuing Education and University Outreach department. On campus, full-time students can complete the degree in 1 1/2 to 2 years, while an online program offers working professionals an alternative to full-time study. The program is the first of its kind on the West Coast, where a shortage of fire protection engineers is creating increasing demand for these professionals. Students must complete 45 credits, including a five-credit final project. Courses include fire dynamics, fire modeling, and egress analysis and design.
California Polytechnic State University
Continuing Education and University Outreach
Fire Protection Engineering
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0442
805-756-2053