Fire Science vs Fire Protection

[Adkins]

<---- New to Forums. I was wondering what the major differences are between the two. Is there a preference for one or the other when it comes to hiring new firefighters, Is one better than the other in regards to advancing through the ranks all the way up to fire chief? Thank you for any replies and Oh yeah! Hi

[mfdbenji]

Fire Science is more of a firefighter geared course, at least where I go to school in New Hampshire. Fire Protection is more like Codes and Standards for Buildings and stuff related to the fire service. I am actually persuing associates degrees in Protection, Science and Fire Investigation as we speak. Ive found that most of the classes are the same for the three, so It wouldnt be hard getting multiple degrees which would help you in getting hired in the long run.

[clark918]

In WI, it used to be Fire Science at every college. Now there is a newer program called Fire Protection Technician in place of it. The newer Fire Protection Technician is MUCH better than the Fire science program. Most of the classes were the same, but some of those were extended.(It's not 70 credits instead of 65.) They also added some certification classes, and some certs added into the normal(older) class material.

When you graduate with a Fire Protection Technician degree here, you also have Firefighter I, EMT-B, HazMat-Technician, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Driver/Operator(Engine), NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and your CPAT. There are also electives needed which you can get through Firefighter II or an Internship.

It seems to be much here different than mfdbenji described it. I'm sure it will all depend on where you live. Just like any other degree, the programs and classes will be different anyway.

Don't think one would help you progress through the ranks faster. Like mfdbenji said though, if your college offers both, why not eventually take them both? I'm sure most classes are similar.

It also might be easier to talk to some instructors from the program or to some local firefighters. They will know more about your area than we will.

[PineyPower]

Fire Protection is generally a part of Fire Science. It is in my area at least. They offer Fire Protection courses under the Fire Science program around here.

In my area Fire Science covers the WHOLE area of the Fire Service whether it be investigation, protection, suppression, hydraulics, inspection, and so on.

Fire Protection is generally like suppression and firefighting hence the "protection" part of the course.

I don't know how much that helps, but that's how it is in my area.

[amandaandtommy]

Same here Fire Protection is in the program here at our community college.

http://www.tcc.edu/faculty/webpages/rdienst/


FST 100 Principles of Emergency Services
FST 110 Fire Behavior and Combustion
FST 112 Hazardous Materials Chemistry
FST 115 Fire Prevention
FST 120 Occupational Safety and Health for the Fire Service
FST 135 Fire Instructor I
FST 140 Fire Officer I
FST 205 Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply
FST 210 Legal Aspects of Fire Service
FST 215 Fire Protection Systems
FST 220 Building Construction for Fire Protection
FST 230 Fire Investigation
FST 235 Strategy and Tactics
FST 240 Fire Administration
FST 250 Fire Officer II
FST 245 Fire and Risk Analysis

[clark918]

You won't get a right answer on here. As you can see, three of us replied. We are all from different areas and the degrees are completely different. Your best bet would be to talk to a teacher.

[MikeWard]

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF "FIRE SCIENCE DEGREE" PROGRAMS
Assistant Professor Michael J. Ward
The George Washington University
former Fire Science Program Head, Northern Virginia Community College

There is a huge amount of diversity in "fire science" academic programs. From community college credit for Firefighter I to graduate engineering and hard science PhDs from research universities.

FOUR-YEAR FIRE SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS

There are three flavors of a four-year "fire science" bachelor degree.

The most academic challenging is the Fire Protection Engineering degree that is offered at the University of Maryland (College Park) and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA). These degrees are similar to civil, mechanical or electrical engineering programs with two years of higher level math, one to two years of hard science and about twenty engineering courses.

Completion of the program qualifies you to start working as a Engineer-In-Training (EIT) and eventually becoming certified as a Professional Engineer. Both universities also offer a graduate FPE degree.

One of the undergraduate degrees offered by the University of New Haven is for Fire Protection Engineering, but it appears NOT accredited by the appropriate engineering council.

Many four-year fire science degrees fall into the fire technology arena - not as academically robust as an engineering degree. You receive a Bachelor of Science degree and you will have taken more math/science/engineering technology classes than the next flavor of degree, but you will not be prepared to sit for the Engineer-In-Training program or become a registered Professional Engineer.

Fire Technology bachelor programs include:

Oklahoma State University
Eastern Kentucky University
University of New Haven
John Jay College (NYC)
University of Akron (OH)
University of North Carolina Charlotte:
Thomas Edison State College (NJ)

The third flavor is a four-year non-technology emergency service degree that will lead to a Bachelors in management, supervision. leadership, emergency services, you-name-it. Usually requires a year of english, a year of college level math and whatever other general education requirements are needed by that educational institution. Many are offered through distance education and most assume that the student has some emergency service experience.

Emergency service degrees include:

University of Maryland University College
Maryland is one of seven campuses running the NFA Degree-at-a-Distance program: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/nf...rams/distance/
University of Richmond (emergency management)
University of Florida
Eastern Oregon University
Arizona State University East
California State University Los Angeles
Holy Family University (Philadelphia)
Lake Superior State University (MI)
New Jersey City University
Arkansas Tech University (FEMA Emergency Management)
Western Carolina University (FEMA Emergency Management online):Anna Maria College (Paxton, MA)
Charter Oak State College (New Britain, CT)
Utah Valley State College UVSC has an associate fire science program linked with UT Fire and Rescue Academy

[st42stephenAFT]

New Jersey City University

That's where I'm heading next year. Full scholarship for fire science. Hope it's the right choice.

[trevolp]

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF "FIRE SCIENCE DEGREE" PROGRAMS
Many four-year fire science degrees fall into the fire technology arena - not as academically robust as an engineering degree. You receive a Bachelor of Science degree and you will have taken more math/science/engineering technology classes than the next flavor of degree, but you will not be prepared to sit for the Engineer-In-Training program or become a registered Professional Engineer.

Fire Technology bachelor programs include:

Oklahoma State University


A little correction. I went to Oklahoma State and my degree definately qualified me to take the fundamentals of engineering (FE) exam (this is a requirement before you are allowed to sit for the Profesional Engineer (PE) exam. This degree is highly engineering based as I had a take CAD, Statics, Statistics, Hydraulics, Strengths and materials, Thermodynamics, the chemistries and the physics. I agree though, the focus is not as much on the engineering as Marylands program, but to my knowledge we are a more design and function based program, a little more hands on than some others. It is an exceptional degree, but all the other degrees are also outstanding in their own right