Fire Safety
The Fire Safety concentration at UNC Charlotte leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology. The program has an emphasis on both technical and non-technical aspects in the fields of fire and safety. The program is directed toward those seeking positions within the fire service as well as those preparing for work in fire protection related occupations. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for increasingly responsible roles in leadership and management. In addition, the program provides comprehensive classes dealing with fire behavior, active and passive protection systems as well as the foundational principles of research investigation.
Graduation Requirements (based on the 2025 -2026 Catalog)
Fire Safety Academic Plan (4-Year Plan of Study and 2+2 Transfer Plan)
Students in Fire Safety Engineering Technology must complete a total of 120 credits for their bachelor degree which includes:
24 credits in General Education (Writing, Social Science, Liberal Arts), 13 credits of Mathematics/Science (Algebra, Precalculus, Statistics, Chemistry or Physics), 74 credits in fire safety and engineering technology department courses (Major). 9 credits in Electives
Core Courses:
- ETFS 1120 Intro to Fire Protection
- ETFS 1152 Fire Protection and Safety Law
- ETFS 1201 Intro to Fire & Safety & Occupational Safety
- ETFS 1244 Water-Based Fire Suppression
- ETFS 2124 Intro to Fire Prevention
- ETFS 2126 Fire Investigation & Forensics
- ETFS 2128 Fire and Municipal Financial Ops
- ETFS 2132 Building Construction for Fire Protection
- ETFS 2220 History of Fire in the US
- ETFS 2230 Hazardous Materials
- ETFS 2230L Hazardous Materials Lab
- ETFS 2256 Fire Service Community Relations
- ETFS 3103 Fire Behavior
- ETFS 3103L Fire Behavior Lab
- ETFS 3123 Industrial Hazards & Electricity
- ETFS 3124 Risk Management for the Emergency Services
- ETFS 3141 Fire Safety in Constructed Facilities
- ETFS 3144 Active Fire Protection
- ETFS 3695 Prof Development Seminar
- ETFS 4123 Community Threat Assessment & Mitigation
- ETFS 4272 Fire and Safety Capstone
- ETFS 4280 Wildland Fire in America
- ETFS 4323 Advanced Fire Service Admin
- ETFS 4901 Fire Safety Res. & Data Analy
- ETGR 1103 Technical Drawing
- ETGR 2230 Occupational Safety
- ETGR 4301 Environmental Pollution Control
The Distance Education “+ 2” option means students transfer to UNC Charlotte having completed an associate’s degree in Fire Protection/Fire Science or similar degree. Courses are delivered online as an individual access distance education program.
Transfer students complete the required hours (if admitted with no deficiencies) to fulfill the requirement for the bachelors of science degree. The required hours includes hours of major courses and general education and/or major electives. Students who have already completed a degree in another discipline may enter the program; however, they must complete the following courses before taking any upper division fire courses. ETFS 1120, ETFS 2124, ETFS 2132, ETFS 1152, ETFS 1244.