Fire Science

FS 102 Principles of Fire Science Technology (back to previous page)
Introduction to fire science. Review of the role, history, and philosophy of fire protection in the United States. Particular emphasis placed on identifying fire hazards and finding appropriate methods of protecting life and property from fire. Includes career orientation and discussion of current and future problems in fire protection. 3 credit hours.

FS 106 Emergency Scene Operations (back to previous page)
The responsibilities and operating modes of officers commanding fire department units, including engine, ladder, and rescue companies. A basic study of the Incident Command System and its application. Initial evaluation of the problems confronting first responding units. Outline of particular problems encountered in various types of occupancies, buildings, and situations. Stress on safety of the operating forces as well as of the public. Standpipe and sprinkler system utilization. Overhauling operations. 3 credit hours.

FS 201 Essentials of Fire Chemistry and Physics with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: CH 105/105L or CH 115/117 as required by a specific major. This course explains the theories and fundamentals of how and why fires start, spread, and how they are controlled. The course includes an examination of the chemical requirements for combustion, the chemistry of fuels and explosive mixtures, the various methods of stopping combustion, and an analysis of the properties affecting fire behavior. 4 credit hours.

FS 203 Risk Management and Insurance for Fire Science (back to previous page)
Provides a working knowledge of the property and casualty insurance industry with an emphasis on property and liability coverages. The basic fire insurance policy is studied in depth. Methods of rating buildings to promulgate a property insurance rate. Various methods of estimating the replacement cost and actual cash value of buildings are practiced. The concept of HPR (Highly Protected Risk) is studied. 3 credit hours.

FS 204 Fire Investigation I (back to previous page)
An analysis of fire investigations from the viewpoint of the field investigator. An in-depth study of determining the cause and origin of fires. Proper protection and collection of evidence will be covered. 3 credit hours.

FS 205 Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: FS 102, M 109 or M 127. This course provides a foundation of theoretical knowledge in order to understand the principles for the use of water in fire protection and to apply hydraulic principles to analyze and to solve water supply problems. 3 credit hours.

FS 207 Fire Prevention (back to previous page)
This course provides the fundamental information regarding the history and philosophy of fire prevention, organization and operation of a fire prevention bureau, use of fire codes, identification and correction of fire hazards, and the relationships of fire prevention with built-in fire protection systems, fire investigation, and fire and life-safety education. 3 credit hours.

FS 208 Instructor Methodology (back to previous page)
A study of the methods and techniques of teaching fire safety and security to public safety and industrial employees. The use and development of visual aids. Actual teaching demonstrations and practice. 3 credit hours.

FS 209 Occupational Safety and Health for the Fire Service (back to previous page)
This course introduces the basic concepts of occupational health and safety as it relates to emergency service organizations. Topics include risk identification, evaluation and control procedures for emergency organizations, and accident investigation procedures. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to establish and manage a safety program in an emergency service organization. 3 credit hours.

FS 301 Building Construction for Fire Protection (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: FS 102. An in-depth study of building construction with a particular emphasis on how each type of construction reacts to conditions present during a fire. Emergency responder safety will be a key issue. Potential signs of collapse will be studied in depth. The codes involved in building construction and fire/life safety. 3 credit hours.

FS 302 Chemistry of Hazardous Materials (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: FS 201. An in-depth study of the chemical and physical properties of a wide variety of hazardous materials to enable the student to establish the safety measures in a hazardous chemical environment. Basic properties of hazardous materials and appropriate handling methods. Explanation of chemical reactions, toxicity, oxidation, characteristics of explosives, plastics, resins, and fibers. 3 credit hours.

FS 303 Process and Transportation Hazards (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: FS 201. A strong overview of the types and properties of hazardous materials as well as their modes and methods of transportation, storage and use. Types and hazards of various containers. In-depth study of identification and control of emergencies involving hazardous materials. The various marking systems used to aid in identification. 3 credit hours.

FS 304 Fire Detection and Control (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: FS 102. This course provides theoretical and practical application in the features of design and operation of fire alarm systems, water-based fire suppression systems, and portable fire extinguishers. 3 credit hours.

FS 307 Municipal Fire Administration (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: FS 102, FS 201, FS 207. Delineates the fire safety problem; explores accepted administrative methods for getting work done; covers financial considerations, personnel management, fire insurance rates, water supply, buildings and equipment, distribution of forces, communications, legal considerations, fire prevention, fire investigation, emergency medical services, and records and reports. Designed for individuals involved in providing fire protection and EMS services in the public or private sector as well as those in safety or insurance. 3 credit hours.

FS 308 Industrial Fire Protection I (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: FS 102 or consent of instructor. Examines fire hazards and potential fire causes in business and industry. Provides an exploration of management and organizational principles with emphasis on industrial fire protection equipment, fire brigades, loss control programs, life safety, and OSHA regulations dealing with industry. 3 credit hours.

FS 309 Industrial Fire Protection II (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: FS 102 or consent of instructor. Examination of industrial risk used in industry and process safety management. Fire hazard evaluation techniques will be discussed untilizing quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods. Risk assessments are incorporated using event likelihood, system reliability, and human error. These will be used to make cost/effective decisions regarding personnel safety, continuity of operations, and property protection in industrial occupancies. 3 credit hours.

FS 311 Fire Protection Fluids and Systems (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: FS 205, and M 109 or M 127. Corequisite: FS 312. Application of the principles of hydraulics to the design phase of any automatic fire suppression system. Application of the current codes and standards with respect to the selection, design, and installation of such systems. The fundamentals of hydraulically calculated automatic fire suppression systems are the focus of the course. 3 credit hours.

FS 312 Fire Protection Fluids and Systems Laboratory (back to previous page)
Corequisite: FS 311. This course supplements FS 311 Fire Protection Fluids and Systems by providing a more in-depth study of the hydraulic principles used in designing water-based fire suppression systems. The process of designing and reviewing hydraulic-designed automatic sprinkler systems, including the use of computer programs for these purposes. Hands-on testing of fire protection water supplies. 1 credit hour.

FS 313 Fire Investigation II (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: FS 204. An advanced course geared towards personnel who have or may have statutory responsibility for fire investigation in the public sector and for private sector persons who conduct or may conduct investigations for insurance companies or litigation purposes. Proper techniques for investigation of fires and explosions will be studied in depth along with the appropriate standards. 3 credit hours.

FS 314 Fire Investigation II Laboratory (back to previous page)
Corequisite: FS 313. Experiments and practical experience in fire investigation with an emphasis on proper investigative techniques. 1 credit hour.

FS 325 Fire/Life Safety Codes (back to previous page)
The study of current fire and life safety codes as they relate to the prevention and control of structural fires. 3 credit hours.

FS 404 Special Hazards Control (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: FS 102. Types of industrial processes requiring special fire protection treatment such as heating equipment, flammable liquids, gases, and dusts. Emphasis on fundamental theories involved, inspection methods, determination of relative hazard, application of codes and standards, and economics of installed protection systems. 3 credit hours.

FS 405 Emergency Incident Management (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: FS 106. A study of the effective organization and management of emergency resources at various fire and large-scale emergency incidents. Includes a review of national standards and federal regulations impacting emergency incident management. Case studies of actual and theoretical incidents will be used to reinforce command and control concepts. 3 credit hours.

FS 408 Fire Protection Law (back to previous page)
This course introduces the federal, state, and local laws that regulate fire services, national standards influencing fire services, standard of care, tort, liability, and includes a review of relevant court cases. 3 credit hours.

FS 409 Arson for Profit (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: FS 313/314. An overview of the financial techniques needed to investigate arson-for-profit fires with emphasis on sources of information, identification, and analysis of financial documents. 3 credit hours.

FS 425 Fire Protection Plan Review (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: FS 301, FS 304/305 , FS 311/312. The technical and hands-on practical experience necessary to complete a review of plans, specifications, and shop drawings for fire/life safety systems. Systems and topics include, but are not limited to, construction; fire resistance rated assemblies; means of egress; occupancy classification; emergency systems; fire detection, alarm, and communication systems; automatic and manual extinguishing systems; and HVAC systems. 3 credit hours.

FS 450 Fire Protection Heat Transfer (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: ME 301. The essentials of fire spread and fire behavior: the combustion process, heat transfer, limits of flammability, flames and fire plumes, burning of fuels, flaming combustion, spread of flame, flash-over, and production and movement of smoke. 3 credit hours.

FS 460 Fire Hazards Analysis (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: FS 301, FS 304/305, FS 311/312. The application of systems analysis, probability, engineering economy, and risk management techniques to the fire problem. The basic principles of fire growth and spread in a building. Time lines will be established from the time of ignition to that of extinguishment. Various methods of modifying the time line. 3 credit hours.

FS 497 Research Project (back to previous page)
Designed to allow fire science majors to research a topic of special interest to the individual student. Development of a student project and a written report in a specific area of fire science, with faculty supervision. Grade awarded upon completion of the project. 3 credit hours.

FS 498 Research Project I (back to previous page)
Designed to allow fire science majors to research a topic of special interest to the individual student. Development of a student project and a written report in a specific area of fire science, with faculty supervision. Grade awarded upon completion of the project. 1 credit hour.

FS 499 Research Project II (back to previous page)
Designed to allow fire science majors to research a topic of special interest to the individual student. Development of a student project and a written report in a specific area of fire science, with faculty supervision. Grade awarded upon completion of the project. 2 credit hours.

FS 500 Special Topics (back to previous page)
Selected topics in fire science on a variety of current problems and specialized areas not available in the regular curriculum. 3 credit hours.

FS 501 Internship (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: Consent of the director of the fire science program. The purpose of the fire science internship is to provide the student with real-life work experience. The student will be placed with an agency, the sponsor, who agrees to provide a meaningful work experience for the intern. The intern is required to spend a minimum of 128 hours with the sponsor and prepare a paper outlining the experience. 3 credit hours.

FS 502 Emergency Medical Technician (back to previous page)
This course is designed to prepare the basic emergency medical technician in accordance with the U.S. Dept. of Transportation curriculum and Connecticut EMS guidelines. The course covers an introductory survey of emergency medical services including medical and legal/ethical aspects, role of the EMT, CPR at the American Heart Association Basic Rescuer Level, patient assessment, care of wounds and fractures, airway maintenance, medical and environmental emergencies, patient transportation, emergency childbirth and basic extrication. Students can expect to spend some time involved in practical experiences. Laboratory fee; 6 credit hours.

FS 510 Senior Seminar (back to previous page)
This course will integrate current and developing knowledge of the behavior of fire with the problems presented by today’s building construction, building materials, and building codes. This course will use the seminar format with full student participation. 3 credit hours.

FS 599 Independent Study (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: Consent of the director of the fire science program. The independent study is designed to allow the fire science major to complete a fire science course that is not being offered or the student is otherwise unable to complete in the traditional manner. This self-study opportunity will be allowed only with permission of the director of fire science after determining that the student has sufficient background in the subject to complete the material in a satisfactory manner. 3 credit hours.

Fire Science - Graduate Courses


FS 625 Chemistry of Fires and Explosions (back to previous page)
An examination of the basic organic chemistry and combustion and explosive properties of flammable materials. The chemical principles underlying fires and explosions. Chemical properties of various synthetic materials and the products of their combustion. Fire retardant materials and chemicals used in fire extinguishment. (See also CH 625 and FOR 625).

FS 631 Organization and Management of Public Fire Protection (back to previous page)
A presentation of modern management principles and techniques to the organization and delivery of the array of services that communities have come to expect from the fire service. The traditional and evolving roles of the fire service to protection, prevention, risk analysis and community service are also considered.

FS 632 Strategic Planning for the Fire Service (back to previous page)
The application of systematic long range or “master” planning in determining the types and levels of community fire service. As part of this course each student will develop a strategic plan for a public safety organization using one of the commonly accepted approaches to strategic planning in the public domain.

FS 633 Issues in Public Safety Professional Responsibility (back to previous page)
This course addresses the unique ethical problems and environments in which public safety services are delivered. Specific issues to be covered include: public safety discretion, codes of conduct and discipline, and the ethical exercise of the “public trust.” Investigation of the ways in which organizations can anticipate and plan for ethical problems.

FS 634 Issues in Public Safety Management (back to previous page)
Provides public safety professionals with a broad view of current topics in the field. Utilizing lectures, discussions and case studies, the course will consider the results of applying the principles of modern public management practices and principles in a public safety context.

FS 649 Fire Scene Investigation and Arson Analysis (back to previous page)
The techniques of crime scene documentation and investigation as they relate to fire and explosion scenes. Evidence recognition and collection. Laboratory analysis of fire scene, arson accelerant and explosion scene residues. Scientific proof of arson. Laboratory fee required. 4 credits. (See also CJ 649).

FS 650 Arson for Profit (back to previous page)
This course provides an overview of the financial techniques needed to investigate arson-for-profit fires, with an emphasis on sources of information, identification and analysis of financial documents.

FS 661 Systems Approach to Fire Safety (back to previous page)
The systems approach to fire safety as used by fire protection engineers, fire science technicians and fire administrators in analyzing and designing fire safety in buildings. Considers the various routes that can be followed to achieve low budget, logical, cost-effective ways of accomplishing predetermined fire safety goals.

FS 663 Fire Protection Systems Application (back to previous page)
A study of the application of various fire protection systems and programs to fire/life safety problems. An in-depth review of certain fire protection codes and standards and the proper interpretation of each will be included. Use of codes and standards to determine specific protection requirements will be emphasized.

FS 664 Terrorism (back to previous page)
A detailed discussion and review of the consequences of terrorism and the offensive measures taken by emergency response organizations to prevent, deter and respond to terrorism incidents.

FS 665 Legal Aspects of Fire and Arson Investigation (back to previous page)
The legal principles underlying and governing the conduct of criminal investigations, with particular emphasis on arson. The criminal law relating to arson, establishment of the crime, investigation and prosecution procedures in arson cases.

FS 666 Industrial Fire Protection (back to previous page)
Prepares fire professionals to make decisions on various fire protection schemes in industry and other commercial property situations. Since fire protection responsibilities are often delegated to the occupational safety or security manager, the course provides background in fire protection for these individuals.

FS 667 Fire and Building Codes, Standards and Practices (back to previous page)
The study of building and fire codes and regulations as they relate to the prevention and incidence of structural fires. Contemporary building and fire codes and practices, and their enforcement. Model building codes. Fire prevention and control through building design. (See also CJ 667).

FS 668 Fire and Casualty Insurance Practices (back to previous page)
A study of financial risk and decision making. Insurance rate making and relation to risk and other factors. Insurance adjustment and economic factors that must be considered in fire and accident investigations. (See also CJ 668).

FS 669 Dynamics, Evaluation and Prevention of Structural Fires (back to previous page)
A detailed analysis of the factors and physical processes that govern the growth and spread of fire and its products within a structure. Includes a review and an evaluation of national, state and local fire loss data leading to the development of fire prevention strategies. (See also CJ 669).

FS 670 Selected Topics (back to previous page)
An examination and evaluation of the current and future problems faced by today’s fire, public safety, insurance and security professionals.

FS 681 Seminar/Research Project in Public Safety Management I (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: 18 undergraduate/graduate hours in a public safety discipline or permission of the program coordinator. Problems in public safety management and current techniques being used to deal with them. Requires a supervised research project directly related to the topic and weekly meetings with faculty throughout the term. Format for course may vary; a three-day specially scheduled seminar may be included.

FS 682 Seminar/Research Project in Public Safety Management II (back to previous page)
A second course in the field of public safety management. See FS 681 for course description.

FS 683 Seminar/Research Project on Comparative Public Safety Systems (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: 18 undergraduate/graduate hours in a public safety discipline or permission of the program coordinator. Examination, assessment and comparison of various approaches used in protecting the public’s health and safety. Current management approaches to public safety problems. Requires a supervised research project directly related to the topic and weekly meetings with faculty throughout the term. Format for course may vary; a three-day specially scheduled seminar may be included.

FS 684 Fire/Accident Scene Reconstruction (back to previous page)
Application of the principles of reconstruction of the scene of a fire or accident, including proper procedure for examining physical evidence to determine the cause. Emphasis on preparation of reports, testimony for hearings and trials, rendering of advisory opinions to assist in resolution of disputes affecting life and property. (See also CJ 684.)

FS 690 Research Project (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: 30 graduate credit hours. A major research project under the supervision of the director of the fire science program.

FS 693 Internship (back to previous page)
The student's formal educational development complemented by field experience in various fire science settings or agencies. Under faculty supervision, the student engages in field experience and produces a comprehensive project report analyzing the internship experience.

FS 695 Independent Study (back to previous page)
A directed, independent learning experience with the topic and format to be agreed upon by the student and supervising faculty.

FS 698 Thesis I (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: 15 graduate hours. Periodic meetings and discussions of the individual student’s progress in the preparation of a thesis.

FS 699 Thesis II (back to previous page)
A continuation of Thesis I.