Fire Protection and Safety Technology
The Fire Protection and Safety Curriculum provides preparation for assessing and reducing the loss potential in the industrial setting with respect to fire, safety, industrial hygiene, and hazardous material incidents With respect to fire, reducing the loss potential might involve setting design criteria with a special emphasis on life safety or fire resistivity or specifying automatic detection or extinguishment systems. When considering safety, reducing accidents may require special protective equipment or clothing, or the redesign of machinery or processes. Reducing losses caused by environmental problems may require sampling air for contaminants, such as asbestos or toxic chemicals, or monitoring noise levels, and the development of procedures to address practical approaches to compliance with state and federal regulations. Addressing the problems of handling and disposing of hazardous chemicals, such as spill control, is of ten required. Managing risk and compliance with federal laws and regulations relative to occupational safety and health and hazardous materials is an increasingly important job activity.
Program Objectives
The FPST program prepares graduates for careers in Loss Control. The Loss Control Profession is segmented into three major areas: Loss from Fire, Loss from Physical Accident, and Loss from Environmental Exposure.
The overall goals of the program, in terms of the graduates, are designated Educational Objectives. These are broad statements of skills and knowledge that the graduates of the FPST program will have upon graduation. These are divided into two categories: General Educational Objectives, and Technical Educational Objectives.
General Educational Objectives - the FPST graduate will:
- Demonstrate the application of a systematic approach to problem solving,
- Identify and explain common industrial processes,
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct training on loss control topics,
- Function effectively on teams,
- Communicate effectively,
- Recognize the need for, and ability to engage in lifelong learning,
- Demonstrate an understanding of professional, ethical and social responsibilities,
- Demonstrate a respect for diversity and an awareness of contemporary professional, societal and global issues, and
- Demonstrate a commitment to quality, timeliness, and continuous improvement.
Technical Educational Objectives - the FPST graduate will:
- Recognize hazards,
- Evaluate hazards,
- Conduct risk analysis & risk management activities,
- Formulate control and mitigation strategies,
- Maintain program/system effectiveness,
- Anticipate probable hazards,
- Apply and interpret applicable codes and standards, and
- Demonstrate an understanding of the conduct of incident investigations including associated legal responsibilities and recordkeeping.
The curriculum is designed to immediately introduce the student to Studies in fire protection and safety. Therefore, students are able to measure their interest in a fire protection and safety career early in their academic program. The curriculum is rigorous in the areas of mathematics and the physical sciences. Two semesters of calculus are required as well as two semesters of chemistry and one semester of physics. Computer usage is an essential component of most fire protection and safety courses. Interested high school students should design their high school programs to prepare themselves for college level mathematics and science classes.
The Fire Protection & Safety Technology Professional School
In accord with the professional nature of a career in Fire Protection & Safety Technology (FPST), a student entering OSU is admitted into a Fire Protection and Safety Technology pre-professional program. Near the completion of this pre-professional course work, the student is considered for admission to the professional school of Fire Protection & Safety Technology to continue in the upper-division program. Upon meeting admission standards the student then pursues a curriculum leading to the B.S. degree in Engineering Technology.
Pre-Professional School
The content of the pre- professional program includes course work devoted to mathematics through calculus, communication skills, general chemistry, general physics, engineering sciences, and discipline specific foundation courses. This lower-division course work is devoted to preparing the student for professional school.
Professional School
Upon formal admission to FPST professional school, the student proceeds through the junior and senior years of the degree program, fulfilling "Major Requirements" as listed on the degree requirements sheets in the publication Undergraduate Programs and Requirements that is considered a companion document to this Catalog. Upon completion of all degree requirements, the student is awarded the Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology, Fire Protection and Safety Technology.
After Graduation
The graduates of the Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology program at Oklahoma State University are consistently recruited by the major businesses and industries of the United States. Graduate placement, salary offers, and advancement into managerial positions have been excellent due to the uniqueness and high technical quality of the OSU fire protection and safety technology program.
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