Fire Protection Technology

[A55240]

Some courses for this A.A.S program are offered in CE and then transferred to CU. Students may be eligible to receive course credit for experiential learning. Courses for this program are offered in 8-week and/or 16-week terms.

First Year: Fall Semester (16 Semester Hours Credit)

• ACA 111 - College Student Success OR ACA 122 - College Transfer Success
• ENG 111 - Expository Writing
• CIS 110 - Introduction to Computers
• FIP 120 - Introduction to Fire Protection
• FIP 124 - Fire Prevention and Public Education
• FIP 136 - Inspections and Codes

First Year: Spring Semester (15 Semester Hours Credit)

• FIP 132 - Building Construction
• FIP 152 - Fire Protection Law
• FIP 220 - Fire Fighting Strategies
• FIP 240 - Fire Service Supervision
• MAT 110 - Mathematical Measurement & Literacy OR MAT 143* - Quantitative Literacy

First Year: Summer Semester (6 Semester Hours Credit)

• ENG 114 - Professional Research & Reporting OR ENG 112 - Writing/Research in the Discipline
• FIP 221 - Advanced Fire Fighting Strategies

Second Year: Fall Semester (15 Semester Hours Credit)

• EPT 140 - Emergency Management
• FIP 228 - Local Govt Finance
• FIP 230 - Chemistry of Hazmat
• FIP 276 - Managing Fire Services
• WBL 111X - Work-Based Learning

Second Year: Spring Semester (13 Semester Hours Credit)

• FIP 146 - Fire Protection Systems
• FIP 232 - Hydraulics & Water Distribution
• HUM* - Humanities/Fine Arts Elective
• SOC* - Social/Behavioral Science Elective

Total Semester Hours Credit: 65

*Students wishing to transfer should take MAT 143 or higher. HUM 115 is the recommended Humanities/Fine Arts elective. PSY 150 or SOC 210 is the recommended Social/Behavioral Science elective.

[C55240 & C55240HS]

Some courses for this certificate program are offered in CE and then transferred to CU. Students may be eligible to receive course credit for experiential learning. Courses for this program are offered in 8-week and/or 16-week terms.

First Year: Fall Semester (6 Semester Hours Credit)

• FIP 120 - Introduction to Fire Protection
• FIP 124 - Fire Prevention & Public Education

First Year: Spring Semester (6 Semester Hours Credit)

• FIP 132 - Building Construction
• FIP 152 - Fire Protection Law

Total Semester Hours Credit: 12

[C55240OP]

Some courses for this certificate program are offered in CE and then transferred to CU. Students may be eligible to receive course credit for experiential learning. Courses for this program are offered in 8-week and/or 16-week terms.

First Year: Fall Semester (8 Semester Hours Credit)

• FIP 120 - Introduction to Fire Protection
• FIP 230 - Chemistry of Hazardous Materials I

First Year: Spring Semester (10 Semester Hours Credit)

• FIP 132 - Building Construction
• FIP 146 - Fire Protection Systems
• FIP 232 - Hydraulics & Water Distribution

Total Semester Hours Credit: 18

[C55240SV]

Some courses for this certificate program are offered in CE and then transferred to CU. Students may be eligible to receive course credit for experiential learning. Courses for this program are offered in 8-week and/or 16-week terms.

First Year: Fall Semester (6 Semester Hours Credit)

• EPT 140 - Emergency Management
• FIP 124 - Fire Prevention & Public Education

First Year: Spring Semester (10 Semester Hours Credit)

• FIP 132 - Building Construction
• FIP 146 - Fire Protection Systems
• FIP 152 - Fire Protection Law

Total Semester Hours Credit: 16

[C55240SV]

Some courses for this certificate program are offered in CE and then transferred to CU. Students may be eligible to receive course credit for experiential learning. Courses for this program are offered in 8-week and/or 16-week terms.

First Year: Fall Semester (6 Semester Hours Credit)

• FIP 136 - Inspection & Codes
• EPT 140 - Emergency Management

First Year: Spring Semester (9 Semester Hours Credit)

• FIP 152 - Fire Protection Law
• FIP 228 - Local Government Finance
• FIP 240 - Fire Service Supervision

First Year: Summer Semester (3 Semester Hours Credit)

• FIP 221 - Advanced Fire Fighting Strategies

Total Semester Hours Credit: 18

Credit for experiential learning is an opportunity to earn college credit for certifications you have earned while being in the fire service. Official transcripts must be submitted and approved prior to college credit being awarded (Example: NC Level I & II Certified Firefighter certification = 3 semester hours of credit for FIP 120 - Intro to Fire Protection).

Below are certifications that qualify for credit for experiential learning and their corresponding for-credit courses:

• OSFM Firefighter I & II
  • FIP-120 Intro to Fire Protection
• OSFM Fire & Life Safety Educator I, II, & III
  • FIP-124 Fire Prevention & Public Education
• Certified Fire Investigator
  • FIP-128 Detection & Investigation
• NC Fire Inspector Level I (Standard Certification)
  • FIP-136 Inspections and Codes
• OSFM Fire Instructor I & II
  • FIP-224 Instructional Methodology
• Continuing Education Chemistry of Hazmat
  • FIP-230 Chemistry of Hazmat
• OSFM Fire Officer I & II
  • FIP-240 Fire Service Supervision

Official documentation, such as OSFM transcript, is required to request FIP course credit.

Here at RCC, we want to make it possible to complete your degree without financial hardship. Continuing Education (CE) to Curriculum (CU) classes are a way to earn college credit toward the Fire Protection Technology degree utilizing a tuition fee waiver. If you are a member of any NC Fire Department and are on their state roster, you are “fee waived” and are eligible for up to 15 semester credit hours of coursework (five courses) towards the degree. To receive credit, the Continuing Education courses must be taken at RCC.

Below are RCC's Continuing Education courses that are included in this option:

• CE Course: FIP-4728DBX
• CU Course: FIP-221

• CE Course: FIP-4728DCX
• CU Course: FIP-220

• CE Course: FIP-4728DDX
• CU Course: FIP-228

• CE Course: FIP-4728DEX
• CU Course: FIP-240

• CE Course: FIP-4728DFX
• CU Course: FIP-276 

Upon successful completion of the Fire Protection Technology program, the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate effective and professional communication skills.
• Demonstrate appropriate assessment strategies to reduce risk in management of fire services.
• Apply local government finance and laws as related to fire and emergency services management.
• Apply leadership methodologies in management and supervision of fire services.

The Associates in Applied Science Fire Protection Technology degree program requires technical and professional knowledge that will be needed to make decisions related to fire protection. To effectively train fire service professionals, the performance of certain functions is incorporated throughout the program. Students are required to demonstrate proficiency of these functions as they progress through the program. The essential functions include:

1. Critical Thinking: ability sufficient to gather relevant information, interpret data, recognize problems, and use a process to make informed, independent decisions that show good judgment.
2. Interpersonal Skills: interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with co-workers and clients, function and contribute as part of a team, be accountable for self and others, and maintain appropriate hygiene for an office environment. For example, the ability to interact effectively with other members on a team project.
3. Communication Skills: speak and write English; listen and comprehend written and spoken words; and communicate information and ideas so others will understand.
4. Mobility: mobility that is appropriate for a classroom setting is needed. For example, a student should be mobile enough to sit and stand repeatedly in a classroom setting.
5. Motor Skills: motor skills sufficient to be able to sit for extended periods of time.
6. Manual Dexterity: manual dexterity sufficient for computer work/keyboarding.
7. Hearing: ability to hear sounds at a close range (within a few feet of the observer). For example, a student should be able to hear and respond to an instructor or other students in a classroom.
8. Visual: ability to see with normal or corrected vision as well as tolerate working indoors in artificial light and the glare of computer screens.
9. Tactile: ability to perform physical activities that require use of hands and arms. For example, students should possess the finger and manual dexterity necessary to manipulate computers and other office equipment.
10. Cognitive: ability to use logic and reason; attention to detail; and short-term and long-term memory skills. For example, students should possess the ability to remember a concept covered in a class in a previous week of a semester.
11. Listening – listening skills sufficient to give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. For example, students should be able to have appropriate interactions with faculty and peers.
12. Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to the profession.
13. Reading Comprehension: understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. For example, students should be able to read a technical manual.
14. Equipment Maintenance: ability to perform routine maintenance on equipment and determine when and what kind of maintenance is needed. For example, students should be able to perform scheduled preventive maintenance of equipment.
15. Physical Skills: abilities sufficient to perform firefighting skills in various weather conditions, dexterity to perform these tasks while wearing full PPE.
16. Monitoring: ability sufficient to monitor/assess performance of yourself, others, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. For example, being able to recognize or detect unsafe conditions.