Fire Science Technology (FST) at Northern Virginia Community College
Distance Learning
Time of Day
Term
- FST 100 - Principles of Emergency Services
- Provides an overview to fire protection; career opportunities in fire protection and related fields; philosophy and history of fire protection/service; fire loss analysis; organization and function to public and private fire protection services; fire departments as part of local government; laws and regulations affecting the fire service; fire service nomenclature; specific fire protection functions; basic fire chemistry and physics; introduction to fire protection systems; introduction to fire strategy and tactics.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 110 - Fire Behavior and Combustion
- Explores the theories and fundamentals of how and why fires start, spread, and how they are controlled.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 111 - Hazardous Materials Response
- Studies hazardous materials storage, standards, and applicable laws designed to protect the public and emergency personnel. Discusses specific methods and techniques used by the emergency worker in the abatement of hazardous materials incidents.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 112 - Hazardous Materials Chemistry
- Provides basic fire chemistry relating to the categories of hazardous materials including problems of recognition, reactivity, and health encountered by firefighters.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 115 - Fire Prevention
- Provides 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.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 120 - Occupational Safety and Health for the Fire Service
- Introduces the basic concepts of occupational health and safety as it relates to emergency service organizations. Includes risk evaluation and control procedures for fire stations, training sites, emergency vehicles, and emergency situations involving fire, EMS, hazardous materials, and technical rescue. (Upon completion of this course, students should be able to establish and manage a safety program in an emergency service organization.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 121 - Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival
- Introduces basic principles and history related to the national firefighter life safety initiatives, focusing on the need for cultural and behavior change throughout the emergency services.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 135 - Fire Instructor I
- Emphasizes development of teaching methods and aids, including role-playing, small group discussion and development of individual learning methods and materials. Requires students to develop lesson plans and make presentations on appropriate topics. Based on current requirements of NFPA 1041, Standards for Fire Instructor Professional Qualifications, and prepares student for certification as Fire Instructor I.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 197 - Cooperative Education
- Supervises in on-the-job training for pay in approved business, industrial and service firms, coordinated by the college's cooperative education office. Is applicable to all occupational- technical curricula at the discretion of the college.Credit/work ratio not to exceed 1:5 hours. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - FST 198 - Seminar and Project
- Requires completion of a project or research report related to the student's occupational objectives and a study of approaches to the selection and pursuit of career opportunities in the field.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - FST 199 - Supervised Study
- Assigns problems for independent study incorporating previous instruction and supervised by the instructor.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - FST 205 - Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply
- Provides a foundation of theoretical knowledge in order to understand the principles of the use of water in fire protection and to apply hydraulic principles to analyze and to solve water supply problems.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 210 - Legal Aspects of Fire Service
- Introduces the Federal, State, and local laws that regulate emergency services, national standards influencing emergency services,, standard of care, tort, liability, and a review of relevant court cases.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 215 - Fire Protection Systems
- Provides information relating to the features of design and operation of fire detection and alarm systems, heat and smoke control systems, special protection and sprinkler systems, water supply for fire protection and portable fire extinguishers.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 220 - Building Construction for Fire Protection
- Provides the components of building construction that relate to fire and life safety. Focuses on firefighter safety. Covers the elements of construction and design of structures and how they are key factors when inspecting buildings, preplanning fire operations, and operating at emergencies.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 235 - Strategy and Tactics
- Provides an in-depth analysis of the principles of fire control through utilization of personnel, equipment, and extinguishing agents on the fire ground.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 237 - Emergency Service Supervision
- Teaches the history of modern management theories, including scientific management and behavioral scientist approach. Introduces concepts of group dynamics, leadership, communication, stress and time management, and personnel evaluation techniques. Discusses the legal and ethical considerations of personnel management in the emergency service.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 240 - Fire Administration
- Introduces the student to the organization and management of a fire department and the relationship of government agencies to the fire service. Emphasis on fire service leadership from the perspective of the company officer.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 245 - Fire and Risk Analysis
- Presents a study of current urban fire problems with emphasis on solutions based upon current available technology. Includes master planning, as well as methods of identifying, analyzing and measuring accompanying risk and loss possibilities.Lecture 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: FST 240.3 credits - FST 255 - Fire Officer III
- Presents the material and testing required for certification as a fire Officer III under the national Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, NFPA 1021. Includes instruction for those serving in or preparing for middle and upper ranks of large fire departments. Includes community awareness and public relations, human resource development, budget information management, public education, emergency service delivery and firefighter safety.Lecture 3-4 hours per week.
Prerequisite: FST 250 or Certification as Fire Officer II.3-4 credits - FST 297 - Cooperative Education
- Supervises in on-the-job training for pay in approved business, industrial and service firms, coordinated by the college's cooperative education office. Is applicable to all occupational- technical curricula at the discretion of the college.Credit/work ratio not to exceed 1:5 hours. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - FST 298 - Seminar and Project
- Requires completion of a project or research report related to the student's occupational objectives and a study of approaches to the selection and pursuit of career opportunities in the field.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - FST 299 - Supervised Study
- Assigns problems for independent study incorporating previous instruction and supervised by the instructor.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits