Fire Science Technology (FST) at Virginia Peninsula 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 105 - Fire Suppression Operations
- Introduces the fundamentals of fire suppression. Explores fire behavior and basic physical and chemical laws of fire dynamics. Prepares student to understand the need for quick operational decisions made on the fire ground including emergency management.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 108 - Introduction to Structural Firefighting
- Introduces the student to the field of firefighting with an emphasis on structural firefighting history, organizational structures, personnel, equipment, health, safety and hazard mitigation as featured in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001, "Standards for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications."Lecture 2 hours. Laboratory 3 hours. Total 5 hours per week.
Corequisite: FST 123 or departmental approval.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 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 123 - Structural Firefighting I
- Prepares students for Virginia Firefighter I and II certification. Focuses on all aspects of firefighting, fire protection, prevention, health, safety, rescue and hazard mitigation as defined by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs curriculum for Firefighter I and II as outlined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Part I of II.Lecture 2 hours. Laboratory 3 hours. Total 5 hours per week.
Prerequisite: FST 108 or, Corequisite: FST 124 or departmental approval.3 credits - FST 124 - Structural Firefighting II
- Prepares students for the Virginia Firefighter I and II certification. Focuses on all aspects of firefighting, fire protection, prevention, health, safety, rescue and hazard mitigation as defined by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs curriculum for Firefighter I and II as outlined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Part II of II.Lecture 2 hours. Laboratory 3 hours. Total 5 hours per week.
Prerequisites: FST 108, FST 123 or Corequisite: FST 108 and FST 123 or departmental approval.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 140 - Fire Officer I
- Presents and develops the foundational skills needed to supervise and direct personnel and manage resources at the company level, which is based on the current requirements of the NFPA 1021, Standards for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications. Prepares student for certification as Fire Officer I.Lecture 3-4 hours. Total 3-4 hours per week.
3-4 credits - FST 190 - Coordinated Internship
- Supervises on-the-job training in selected business, industrial or service firms coordinated by the college.Credit/practice ratio not to exceed 1:5 hours. 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 207 - Fire Alarm Systems I
- Teaches basic design and installation methods of fire alarm equipment and devices and the requirements of codes and standards that govern fire alarm systems and installations including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70), Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72), the National Fire Alarm Code, and the National Electric Code (NEC).Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 208 - Fire Alarm Systems II
- Teaches advanced design and installation methods of fire alarm equipment and devices and the requirements of codes and standards that govern fire alarm systems and installations including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 72), the National Fire Alarm Code, and the National Electric Code (NEC).Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: FST 207.3 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 211 - Fire Protection Codes and Standards
- Examines the codes and standards that guide the design, installation, inspection and testing of fire protection systems; including but not limited to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. National Electrical Code (NEC), International Building Code (IBC), Virginia Uniform State Wide Building Code (USBC), Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC), local codes and ordinances and how to use the documents as reference sources.Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 212 - National Electrical Code for Fire Protection Services
- Provides comprehensive study of the purpose and interpretations of the National Electric Code as well as familiarization and implementation of various charts, code rulings and wiring methods including state and local regulations as they relate to the fire protection systems industry.Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 213 - Practical Electricity of Fire Alarm Systems
- Teaches the fundamentals of electricity, terminology and symbols, diagrams; the principles essential to the understanding of general practices, safety and the practical aspects of residential and non-residential wiring, electrical installation as it relates to the fire protection systems industry.Lecture 3 hours. Total 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 216 - Automated Fire Sprinkler System Design I
- Presents a comprehensive study of automated sprinkler systems including sprinkler standards, design features, water supply adequacy, sprinkler limitations, and appropriate building and fire code applications.Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits - FST 217 - Automated Fire Sprinkler System Design II
- Continues the study of sprinkler system design, implementation, and installation. Includes the use of appropriate computer applications in the design of various types of sprinkler systems.Lecture 3 hours. Total 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 230 - Fire Investigation
- This course is intended to provide the student with the fundamentals and technical knowledge needed for proper fire scene interpretations, including recognizing and conducting origin and cause, preservation of evidence and documentation, scene security, motives of the firesetter, and types of fire causes.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 250 - Fire Officer II
- Presents an intermediate-level course to help individuals further develop the skills needed to supervise and direct personnel, manage resources at the company level; and is based on the current requirements of the NFPA 1021, Standards for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications. Prepares student for certification as Fire Officer II.Lecture 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: FST 140 or Certification as Fire Officer I.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 290 - Coordinated Internship
- Supervises on-the-job training in selected business, industrial or service firms coordinated by the college.Credit/practice 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
