Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog | 2018-2019 
    
Undergraduate Catalog | 2018-2019 Previous Edition

Fire and Safety Engineering Technology, Fire Safety Concentration, B.S.E.T.


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The Fire and Safety Engineering Technology (FSET) program at UNC Charlotte prepares graduates of the BSET program for careers across a broad spectrum of technologies. The program has emphasis on both technical and non-technical aspects in the fields of fire and safety.

Concentrations within the program encompass Fire Safety, Fire Protection , and Occupational Safety .  Many of the lower division courses are common between the concentrations, while the upper division allows specialization within the chosen concentration area.

The Fire Safety concentration is intended for students who seek a career within the fire service. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for increasingly responsible roles in leadership and management. In addition, the program provides comprehensive classes dealing with fire behavior, active and passive protection systems as well as the foundational principles of research investigation. Students completing the requirements identified for this concentration will receive a special designation on their transcripts showing they have completed the Fire Safety concentration.

Admission Requirements


Freshmen

  • Minimum GPA:  n/a
  • Declaration of Major:  Students may declare the major at time of admission or at any time if in good standing with the College and University.

Transfers

  • Minimum GPA:  2.0 (2.2 for students with an approved Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree)
  • Pre-Major/Prerequisite Courses: 
    • Transfer Students without an A.A.S. degree
      • Complete the remaining coursework outlined for the respective four-year curriculum that they were admitted into after evaluation and application of any transfer credit
    • Transfer Students with an A.A.S. degree (in a field appropriate to the program applied to)
      • Acceptable A.A.S. degrees may include: Architectural, Automation, Building Construction, Civil, Construction, Computer, Controls, Design and Drafting, Electrical, Electronics, Environmental, Fire Protection, Fire Science, Industrial, Instrumentation, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Optics, Robotics, Surveying, or similar title with curriculum acceptable to the department
      • Acceptance of the A.A.S. degree indicates the acceptance of up to 64 credit hours toward the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (BSET) or Bachelor of Science in Construction Management (BSCM) degree only.  These credit hours are not valid toward any other degree program at the University.  Students transferring with an A.A.S. degree must have satisfactorily completed the following subjects in their two-year program (missing background courses may be taken at UNC Charlotte)
      • Fire & Safety Engineering Technology - Fire Safety Concentration
        • English Composition, Technical Writing, and/or Public Speaking (3 credit hours)
        • College Algebra (3 credit hours)
        • Pre-Calculus (3 credit hours)
          • General Physics (with lab) (4 credit hours)
          • Additional Physics or Chemistry or Biology (3-4 credit hours)
        • Technical Courses in Major Area (up to 44 credit hours)
          • Introduction to Fire Protection & Prevention
          • Water Based Fire Suppression
          • Fire Protection & Safety Law
          • Fire Investigation
          • Building Construction
          • Introduction to Fire Behavior
          • DC Circuits
          • Occupational Safety
  • Other:  A student must earn the last 30 credit hours toward the BSET or BSCM degree and the last 12 credit hours in the major at UNC Charlotte to satisfy residence requirements. All students must complete an experiential learning course. Experiential courses are practice-oriented courses such as cooperative education, internships, senior design projects, or undergraduate research. Internships, or 49erships, involve paid or unpaid work in a career-related position for professional experience.  A minimum of 80 work hours and 5 weeks for one semester is required to complete the program.  Fall and Spring 49erships are part-time.  Summer 49erships may be full- or part-time.  Full-time students who are in good University standing, have completed 30 credit hours, and have a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA are eligible. Internships do not offer academic credit, but are noted on the student’s transcript; students pay a course registration fee. Approval for enrollment must be arranged before the student begins a work experience. Students may begin this program during their Sophomore year; transfer students must complete 12 credit hours at UNC Charlotte before making application for the program. For more information, contact the College of Engineering Office of Student Development and Success or the University Career Center. In addition to University and College of Engineering requirements, an A.A.S. transfer student who is admitted to any BSET or BSCM program without meeting ALL published admission requirements is expected to remove all admission deficiencies within one year. Violators are subject to discontinuance and enrollment in senior-level coursework is prohibited until all deficiencies are removed.
  • Transferable Credit Hours:  24 for lower division transfers.  From a two-year college:
    • Fire & Safety Engineering Technology, Fire Safety Concentration - 61 credit hours

Academic Progression Requirements

Freshman Year Requirements

All new freshmen, including early college and dual enrolled students that have college credit prior to high school graduation, are initially advised by a central office within the College of Engineering. Students must satisfy the following requirements in order to progress in the curriculum and matriculate to their major department.

  • Follow the advice and recommendations of their faculty advisors.
  • Follow all prerequisite, co-requisite, and progression requirements of their program.
  • Pass all courses within three attempts, including withdrawing from a course with a grade of W.
  • Earn a 2.00 cumulative GPA upon completion of the Freshman curriculum.

Sophomore through Senior Year Requirements

  • Maintain an overall GPA of 2.000 in the University.
  • Maintain a major cumulative GPA of 2.000 for all courses in the departmental curriculum. Failure to meet this requirement for two consecutive semesters will result in not being permitted to enroll in College of Engineering courses.
  • Take a course in their curriculum a maximum of three times to achieve a satisfactory grade, including withdrawing from the course with a grade of W.

An undergraduate student who fails to satisfy one or more of the progression requirements stated above, but who nonetheless meets the conditions for continued enrollment in the University, will be ineligible to reenroll in the College of Engineering unless an appeal is accepted by the College of Engineering.  If an appeal is accepted, requirements for continued enrollment appropriate to the individual situation are specified in a “Continuation Agreement” that is mutually agreed upon and signed by the student and his/her appropriate advisor.  A student who has been suspended by the University must follow University guidelines for appeal. Readmission to the College of Engineering after a University suspension is not automatic.  An application for readmission must be made by the student and approved by the College/department.  Students who are readmitted by the College of Engineering after suspension by the University must meet requirements for continued enrollment appropriate to their individual situation.  These requirements are specified in a “Continuation Agreement” that is mutually agreed upon and signed by the student and his/her appropriate advisor.  The consequences of failure to meet the requirements of the agreement may be articulated in the agreement itself.  However, if these consequences are not included in the agreement, failure to meet the requirements will automatically result in the student not being permitted to continue to enroll in College of Engineering courses.

Degree Requirements (4-Year Program)


The BSET in Fire and Safety Engineering Technology with a Concentration in Fire Safety program consists of 123 credit hours. 

General Education Courses (18 credit hours)


For details on required LBST, UWRT, and Social Sciences courses, refer to the General Education Program 

Mathematics and Science Foundation Courses (16 credit hours)


Elective Science Course


Restricted Elective Courses (6 credit hours)


Select two 3000- or 4000-level courses within the Department of Engineering Technology and Construction Management with a minimum of 6 credit hours that are not already required for the major.  Select from the following:

  • CMET 3000 level or above
  • ELET 3000 level or above
  • ENER 3000 level or above
  • ETCE 3000 level or above
  • ETFS 3000 level or above
  • ETGR 3000 level or above
  • ETME 3000 level or above

Degree Total = 123 Credit Hours


Degree Total = 122 Credit Hours


Degree Requirements (2+2-Year Program)


The BSET in Fire and Safety Engineering Technology with a Concentration in Fire Safety program consists of 123 credit hours. 

A.A.S. Degree (60 credit hours)


A.A.S. transfer students from approved programs receive 60 credit hours for the A.A.S. degree; thus, A.A.S. students need only to complete the upper-division portion of the courses listed below and remediate any entrance deficiencies noted upon matriculation. 

General Education Course (3 credit hours)


For details on required LBST courses, refer to the General Education Program 

Restricted Elective Courses (6 credit hours)


Select two 3000- or 4000-level courses within the Department of Engineering Technology and Construction Management with a minimum of 6 credit hours that are not already required for the major.  Select from the following:

  • CMET 3000 level or above
  • ELET 3000 level or above
  • ENER 3000 level or above
  • ETCE 3000 level or above
  • ETFS 3000 level or above
  • ETGR 3000 level or above
  • ETME 3000 level or above

Degree Total = 123 Credit Hours


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