Higher Education

Education is necessary for developing knowledgeable and skilled individuals.  Fire protection engineering relies on specialized knowledge of how fire functions, mitigation practices, systems that can control incidents, and human behavior.

There are limited university programs around the world that offer formal programs in fire protection or fire safety engineering. (See University Listings.)  Many professionals gained their fire protection knowledge through their jobs and professional development, usually with an education in another discipline of engineering, such as mechanical, civil, or electrical.

Academia is a critical component to the longevity of fire protection engineering as an independent discipline.  Many university programs, even prospering ones, struggle to find individuals with the fire protection knowledge and a doctorate, which is a common requirement for faculty.

SFPE is focused on higher education as it is directly tied to the professional qualifications of the industry.  To learn more, follow these links:

• Accreditation for FPE Programs
• Academic Leadership Council
• Curricula Models
• Career Guide
• Career Portal
• Student Chapters
• Scholarships
• Student Awards
• Salamander

**If you have strong interest in this topic, the SFPE Higher Education Subcommittee invites you to join them.  Volunteers are always welcome.  Click here to fill out the short application. [You must be logged into the website for the application.]**  For questions, please contact Victoria Valentine.