The Ph.D. degree in the department of Fire Protection Engineering will focus on a program that produces scholars capable of creating new knowledge for the field.
Curriculum
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is conferred on candidates in recognition of high scientific attainments and the ability to conduct original research. Ph.D. students must complete a minimum of 90 credits of graduate work after the bachelor’s degree (or 60 credits after the master’s) with the following restrictions
- at least 15 credits of fire protection engineering course credits
- at least 30 hours of dissertation research (must be completed as on-campus student).
In addition to coursework, doctoral students must successfully complete:
- the fire protection engineering qualifying examination after their first full year
- a research proposal
- public seminar
- a dissertation defense.
PhD dissertation research
As you pursue your PhD in fire protection engineering, you will have a chance to explore all the facets of FPE through our large selection of courses, and through focused research undertaken in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Our courses and research focus on these topics:
- Fire suppression
- Fire detection
- Explosion protection
- Fire Dynamics
- Wildland Fire
- Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires
- Fire emissions
- Oil Spill fires
- In-situ burning
Admission Requirements
PhD applicants are required to write a statement of purpose describing their background, interests, academic intent, and the reasons the applicant feels they would benefit from the program and identify thesis topic areas and potential faculty research advisors.