Application Deadline

Applications can be received by the Graduate Admission Office any time prior to their published deadlines. In order to be considered for assistantships and tuition grants for the following academic year, students should apply by March 1 for priority consideration. The first round of award decisions typically occur by March 15. However, the Department will evaluate admission applications at any time complete applications are received by the Graduate School.

Assistantships

Research and teaching assistantships are available from the Department on a competitive basis to highly qualified applicants/students.

Tuition Grants

Tuition grants, including out-of-state tuition differential waivers and in-state tuition support, are available on a competitive basis for both out-of-state and in-state students, respectively.

Admission Requirements

The minimum admission requirements for the program are:

1. An earned undergraduate degree in engineering, engineering technology, emergency management, or a related technical or scientific discipline. For the Fire Protection concentration, an undergraduate degree in engineering, engineering technology, or a related technical or scientific discipline is acceptable. For the Fire Administration concentration, a degree in engineering, engineering technology, emergency management, or a related discipline is acceptable.
2. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better
3. Acceptable scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections of the GRE
4. Positive recommendations
5. A combined TOEFL score of 220 (computerbased) or 557 (paper-based) is required if the previous degree was from a country where English is not the common language
6. Integral and differential calculus (MATH 1120, MATH 1121, or ETGR 3171 at UNC Charlotte or equivalent) is required for students pursuing the fire protection concentration
7. Statistics (STAT 1220 or STAT 3128 at UNC Charlotte or equivalent)
8. Other credentials as required by the Graduate School

Documents to be Submitted for Admission

1. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
2. Official GRE scores.
3. Official TOEFL scores.
4. The UNC Charlotte application for graduate admission online.
5. An essay detailing the applicant’s motivation and career goals, along with any specific research and training interests.
6. Three professional recommendations.
7. Others as required by the Graduate School.

Degree Requirements

The minimum requirement for the MFPA degree is 30 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. This includes a minimum of 24 credit hours of formal coursework. Students enrolled will:  1) take a common core of 12 credit hours which includes study in both fire protection and fire administration; 2) choose additional concentrated study of 6 credits in either fire protection or fire administration; and 3) select 12 credit hours of directed elective.  Students who elect the thesis option must complete 6 credit hours of MFPA 6900  as part of the directed electives. Students who select the non-thesis option will complete 30 credit hours of coursework and complete a comprehensive exam.  At least 15 credit hours must be in courses numbered 6000 or above. The 30 credit hour degree program is outlined below:

Capstone Experiences

Students pursuing a master’s degree in Fire Protection and Administration have two options to complete the 30 credit hour program as follows:

1. 24 credit hours of coursework plus 6 credit hours of thesis project (MFPA 6900 ) OR
2. 30 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive examination.

Both options require the formation of a program committee. The thesis option is reserved for students who are attending the on-campus program and are performing research under formal graduate research or teaching assistantships. Students receiving such assistantships may be required to pursue the thesis option. The thesis option requires students to submit a written thesis and orally defend their work before their program committee.

All non-thesis students must complete 30 credit hours of coursework and successfully complete a formal comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination is a written exam. A student’s exam will be scheduled when he/she has at least 24 credit hours of course credit completed or in progress. The student’s graduate advisor and the examining committee will coordinate the examination (to be offered once in the fall and once in the spring semesters), preparing the exam with the assistance of members of the student’s program committee. The exam will measure the student’s mastery of theories and applications in the selected area of specialization within the discipline. Students will have only two opportunities to receive passing marks on the examination.

Advising

Each student is supervised by his/her graduate advisor and a program committee.

Plan of Study Requirements

Each student is required to submit a Plan of Study to the Department’s Graduate Director before completing 18 credit hours of graduate credits.

Application for Degree

Each student should submit an Application for Degree prior to graduation. If a student does not graduate in the semester identified on the Application, the student must complete a new form and repay the application fee to be considered for graduation in a subsequent semester.

Transfer Credit

The Department, at its discretion, may accept transfer of graduate courses (6 credits maximum) taken at another institution or from another program prior to admission to the master’s program in construction and facility management. Only courses in which the student earned a grade of B or above may be transferred.

Grade Requirements

All candidates must earn an overall 3.0 GPA to graduate. Accumulation of one U grade will result in the suspension of the student’s enrollment in the program.

Other Requirements

The program has both a thesis and non-thesis track. After admission to candidacy, thesis students will complete a comprehensive oral exam while nonthesis students will complete a comprehensive written exam. Residence will be per Graduate School rules. There is no language requirement. While full-time students will typically take three semesters to complete the program, part-time students are expected to take no more than six years to complete the program as per Graduate School rules.