he program’s curriculum aligns with the national model developed by the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy to create a standard fire science curriculum for institutions across the country. El Centro’s Fire Protection Technology courses are also being coordinated with area high schools for students who want to pursue careers in emergency and fire management services.

The program includes a core of program-specific technical subjects, along with academic courses such as computer applications, speech communication and business for a well-rounded education. Program-specific courses include:

Fire Protection Technology Degree and Certificate Options
El Centro College

The Fire Protection Technology program is offered at El Centro College. Technical classes are taught at the El Centro College Bill J. Priest Campus at 1402 S. Corinth St., just south of I-30 and downtown Dallas. Academic courses are offered at the El Centro College Downtown Campus in downtown Dallas on Elm Street between Lamar and Market streets.

All of the following awards are designed for students who want to begin a career in fire services or who are employed in a related field and are looking for career advancement skills.

The Fire Protection Technology Associate in Applied Sciences degree integrates professional, technical firefighting skills related to the everyday demands of the profession. Both academic and fire science courses are geared toward helping graduates advance into supervisory positions and include fire service organization, strategy and tactics, fire codes, and alarm and extinguishing systems. The associate degree requires 60 to 62 credit hours over four semesters. The Fire Science certificate prepares students to advance into supervisory or management-level positions. The certificate can be completed over three semesters with 39 to 41 credit hours, all of which may be applied toward the associate degree in Fire Protection Technology. The Fire/Arson Investigation certificate is designed for students who are looking for a career in arson investigation or seeking specific certification as an arson investigator. The certificate can be completed in two semesters with 18 credit hours, all of which may be applied toward the associate degree in Fire Protection Technology. To be certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a basic arson investigator, you must do all of the following:

Possess a current basic peace officer’s license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education or documentation that you are a federal law enforcement officer (note that the colleges of DCCCD offers state-certified Basic Peace Officer training courses and certification) Hold a current commission as a peace officer with the employer for whom the arson investigations will be done Complete a commission-approved basic fire investigation training program Pass the commission examination