Program Overview

Fire Protection Engineering (ENFP)

Overview

The Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE) offers a world-class environment for advanced graduate study and research in the broad area of fire safety. The department offers a Master of Science (M.S) degree and a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree. The mission of the FPE Department is to reduce the burden of fire losses on life and property by providing the highest quality of scientifically-based education, research, and outreach in fire protection engineering, and in fire-related safety, health and environmental issues.

Abstract

The FPE graduate program provides the unique interdisciplinary academic foundation and scholarly training needed to address complex engineering problems with emphasis on advancing the field of fire protection engineering. The educational objectives of the FPE M.S. and M.Eng degree programs are to produce graduates who:

• Have the technical knowledge and skills needed to practice fire protection engineering locally, nationally and internationally in a variety of modern professional settings;
• Have the ability to understand and communicate societal, environmental, economic and safety implications of engineering decisions on the local and global communities;
• Are prepared to participate in the development and promotion of fire protection engineering and assume technical and/or business leadership positions.

Some additional educational objectives specific to the FPE M.S. degree program are to produce graduates who:

• Appreciate the importance of scientific research as a mechanism to strengthen the technical basis of fire protection engineering.
• Have the basic competencies needed to pursue advanced studies (e.g., Ph.D.) in fire protection engineering or related fields.

Financial Assistance

The Department of Fire Protection Engineering offers several types of financial support through various research or teaching assistantships. Students are also encouraged to seek other external funding opportunities.

General Requirements

• Statement of Purpose
• Transcript(s)
• TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)

Program-Specific Requirements

• Letters of Recommendation (3)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• GRE Subject (optional)
• CV/Resume
• Description of Research/Work Experience (optional)
• Writing Sample (optional)
• Portfolio PDF Upload (optional)

The M.S. and M.Eng. programs are open to qualified students holding a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in engineering, or a related field from an accredited institution. Applicants should have taken the following 4 prerequisite courses: differential equations, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, structural mechanics (or strength of materials).

Application Deadlines

Graduate Application Deadlines:

• Domestic Applicants:
  • US Citizens and Permanent Residents: June 23, 2026 (Fall), December 12, 2025 (Spring)
• International Applicants:
  • F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A, E, G, H, I and L visas and immigrants: March 6, 2026 (Fall), September 23, 2025 (Spring)

Faculty

• Koffel, William: Full Member, B.S., Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland, 1979
• Milke, James A.: Full Member, B.S., University of Maryland-College Park, 1976; M.S., 1981; Ph.D., 1991
• Ni, Shuna: Full Member, M.S. Tongji University 2013; Ph.D. Texas A&M University 2018
• Raffan Montoya, Fernando: Full Member, B.S. in Aerospace Engineering (Summa Cum Laude), Florida Institute of Technology, 2005; M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, UMD, 2008; Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, UMD, 2016
• Stoliarov, Stanislav I.: Full Member, B.S./M.S, Mendeleev Institute of Chemical Technology-Russia, 1993; Ph.D., Catholic University of America, 2000
• Sunderland, Peter B.: Full Member, B.S.,Cornell University. 1983; M.S., University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1986; M.S., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1994; Ph.D., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1995
• Tohidi, Ali: Full Member
• Trouve, Arnaud: Full Member, M.S., Ecole Centrale Paris-France, 1985; Ph.D., Ecole Centrale Paris-France, 1989

Program Description

The program is designed to stimulate intellectual growth, increase the level of objective understanding of the physical world and further develop capabilities for analysis and synthesis in order to produce premier fire safety engineers and/or researchers. The Department of Fire Protection Engineering offers a Master of Science (M.S) degree and a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree. The mission of the FPE Department is to reduce the burden of fire losses on life and property by providing the highest quality of scientifically-based education, research, and outreach in fire protection engineering, and in fire-related safety, health and environmental issues.