Dear DDP Applicant:

Congratulations on considering Cogswell DDP program as an option to further your education and develop professionally. What follows is a series of Frequently Asked Questions with update-to-date responses.

To download an information package, please click Here

To download a FESHE Model Brochure, please click Here

Download an Application for Admission Here


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Who enrolls in the Degrees at a Distance Program?

If you are interested in continuing your education and improving your opportunity for career advancement, and if distance education will suit your needs, then the Degrees at a Distance Program is right for you.

Do I need an Associate degree to start my Bachelor’s degree with Cogswell College?

It is recommended that new applicants hold an A.S. or A.A. degree in Fire Science, but NOT Required. However, degrees are not transferred, only credits. You may take lower division requirements while working toward your B.S. degree. However, you must have completed at least 12 units of the lower division fire science requirement of 21 units and the lower division English 100 level composition course before beginning upper division courses.

What is the tuition for the Degrees at a Distance Program?

Our current tuition is $648 per 3-unit course ($216 per unit).

How do I apply for admission?

An Application for Admission form is included in this packet. Fill it out and complete the required essay. Submit the application, essay, application fee, and a photocopy of your high school diploma to the Admissions office. We suggest that you request official transcripts from colleges you attended be sent directly to the Cogswell's Admissions office.


When will I receive a response to my application?

When Admissions receives a complete application package, your file will be forwarded to the DDP office for evaluation. The process takes approximately two weeks. If accepted, you will receive an acceptance letter and a transcript evaluation.

What courses will transfer from my past schooling?

Courses which fulfill Cogswell College requirements for which you earned a C or better are transferable. We tranfer up to 60 lower division units from an accredited college.
What courses must be taken from Cogswell?

The upper-division FS courses (7 core courses, 3 concentration courses, and Sr. Project) MUST be taken from Cogswell. General Education requirements and other electives offered at Cogswell College must be taken from Cogswell. In other circumstances, upon evaluation, students may obtain permission to take and transfer a GE or an elective course from other accredited institutions

Can Fire Service Certificates or National Fire Academy courses fulfill any of my requirements?

Yes. Although nothing can substitute for the eleven required upper division fire science courses, a number of state and military fire certificates and NFA courses can fulfill other upper and lower division requirements in the program. For example, instructor courses (such as Instructor IA or IB in California) can fulfill the lower division Speech requirement or the Technical Report Writing requirement. We follow the ACE recommendations for NFA courses. Your academic advisor will counsel you further on this question.

What is the DDP Certificate of Completion?

When a DDP student has completed six or more of the upper division fire science courses with a grade C or better, he/she may request a National Fire Academy/Cogswell College Certificate of Completion. For students continuing on toward a Bachelor’s degree, this certificate is an intermediate step.

When and how do I register for classes?

DDP students receive registration packets prior to each trimester. A student who wishes to take a course that term submits the registration form with payment for the course. The course instructor shortly before the start of the term, e- mails the syllabus and pre-class assignments to the enrollee. Students then log-in to their online class on the first week of the term using the course management system ETUDES-NG. We use an asynchronous mode of instruction.

What is the cost of books?

Most of course material will be available in PFD format through your online course. The National Fire Academy course guides set cost for the fire science course in the range of $15-25. About two-thirds of the courses require an additional textbook, whose cost varies.


To remain current in the program, a student must take and successfully complete at least one course that fulfills a curriculum requirement during the fall and spring terms respectively. Summer attendance is optional. After all FS core requirements and concentration courses are fulfilled, exceptions can be made with GE and elective courses after consultation with the DDP Director. A student returning after a hiatus must reapply for admission to the program.

How many courses may I take each term?

It depends on how soon you want to earn your degree. As long as students remain current in the program by taking at least one course per term, students may take as many courses as they wish. Many students combine one or two distance course with one or more resident course per term. In is important to follow the sequence of courses mapped in the Program of Study Sheet.

What is the purpose of the Resident Programs?

The Resident Program gives students the chance to work with other students, network, and meet faculty members face to face. With emphasis on group projects and classroom interaction, the courses taught in resident programs offer a nice change of pace from the more solitary, written-response format used in distance courses.

What Course Management System (CMS) Cogswell uses for online courses?

Cogswell uses a robust online course management system known as ETUDES-NG: Easy To Use Distance Education System - Next Generation. ETUDES-NG is comparable in features to Blackboard Professional .


Is there any financial aid for DDP students?

Yes, a comprehensive package of Financial Aid, including Federal Title IV financial aid package, is available to eligible students. Cogswell also awards a modest number of scholarships specifically available for DDP students each year. Cogswell is also approved for Veteran’s and military benefits.

What Makes Cogswell's DDP Program Unique?

1- The program is Regionally Accredited by WASC and is certified by the National Fire Academy and follows the FESHE Curriculum.
2- Besides a BS Degree, students, if qualified, may earn two NFA Certificates: NFA Certificate of Completion & NFA Certificate of Achievement
3- Low Fees and Tuition: Current tuition is $216 per unit; a fraction of what for-profit universities charge
4- The program is a member of seven DDP Consortium Schools in the United States
5- High Credit transfer rate from other institutions. The Program has active articulation agreements with most community colleges offering AS/AA Degrees in Fire Science.
6- Some certifications earned through State Fire Marshall Training Programs may translate into College Credit.
7- Comprehensive package of Financial Aid, including Federal Title IV financial aid package