Safety and Security, Rescue Engineering

Degree programs in Safety and Security train experts who ensure that security risks are minimized or that things that have gotten out of control are brought back under control. In the fire department and police, in security management in companies in various sectors, as well as in the state and government, they develop Security Technology and concepts as well as schedules and ensure that these are adhered to, and not only in the event of a disaster. Because the field of activity is so broad, safety specialists need specific knowledge in many areas. There are overlaps with law, economics and social sciences, but also with Chemistry, Physics and Psychology.

Rescue Engineering is an interdisciplinary discipline that combines engineering subjects with social science, economics and subject-specific subjects.

The range of studies in the field of safety and security includes both generalist courses and specialized offerings, e.g. in the field of "industrial safety". The study program is generally both research and application-oriented and includes internships. Possible course titles are "Hazard Prevention/Hazard Control", "Quality, Environment, Safety and Hygiene", "Risk Engineering", "Security & Safety Engineering" or "Safety Management".

At present, only the Technical University of Cologne (Bachelor and Master) and the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Bachelor) offer degree programs in rescue engineering.

During their studies, Safety and Security students deal with various disciplines. Depending on your orientation, you will gain basic knowledge in the areas of safety technology, occupational safety, fire and environmental protection, chemistry, electrical engineering, basics of communication, conflict and crime in social processes, marketing and management, physics, law and business administration, self- and conflict management, Environmental protection, computer science, process engineering and psychology. In addition, they can set their own priorities. These include, for example, flood or radiation protection, extinguishing technology and public relations. Rescue engineering students first acquire scientific and technical basics. They also learn how to recognize, assess, prevent and combat dangers, risks and their connections. They deal, among other things, with demand planning in emergency services and fire protection, with chemistry, business administration, human biology, engineering mathematics, risk analysis, emergency medicine, physics and technical mechanics.

In order to study Safety and Security or Rescue Engineering, internships lasting several weeks or aptitude tests may be required.

Graduates of both subjects work, among other things, in professional fire departments, in industry, with federal, state or local fire, disaster and environmental protection authorities, with the police, as experts in insurance companies, in construction or at banks, in development or Manufacture of fire protection and security technology.