Nuclear Energy Science, Certificate (Graduate)

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This certificate program provides University of Wyoming (UW) graduate students interested in pursuing careers in nuclear fields with the opportunity to develop foundational knowledge in nuclear science and technology.

Certificates can be added independently of any other credentials at UW, and can compliment a student’s existing portfolio.

Nuclear Energy Science (NES)

UW’s Nuclear Energy Science (NES) Certificate is a collaborative program between the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the School of Energy Resources. The NES certificate is designed to provide students from technical backgrounds with the discipline-specific knowledge needed to engage with the world’s growing nuclear industry. This certificate program covers essential topics within the discipline such as:

Fundamentals of Nuclear Physics - Students will grasp the basic psychical principles relevant to nuclear energy production through the analysis of industry relevant decay chains and fuel energy densities.

Conventional and Emerging Reactor Designs - Students will learn the operating principles of traditional light water reactors and emerging designs for grid-scale generation and remote deployment, highlighting the relative advantages of each with respect to safety.

Economics of Nuclear Energy Production - Students will build simple techno-economic models capable of analyzing the costs of nuclear energy projects.

Public Engagement - Students will gain the ability to communicate, in simple terms, the execution of nuclear energy projects and the technical and environmental risks associated with nuclear energy generation.

With these topics, this certificate program will prepare its graduates to contribute to modern management and development of nuclear energy projects.

Graduate Certificate - 15 credit hours

Core Courses - 6 credit hours

ERS 5204 - Nuclear Energy Physics Credits: 3
or ME 5204 - Nuclear Energy Physics Credits: 3
AND
ERS 5205 - Nuclear Power Systems Credits: 3
or ME 5205 - Nuclear Power Systems Credits: 3

Elective Courses - Minimum 9 credit hours

ERS 5200 - Law and Nuclear Technology Credits: 3
ERS 5201 - Nuclear Fuel Cycles Credits: 3
or CHEM 5201 - Nuclear Fuel Cycles Credits: 3
ERS 5202 - Nuclear Forensics Credits: 3
or CHEM 5202 - Nuclear Forensics Credits: 3
ERS 5203 - Nuclear Materials Credits: 3
or ME 5203 - Nuclear Materials Credits: 3
ERS 5210 - Advanced Energy Project Outreach and Communications Credits: 3