Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Criticality Safety

Plan Description

The graduate, distance education Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineering (NCSE) Certificate program will provide the graduate MSMNE student a diverse education and the practicing NCS engineer (and their employer) with components that will help train and maintain a well-qualified workforce. The UNLV NCSE Certificate will provide evidence that the graduate has the appropriate education to become a certified NCS Engineer in NRC-licensed facilities, US DOE’s national laboratories, and the Navy Reactors program. The NCSE Certificate program consists of four nuclear engineering courses (twelve credits total) that include three required courses and a related/approved elective course. In addition, many of the proposed topic areas, e.g., Introduction to Nuclear Criticality Safety, are also appropriate subjects for general nuclear engineering graduate students (i.e., not NCS engineers), while other certificate program courses, e.g., Monte Carlo Methods are appropriate for both UNLV’s NE students as well as health and medical physics students.

Plan Admission Requirements

Admission to the NCSE Certificate program requires both a BS degree in an engineering discipline and ME 455/655 Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering (or equivalent).

If an applicant can demonstrate equivalent knowledge from relevant work experience (e.g. Navy nuclear reactor program or extensive training and experience at an NRC-licensed or DOE process facility), the Director of the NCSE Certificate Program can waive both requirements with the concurrence of the Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering based upon review by nuclear engineering faculty.

All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Plan Requirements

Total Credits Required: 12

Course Requirements 

Required Courses – Credits: 9

ME 754 - Introduction to Nuclear Criticality Safety 

ME 755 - Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineering 

ME 756 - Monte Carlo Methods in Nuclear Engineering 

Elective – Credits: 3

Complete an advisor-approved graduate-level nuclear engineering or health physics course.

Certificate Requirements 

Completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.

Plan Certificate Completion Requirements

The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation in MyUNLV by the appropriate deadline.