Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Criticality Safety

Plan Description

The graduate, distance education Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS) 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 NCS 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 NCS 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.

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

Admission to the NCS 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 NCS 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 applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Students are accepted into a certificate program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

Total Credits Required: 12

Plan Certificate Completion Requirements

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.