Graduate Degrees

Nuclear engineering Graduate certificate

The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Sciences is offering a certificate for students in the Swanson School of Engineering with an interest in nuclear science and technology. Students from the Bioengineering, Civil, Chemical, Industrial, Mechanical, Materials Science, and Electrical/Computer engineering programs may be most interested in obtaining this certificate. Fifteen units are required to complete the certificate. This certificate may be combined with graduate courses in any one of the School's seven Master of Science (MS) degree programs or the certificate may be awarded stand-alone as a postbaccalaureate certificate.

This program provides coursework for graduate level nuclear engineering education with a focus on nuclear operations and safety. This focus on nuclear operations and safety not only fulfills a recognized educational need, but is also designed to take advantage of unique industrial resources in the Pittsburgh area which will greatly facilitate student learning.

The renaissance of nuclear science and technology in the United States has created a need in the marketplace once again for engineers with nuclear knowledge. The University of Pittsburgh aims to meet these marketplace needs by preparing engineers through the graduate certificate in nuclear engineering.

Classes are taught by current and former nuclear engineers, including faculty with experience conducting commercial nuclear operations programs for Westinghouse or the Beaver Valley Nuclear Station and with certifications or operator licenses from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

objectives

The objectives of the nuclear engineering certificate are:

1. To develop the basic competencies needed by science and engineering graduates to contribute quickly and effectively to the renaissance of nuclear science and technology in the United States and abroad.
2. To create a benchmark educational program that can serve as a model throughout academia.

Requirements

Students must satisfactorly complete five of the following nine courses in order to earn either the graduate or postbaccalaureate certificate in nuclear engineering:

• ENGR/ME 2100: Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering (3 units)
      Pre-req: an undergraduate degree in engineering or
      science.
• ENGR/ME 2101: Nuclear Core Dynamics (3 units)
      Pre-req: ENGR/ME 2100 or an undergraduate course in
      nuclear engineering, work experience with nuclear
      systems or instructor's permission.         
• ENGR/ME 2102: Nuclear Plant Dynamics and Control (3 units)
      Pre-req: ENGR/ME 2101.
• ENGR/ME 2103: Integration of Nuclear Plant Systems with the Reactor Core (3 units) Pre-req: ENGR/ME 2100.
• ENGR/ME 2104: Nuclear Operations Safety (3 units)
      Pre-reqs: ENGR/ME 2102, 2103.
• ENGR/ME 2105: Integrated Nuclear Power Plant Operations (3 units) Pre-reqs: ENGR/ME 2102, 2103.
• ENGR/ME 2110: Nuclear Materials (3 units)
      Pre-req: an undergraduate course in nuclear
      engineering or instructor's permission.
• ENGR/ME 2115: Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow in Nuclear Plants (3 units)
      Pre-req: an undergraduate course in heat
      transfer and fluid flow or instructor's permission.
• ENGR/ME 2120: Nuclear Plant Security (3 units)
• ENGR/ME 2130: Environmental Issues and Solutions for Nuclear Power (3 units)

The program will be sufficiently flexible to accommodate students from a wide spectrum of engineering disciplines. 

Who may apply

• Practicing engineers currently in or aspiring to a leadership role in the nuclear industry,
• Engineering professionals who desire graduate level education in nuclear engineering with a focus on safe nuclear plant operations,
• New graduates with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a technical discipline, and
• Professionals who manage multidisciplinary teams for project design or management in the nuclear industry.

How to apply

At the University of Pittsburgh, any student pursuing a Master’s degree in the Swanson School of Engineering may pursue the graduate certificate in nuclear engineering as a focus track. It is also possible for individuals who wish to achieve the certificate only to apply as well. To apply, please click here.

Questions

Inquires regarding the graduate certificate in nuclear engineering can be directed to:
Dr. Larry Foulke, Director of Nuclear Engineering Program
532 BENDM
(412) 624-9799

Inquires reqarding registration can be directed to:
Glinda Harvey, Mechanical Engineering Graduate Administrator
848 BENDM
(412) 624-9781

Admissions

Applications for admission are encouraged from all persons with a genuine interest in nuclear engineering. Apply to the nuclear engineering graduate certificate.

Courses

Nuclear Engineering Graduate Certificate Course Descriptions