Nuclear criticality safety
Certificate, graduate
Overview
Related Topics
Master the science of nuclear safety
The University of Idaho’s nuclear criticality safety graduate certificate prepares students with advanced knowledge of nuclear engineering principles, criticality safety practices, emergency response procedures and nuclear regulatory standards. Designed for working professionals and graduate students, the flexible program helps students develop specialized skills for careers in nuclear operations, safety analysis and regulatory compliance.
You’ll complete four graduate-level courses covering foundational and advanced topics such as nuclear physics, radiation shielding, criticality safety evaluations and nuclear safety assessments. With flexible course options and opportunities to apply concepts to real-world nuclear safety challenges, the certificate provides focused training for professionals seeking expertise in nuclear criticality safety.
Customize your degree, enhance your career prospects and gain a competitive edge for promotion and new job opportunities.
This program could be a good fit if you are:
- A nuclear engineering graduate student seeking specialization in criticality safety
- A professional working in nuclear facilities or fuel cycle operations
- An engineer or scientist transitioning into nuclear safety roles
- A technology management professional involved in nuclear regulatory compliance
- A government or military professional overseeing nuclear materials or safety programs
- A health physicist or radiation safety officer expanding your technical expertise
- A graduate student in physics or engineering preparing to enter the nuclear industry
Think critically about nuclear safety
Curriculum
The nuclear criticality safety graduate certificate is a 12-credit program that helps build specialized expertise, complement your degree and develop skills in emerging fields to enhance your career opportunities.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the nuclear criticality safety graduate certificate, students will be able to apply advanced criticality safety methods to real-world nuclear engineering challenges. You will develop and demonstrate proficiency in Monte Carlo modeling and analysis for standard criticality safety problems, apply criticality safety techniques to facility design and regulatory compliance and perform special nuclear material accounting. These skills prepare you to support safe nuclear operations, evaluate risks, and meet industry and regulatory standards.
Program format
The nuclear criticality safety graduate certificate requires completion of 12 credit hours of approved coursework, with all required courses completed with a grade of B or better. You may choose from two program tracks. Track one is for students with nuclear engineering background and focuses on nuclear engineering and criticality safety through courses in nuclear engineering principles, criticality safety, advanced safety methods, and radiation detection or mathematics. Track two is for students with technology management background and emphasizes nuclear science, safety, and regulatory topics, including nuclear rules and regulations.
Faculty expertise
Work alongside faculty with expertise in:
- Nuclear energy systems, advanced reactor technologies, and nuclear power applications
- Nuclear reactor design, analysis, modeling, and simulation
- Nuclear materials, fuel processing, and materials performance
- Radioactive waste treatment, management, and nuclear fuel cycle technologies
- Nuclear safety, risk assessment, and regulatory practices
- Thermal behavior, heat transfer, and nuclear process heat applications
- Energy systems, power generation, and sustainable energy technologies
- Artificial intelligence, data analytics, robotics, and automation for engineering applications
- Cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, and resilient engineering systems
- Engineering management, project leadership, industrial systems, and process optimization
View the online nuclear criticality safety graduate handbook
Explore program courses in the University Catalog
Clubs and organizations
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
- American Nuclear Society (ANS)
- Association for Technology, Management and Applied Engineering (ATMAE)
- Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA)
- Humanitarian Engineering Corps (HEC)
- National Organization for Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCCHE)
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Career outcomes
Current job openings
553 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and mid-career salaries
- Architectural and Engineering Managers
$177,591 - Nuclear Engineers
$133,359
* Career data provided by Lightcast.
Costs and funding
Students pursuing a graduate certificate as a standalone program are not eligible for financial aid. However, students enrolled in a separate U of I graduate degree program may apply their financial aid or graduate funding toward a graduate certificate if they are pursuing both simultaneously.
For more information or to explore funding options, visit Financial Aid or contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-6312.
Learn more about cost of attendance.
Recognized STEM Program
This program is recognized as a STEM program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and may be eligible for the 24-month STEM optional practical training extension for international students.
Contact information
Have questions about the program, research opportunities or the graduate student experience? Connect with our program team for personalized guidance about curriculum, faculty mentorship, application requirements and graduate funding opportunities.
Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Management contact:
Indrajit Charit
icharit@uidaho.edu
Student Services contact:
Alice Allen
alicew@uidaho.edu
For questions related to admissions, application materials, transcripts or enrollment steps, contact Graduate Admissions:
Graduate Admissions contact:
graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu
208-885-4001
Interested in research areas or finding a faculty mentor? Explore faculty expertise, research interests and advising opportunities on the department’s faculty page.
Application information
Applicants interested in pursuing a graduate level certificate as a standalone program are encouraged to submit a graduate application. A bachelor’s degree earned with a minimum 3.0 GPA in a similar or generally related field or a master’s degree is required for admission. Applicants who do not immediately meet the criteria above may still be admitted upon review by the academic program. The graduate application requires transcripts from post-secondary education (bachelor’s and master’s if applicable), a resume and a $30 application fee.
International graduate certificate applicants must meet the graduate admission English language proficiency requirement. International students admitted to a graduate certificate program as a standalone program are not eligible for F-1 or J-1 visa status.
Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application.
Graduate certificate application process for current U of I undergraduate students
Current undergraduate students who wish to earn a graduate academic certificate must be eligible to participate in graduate level courses (minimum requirements — senior standing and an overall GPA of at least 3.0). If the course is not being used for the undergraduate degree, the student should file a Course Level Adjustment form to reserve the course for the graduate transcript (maximum of 12 credits may be reserved for the graduate transcript). Once the student earns their bachelor’s degree they may apply as a graduate certificate seeking student and complete the certificate program.
Contact your academic advisor for additional information and support.
Graduate certificate application process for current U of I graduate students
Current graduate degree seeking U of I students will be required to fill out a Change of Curriculum form adding the graduate certificate as an additional curriculum. Students should obtain the proper signatures from the department and return this form to the College of Graduate Studies for processing.
U of I students who earned a master’s or a doctoral degree and wish to apply for a graduate certificate must submit a graduate Readmission application.
It is recommended that you consult with your major professor prior to selecting a graduate certificate to go concurrent with your graduate program.
Have questions?
Have questions about the program? Connect with our program director or request more information to learn about curriculum, faculty advisors, research opportunities, graduate funding and career outcomes.