Nuclear safeguards and security
Certificate, graduate
Power up your security skills
If you're looking to build a career in protecting nuclear and radioactive materials, the Nuclear Safeguards and Security certificate is your opportunity to gain the specialized skills the industry urgently needs. Nuclear technology plays a critical role in power generation, medicine, industry and military operations — making experts like you essential in preventing its malicious use, including cyber threats.
As technology evolves and the workforce shifts, your advanced training will help ensure national and global readiness in nuclear security.
Offered through a unique collaboration between University of Idaho, Boise State University and Idaho State University, this fully online certificate program gives you in-depth insight into the policy and engineering challenges of safeguarding nuclear materials. Whether you’re a degree-seeking student or a working professional, you’ll gain the technical and strategic expertise to make a real impact in one of today’s most critical fields. Courses cover materials engineering and degradation, reactor safety and waste management, equipping you to lead in a rapidly evolving sector.
Overview
Related Topics
Fuse your skills with nuclear protection
Degree fit
This certificate could be a good fit if you:
- Are pursuing or hold a graduate degree in nuclear engineering, security studies or related fields
- Want specialization in nuclear safeguards and security
- Wish to deepen ability to analyze, design, evaluate and implement nuclear safeguard systems
Career outcomes
Current job openings
79 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and starting salaries
- Power Plant Operators
$75,919 - Power Distributors and Dispatchers
$87,687 - Nuclear Technicians • Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
$82,634 - Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
$70,365
* Career data provided by Lightcast.
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities
Financial aid
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, contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-6312.
Clubs and involvement opportunities
Our college offers 20+ clubs and organizations tied to international and national engineering organizations, including national competition teams.
Learn about clubs related to your major:
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers (ASABE)
- American Nuclear Society (ANS)
- Graduate & 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)
Application information
Applicants interested in pursuing a graduate level certificate as a standalone program are encouraged to submit a graduate application. Admission typically requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field with a minimum 3.0 GPA or a completed master’s degree. However, applicants who do not meet these criteria may still be considered on a case-by-case basis 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. Graduate certificates offered as standalone programs do not qualify international students 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 include senior standing and a 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. A maximum of 12 credits may be reserved. 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 to add the graduate certificate to their existing program. This form must be signed by the department and submitted to the College of Graduate Studies for processing.
U of I students who have already earned a master’s or a doctoral degree and wish to apply for a graduate certificate must submit a graduate readmission application.
Before adding a certificate, talk with your major professor to make sure it aligns with your academic and career goals.