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Department of Nuclear Engineering

The Department of Nuclear Engineering offers a graduate certificate in nuclear security science and analysis. The program is designed primarily for stu­dents seeking specialization in nuclear security sci­ence with emphasis on current or aspiring members of the nuclear security community, including those areas with an emphasis on arms control, treaty ver­ification, nonproliferation, international nuclear se­curity issues in both civilian and military contexts, nuclear threat detection, and principles of nuclear intelligence assessment. Additionally, this program prepares graduate students to engage in the research and development of new tools and processes related to nuclear security science and analysis.

 

NE 531 Global Nuclear Security Culture
Principles and best practices in nuclear security, nuclear safety, and nuclear materials safeguards (“3S”) culture with an emphasis on developing and expanding nuclear power-producing states. Introduction to relevant interna­tional conventions and agreements such as the Nonprolif­eration Treaty, the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the key milestones for nations seeking to de­velop a peaceful nuclear power program.

NE 533 Physical Security for High-Conse­quence Facilities
Design criteria and performance basis that make up a physical security program for high-consequence and criti­cal environments. Introduction to security design and en­gineering technology forming the basis behind detection, delay, and response elements of security systems. Elements of risk, system evaluation, site and security surveys, and the legal basis for protection. Evaluative methodolo­gies common to academia and industry will be applied.

NE 534 Physical Security Vulnerability Assessment
Evaluation of threat basis, facility characterization, and asset determination. Students will engage in field surveys, perform interviews, and gather open-source information which provides the background information necessary to evaluate system effectiveness from a quantitative perspective. Evaluative and analytical approaches necessary to perform physical security vulnerability assessments and development of models designed to predict the ef­fectiveness of systems.

NE 535 Nuclear Chemistry and Radiochem­istry
Introduction to nuclear and radiochemistry. Principles of radioactive decay, radiochemical separations, and radiochemical measurements. Nuclear cross-sections and isotope production methods. Applications of nuclear and radiochemical techniques in medicine, environment, and industrial applications.

NE 536 Export Control and Nonproliferation
Principles and regulatory frameworks for controlling sensitive nuclear technology. US and European export control regulations and governance, international export control, and nonproliferation considerations for nuclear technology trade in the global context. Best practices resources such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Nuclear Supplier Group, and other organizations. Case studies in export control violations relevant to nucle­ar proliferation.

NE 537 Human Reliability in Nuclear Sys­tems
Methodology for assessing and managing human reliabil­ity factors in nuclear systems. Issues in human reliability and human sources of error in nuclear systems perfor­mance. Indicators and issues in identifying and minimiz­ing the impact of human actions (accidental or deliberate) adverse to successful operation in nuclear systems and nuclear materials security.

NE 635 Nuclear Forensics
Introduction to nuclear forensics. Principles of isoto­pic signatures and their origins, ultra-trace radiochemi­cal separations, and isotope measurements via nuclear counting and mass spectrometry. Forensic assessment methods for nuclear materials and post-detonation debris analysis. Applications of nuclear forensics in interdicted materials and crisis response scenarios.