UW School of Energy Resources and Engineering College Launch Grad and Undergrad Nuclear Certificate Programs

The University of Wyoming will offer new nuclear-focused certificates at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to prepare UW students for careers in the nuclear energy industry.

As approved by the UW Board of Trustees during its November meeting, the School of Energy Resources (SER), in collaboration with the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, will launch the two new nuclear energy sciences certificates available to students beginning this fall.

Both certificates received final approval from the Higher Learning Commission earlier this month.

“UW students have shown strong interest in nuclear energy, and we are excited to begin enrolling students in this incredible program that will significantly augment UW degrees and make our graduates more competitive in the field,” says SER Academic Director Kami Danaei. “These certificates were driven through the collaborative efforts of the School of Energy Resources, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and SER’s Nuclear Energy Research Center (NERC) to set UW students up for success in finding meaningful, cutting-edge employment in the state. Developing and offering these certificates was made possible by support from the state of Wyoming and private philanthropic support.”

The interdisciplinary certificate programs allow undergraduate and graduate students to earn a credential grounded in nuclear energy science and technology. The programs will give students a strong understanding of the scientific principles underlying nuclear energy and related technological applications across various sectors.

The certificates require 15 credit hours of in-person course offerings, typically completed over two academic years.

“It has been a major objective of NERC to build capacity across the university by connecting faculty, providing new course offerings for students, and establishing new core facilities on campus to improve research and partnerships,” says Caleb Hill, co-director of NERC. “The success of these certificates will really allow UW students currently pursuing degrees in science and engineering to expand their networks and gain valuable exposure to the nuclear energy field.”

The certificates also aim to retain top talent in the state as new career opportunities emerge. These new credentials are particularly novel in higher education due to their interdisciplinary attributes. While the core courses are technical in nature, nuclear law and energy communications courses also are included in the certificate.

“This is an important milestone in NERC’s efforts to develop education and training programs that are informed by industry needs and that will prepare UW graduates to compete in the nuclear workforce,” says Tara Righetti, NERC’s co-director. “There is so much enthusiasm surrounding nuclear energy projects in Wyoming. We see this as a major opportunity for UW students to find employment and contribute to the growth of the sector in the state.”

To learn more about the certification program and to apply, go here, or students can contact academic advisers.

About the UW Nuclear Energy Research Center

Co-directed by Hill, UW’s J.E. Warren Chair, Nielson Faculty Fellow and associate professor of chemistry, and Righetti, UW’s Occidental Chair in Energy and Environmental Policies and an SER professor of law, NERC is a faculty-led SER Center of Excellence.

NERC is focused on interdisciplinary nuclear energy capacity building across the UW community by connecting the university’s faculty and staff who are already active in research fields critical to the success of the nuclear energy industry and developing collaborative relationships both external and internal to UW.