Many departments have focused certificate programs earning curricular credit that can be used individually or as part of a masters program. A full list of certificates can be found on the registrar site. Highlighted programs utilized by our laboratory employees include:
National Security Affairs Program
The National Security Affairs Program (NSAP) is an executive-level graduate education program tailored to the needs of the Department of Energy (DOE) National Security Laboratories and Facilities. It provides selected personnel with the opportunity to explore the national security policy and the strategic dimensions of the science and technology work in which they are engaged. Staff members selected for the program are designated NSAP Fellows at the Texas A&M University’s George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Service. The program is administered by the Bush School of Government, with the International Affairs Department, and through the Bush School’s Albritton Center for Grand Strategy. Fellows complete a series of four for-credit courses, two in-residence at Texas A&M University in College Station and two remotely. They also participate in seminars and other professional development activities over a twelve-month period. NSAP Fellows who complete the full four-course program are awarded a Certificate in National Security Affairs by the Bush School of Government and Public Service.
Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS) Graduate Student Program
The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS) Division has coordinated with Texas A&M University to better prepare graduate students for careers as a Criticality Safety Analyst (CSA) by the development and execution of a graduate student NCS curriculum and corresponding graduate certificate. For graduate students, the benefit of this work is to gain knowledge, skill and experience with NCS practices in real-world applications. For the NCS Division, the graduate students will be better prepared for LANL’s rigorous CSA Training and Qualification program and may be able to qualify at a faster rate. LANL NCS missions require trained and qualified staff to perform critical safety evaluations to support fissionable material operations. The operations often involve significant quantities of fissionable materials in various forms, sometimes with form changes. Qualification as a CSA requires technical expertise, effective communication skills with customers, and proficiency with industry tools and administrative practices. This project and curriculum are designed to provide personnel with training and knowledge in the application of criticality safety methods and processes to practical, real-world situations at LANL, with the potential to expand this to other DOE/NNSA sites that also have this CSA need. The project has two distinct phases. During Phase 1, investigators will develop a framework for a master’s level NCS curriculum with a corresponding certificate and propose experiences to support professional growth and development as CSAs. During Phase 2, the NCS graduate program curriculum will be implemented.
Center for Nuclear Security Science & Policy Initiatives (NSSPI)
The Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Security is an official Texas A&M University certificate program that focuses on providing students with a solid understanding of the policy and technical aspects behind nuclear security, safeguards and nonproliferation. This multidisciplinary program has courses both in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and at the Bush School of Government and Public Service. Upon completion of this program, students are uniquely qualified for positions in the federal government, national laboratories, and at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Classes include options in Nuclear Security System Design, Radiation Detection and Nuclear Materials Measurement, Nuclear Nonproliferation and Arms Control, Nuclear Fuel Cycles and Nuclear Material Safeguards, Nuclear Terrorism Threat Assessment and Analysis and Deterrence and Coercion.
Professional Certificate in Nuclear Security Fundamentals provides training in the areas of basic nuclear and atomic physics, basic radiation detection, nuclear security threat assessment, nuclear security culture, physical protection systems, and insider threats. It is approximately 30 hours of online coursework, for which participants can earn 3 CEUs.
Professional Certificate in Nuclear Safeguards Fundamentals covers the nuclear fuel cycle, basic and applied statistics for nuclear safeguards, nuclear material accountancy, containment and surveillance, spent nuclear fuel safeguards, and uranium enrichment safeguards. It consists of approximately 30 hours of online coursework, for which participants can earn 3 CEUs.
Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center
The Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center (MKOPSC) is the world’s foremost university-based Process Safety Center. The Center serves industry, government, academia, and the public. It is a resource in education and research and provides services to all stakeholders. Whether you come to us, or we bring the education to you, we help to make the industry and our stakeholders aware of the safety factors and awareness beyond regulatory compliance, whether it be through established curriculum or custom training packages. Safety Engineering Certificate
