WVU Announces Pathway For Study Of Nuclear Engineering

Beginning in 2027, West Virginia University will offer courses for a nuclear engineering career pathway.  

In a press release, the university said the goal is to “develop a sequence of courses that allows students to gain knowledge in nuclear engineering while complementing their existing majors and preparing for future career opportunities in the nuclear industry with potential to elevate economic growth in the state.” 

Earlier this month Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced he had signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy to become the sixth state in the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus initiative, part of a federal effort to modernize the nation’s full nuclear fuel cycle by co-locating functions such as fuel fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing used nuclear fuel, and disposition of waste.   

According to the DOE, Innovation Campuses will be established through voluntary federal-state partnerships designed to advance manufacturing and regional economic growth, enhance national energy security, and build a coherent end-to-end nuclear strategy for the country. 

“Nuclear energy is poised to play an increasingly important role in meeting the nation’s energy needs, and we are determined to prepare students as essential contributors to this important field,” said Pedro Mago, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the WVU Statler College. “Our goal is not simply to create another degree program, but to provide students across all engineering disciplines with opportunities to expand their expertise and develop the specialized knowledge to meet the growing demand needed in the nuclear industry.” 

Proposed courses for the pathway will include Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering, which will introduce students to the fundamental principles, technologies, and applications of nuclear engineering, and Power Plant Systems Analysis — providing students with an understanding of the systems, technologies, and engineering principles associated with nuclear power generation. 

In addition to nuclear energy courses, a new course in Materials and Methods in Nuclear Medicine will introduce students to materials, technologies, and engineering applications associated with nuclear medicine. As the pathway expands, additional courses are expected to be developed, giving students more opportunities to build nuclear-focused expertise alongside their existing engineering majors. 

Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson is scheduled to visit WVU’s Morgantown campus Tuesday, Sept. 29 to discuss the future of mining engineering and specialized education in critical technologies.