How to Earn a Nuclear Packaging Graduate Program Graduate Certificate

Find links and contacts, required courses, University enrollment and requirements, Packaging University enrollment information, grade and time requirements, credit transferability, student complaint process, the Nevada State State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) portal and information for students residing in Tennessee. 

Links and contacts

The Nuclear Packaging Graduate Program courses webpage shows all classes that count toward the 9-unit graduate certificates and indicates which classes are required for each. The Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Packaging (GCNP) and the Graduate Certificate in Transportation Security and Safeguards require four units (4 weeks) of Packaging University coursework. Students also choose five units of electives based on their interests and needs from the remaining courses. The electives may be chosen from a combination of one-unit (one-week) Packaging University courses, NP 640 - Nuclear Packaging Project (a three-unit mentored project performed at the student’s workplace), and/or ME 672 - Introduction to Nuclear Packaging (a three-unit semester-long online University course). 

Required courses

For the Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Packaging (GCNP), the two one-week courses and one two-week course listed below are required. 

  • NP 700: ASME Pressure Vessel Code for Nuclear Transport and Storage (a one-week, one-unit course offered by Argonne National Laboratory)
  • NP 701: Quality Assurance for Transport Packaging and Storage Casks (a one-week, one-unit course offered by Argonne National Laboratory)
  • NP 702: SARP Review and Confirmatory Analysis (a two-week, two-unit course offered by Argonne National Laboratory)

For the Graduate Certificate in Transportation Security and Safeguards (GCTSS) the four one-week (one-unit) courses listed below are required. 

  • NP 710: Nuclear Security During US Domestic Transport (offered by Argonne National Laboratory)
  • NP 711: Nuclear Security During International Transport (offered by Argonne National Laboratory)
  • NP 720: Fundamentals of Nuclear Security (offered by Sandia National Laboratory)
  • NP 730: Fundamentals of Nuclear Safeguards (offered by Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

University enrollment and requirements

To earn a graduate certificate, students must complete the University enrollment/fee process for that certificate. Program enrollment requires transcripts from all institutions of higher learning showing a bachelor’s degree in engineering or any bachelor’s degree and experience in the certificate topic (as demonstrated by an essay).

Students must complete another enrollment/fee process for each class, which includes DTAP and MMR immunization records or waivers. The Enrollment and Progression Manual provides step-by-step instructions. Registration and enrollment support is available at gradadmissions@unr.edu or (775) 784-6869. Course enrollment must be completed before the first day of class. Students should start the process one week before the class begins. 

Employers often cover University fees, but fee assistance and academic advisement are available at NuclearPackagingGraduateProgram@unr.edu.

Students who do not enroll in a course during the spring or fall semester must apply for a leave of absence for that semesters (see the Enrollment and Progression Manual). Students earning both graduate certificates may use four units from one to satisfy electives for the others. 

Packaging University enrollment

All required courses for both certificates and many of the electives are offered by Packaging University. For those courses, students must complete an additional course enrollment/fee process with the national laboratory offering the course. Instructions and course schedules are available on the Packaging University website. 

Students who took Packaging University Courses but did not earn University credit may contact NuclearPackagingGraduateProgram@unr.edu. 

Grade and time requirements

For a course to apply toward a graduate certificate, students must earn a C grade or higher. The full nine-unit curriculum must be completed within six years of program enrollment with an average grade of B or higher.

Credit transferability

Credits earned through this program may be used toward either graduate certificate described on this page or any other program that accepts them. Students who are considering transferring credits to another university or program are advised to first check with that program or institution. Transferability is an option of the accepting institution. As an accredited institution, the University has a history of transferring credits to other universities. 

Student complaints

This section outlines the process for any student complaints for the program.

  • Student complaints or concerns must first be addressed by working with the course instructor.
  • Students who are not satisfied with that step may email the program director at NuclearPackagingGraduateProgram@unr.edu.
  • Students who are not satisfied by that process may seek a remedy through the University’s comprehensive complaint process at the University’s student complaints page. The students who pursue this option will receive an email from the Provost’s Office as their complaints are processed.
  • If you feel your concern/complaint was not resolved to your satisfaction you may complete the Complaint Resolution Form which will be directed to the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) portal agency in Nevada.

Nevada State SARA Portal

Terina Caserto,
Senior Analyst, Academic & Student Affairs
Email: tcaserto@nshe.nevada.edu
Phone: (775) 784-3447
Nevada System of Higher Education
2601 Enterprise Road
Reno, NV 89512

The decision of the Nevada State SARA Portal, Nevada System of Higher Education, is final.

For students residing in Tennessee:

Any person claiming damage or loss as a result of any act or practice by this institution that may be a violation of the Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 20 and Rule Chapters 1520-01-10 and 1520-01-02 may file a complaint with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), Division of Postsecondary State Authorization. THEC only investigates complaints that have exhausted an institution’s policy and that have not been resolved at the institution level. If you have any questions regarding the complaint process, you may contact Julie Woodruff at Julie.Woodruff@tn.gov or (615) 253-8857. 

Tennessee Higher Education Commission
312 Rosa L Parks Ave. 9th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243