Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Texas A&M - Kingsville
Programs in Nuclear Science
physics.tamuk.edu/physics/nuclearscience.html
Opportunities Abound
With an estimate of up to eight new nuclear power plants to be
constructed in Texas alone, the opportunities for individuals with
an interest in nuclear power are mushrooming. With more plants
comes the need for more people with a broad spectrum of backgrounds
in order to make the growth possible.
What's in it for students?
Even up to nine years before a power plant goes online for the
first time properly trained and educated people must be hired for
numerous positions. Those individuals include operators, engineers,
designers, quality control specialists and inspectors. Some
individuals will work for the nuclear power companies, some for
contractors, and some for state and federal regulatory
agencies.
Current estimates are that the power companies alone will hire as
many as 2000 people over the next 10 years. Those people do not
currently exist. Therefore, they must come from the ranks of
current student populations.
NPI's Programs
Texas A&M University-Kingsville, offers special programs and
scholarships to students in various disciplines who will be able to
contribute to the needs of the nuclear power industry.
The Department of Physics and Geosciences offers two programs for
students majoring in physics with an interest in nuclear science.
The first program is a Bachelor of Science in Physics with Emphasis
in Applied Nuclear Physics. Students on that track take courses
which position them well for entrance into a graduate program in
Nuclear Engineering or Health Physics particularly at the Texas
A&M Department of Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics. The
second program offers four courses associated with Nuclear Power
Engineering Technology Certificate in conjunction with Texas
A&M. Those courses are open to all majors and students majoring
in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical
engineering along with physics majors are actively recruited and
can receive stipends for taking the courses. In addition
scholarships are offered to students with the previously mentioned
majors who have stated an interest in going on to pursue graduate
degrees related to nuclear science.
The goals of the Nuclear Science Program at Texas
A&M-Kingsville are to:
- offer students courses that will be very relevant to nuclear
science careers;
- offer students the opportunity to engage in summer internships
in the nuclear industry;
- assist students with an interest in nuclear science by
providing significant scholarships;
- expand diversity in the nuclear industry; and
- recruit more individuals into the nuclear industry itself and
closely related fields.
Benefits of Participation
- Scholarships from $2,500 to $12,000 per academic year
- Assistance in identifying summer internship opportunities in
the high paying nuclear industry
- Opportunity of receiving a Nuclear Power Engineering Technology
Certificate
- Highly relevant coursework with direct applications to the
nuclear industry
- Stipends for students taking the courses in the Nuclear Power
Engineering Technology Certificate program
- Opportunity to work in a career with a long-term future and
which will contribute to both national and international needs for
clean, affordable power
For more information, contact:
W. Wayne Kinnison
Associate Professor of Physics
Department of Physics and Geosciences
700 University Blvd.
Kingsville, Texas 78363-8202
(361) 593-2624
Fax (361) 593-2184
Kfwwk00@tamuk.edu
