WVU Statler College to launch nuclear engineering pathway

Statler College students will soon have a new academic opportunities that will equip engineering students with the skills and knowledge to pursue careers in nuclear engineering and nuclear energy industries. (WVU Photo/Paige Nesbit)

As the Mountain State looks toward a future shaped in part by nuclear innovation, West Virginia University is laying the academic groundwork to prepare engineering students for careers across the expanding nuclear sector.

Story by Statler College Marketing and Communications Team
Photos by Paige Nesbit, director of marketing and communications

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Beginning in 2027, the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources will introduce courses that establish the foundation of a nuclear engineering career pathway, and that will be available to eligible students across engineering disciplines. 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. 

“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. 

The pathway will draw on the range of faculty expertise and research within the Statler College while giving students an interdisciplinary foundation applicable to a variety of careers. 

Depending on their academic background and career interests, students may be able to apply the nuclear-focused coursework to areas such as nuclear energy, power generation, advanced reactor technologies, nuclear materials, nuclear medicine, energy systems, safety, and other emerging applications. 

The recent announcement of West Virginia’s inclusion in the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses from the US Department of Energy introduces a new effort to modernize the nation’s full nuclear fuel cycle. According to the US 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. 

“West Virginia’s inclusion in the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus initiative creates an opportunity for the Statler College to build new collaborations with federal agencies, national laboratories and industry partners,” stated Xingbo Liu, professor in mechanical, materials and aerospace engineering department and Statler College associate dean for research. 

“For our students, those connections could open pathways to federal research opportunities, industry co-ops, sponsored projects and other hands-on experiences that connect their engineering education with emerging needs in the nuclear sector. As these partnerships grow, they could also help students build relationships with employers and prepare for high-demand career opportunities across the nuclear industry.” 

The courses will be open to eligible engineering students, with specific prerequisites and enrollment requirements to be announced as the courses are finalized. 

Through this pathway, Statler College aims to establish a sustainable pipeline of engineers prepared to support the next generation of nuclear technologies and applications.

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