Environmental Policy
And Management

The Environmental Assessment of Nuclear Power graduate certificate is offered online or on campus at the University of Denver in the evenings, or in a combination of both, to meet the needs of busy adults. The graduate certificate addresses the requirements and topics needed for any Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as well as the human health and environmental risks associated with the use of radioactive materials. Graduate certificate students will be prepared with essential knowledge to complete, analyze, and enhance Environmental Impact Statements—documents that provide valuable information about proposed development processes of nuclear energy. The graduate certificate program will also support the educational infrastructure that allows the nation to move forward with its nuclear energy initiatives by promoting and strengthening the teaching/learning needs in environmental protection around nuclear sites and installations, including uranium mines and milling facilities.

Earned online or on campus in the evenings, the graduate certificate in Environmental Assessment of Nuclear Power goes beyond environmental basics; certificate students will understand the role of scientific quantification of nuclear project action and the interaction with the environment, while pursuing alternative power solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of nuclear energy. Learn the laws and policy associated with nuclear energy and become an expert in the interaction between nuclear power and the environment. Credits earned through this graduate certificate may apply toward a master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Management.

This certificate prepares students to:

• Develop the skills necessary to prepare an EIS, and their interdisciplinary nature


• Develop the ability to critically analyze the EIS document and the implementation policy process


• Understand the role of scientific quantification of nuclear project action and the interaction with the environment


• Enhance the individual and team skills necessary in the preparation of an EIS


• Advance knowledge in nuclear energy policy and laws


• Develop a foundation for improving engineering design of nuclear systems and nuclear waste treatment facilities that would be friendlier to the environment


• Develop the capability to identify alternative design features that would be friendlier to the environment and contribute to sustainable development of nuclear energy

Environmental Policy and Management Outcomes

This program prepares students to:

• Develop and demonstrate a higher awareness of environmental ethics including the responsible exercise of individual judgment and civic responsibility and honesty in dealing with environmental issues
• Understand the importance and application of the science of ecology and its impact on the cultural and social creation of humans and earth's physical and biological system
• Demonstrate a solid background in business management, environmental policy, public communication and involvement, and work toward the integration of environmental improvement into all organizational business decisions and operations
• Clearly articulate the roles of legislatures, rule-making bodies, and regulatory enforcement agencies in environmental protection and management
• Display critical thinking processes: analyze, understand, and evaluate environmental issues in organizations including educating the public and instituting collaborative decision-making on issues involving the levels of acceptable risks and degree, intensity, and acceptability of environmental protection
• Apply advanced methods such as life-cycle cost analyses, impact assessment, decision making, science, economics, finance, etc., in an integrative approach to craft informed decisions about complex environmental problems and challenges

In coordination with Title IV and the Gainful Employment Rule, certificate program data is provided for your convenience.

Careers in Environmental Assessment of Nuclear Power Certficate

Titles
Nuclear Corrective Action Plan Coordinator, Project Manager, Program Supervisor, Nuclear Planner, Nuclear Instructional Technologist, Nuclear Oversight Assessor, Procedure Writer, Operations Manager.

Duties
Assessment, monitoring, management, troubleshooting, quality control, writing, strategy, analysis, budgeting, scheduling, planning.

Outlook
While commercial nuclear power plants aren’t typically built in the US, there are plenty of job opportunities in research and development for nuclear power as an energy source, especially for the development of carbon emission free plants. Public demand for stronger environmental restrictions and increased alternative energies has led to developments in renewable energies, along with nuclear power options. Technical innovation is key to success in this career, along with understanding the Environmental Impact Statement.