• RADIATION Protection OPTION

• Instrumentation and Control option

• Reactor operations OPTION

41.0205

(Associate of Applied Science Degree)

The Nuclear Technology program offers the student a unique opportunity to obtain state-of-the-art training that will put the graduate in demand by any organization or business that operates nuclear reactors or handles radioactive substances to include advanced manufacturing, life sciences, research reactors, the nuclear power industry, hazardous waste removal companies, and government agencies.  Technicians with the educational background this program provides are in high demand now, and with the rising use of radiation in diagnostics, medical treatment and applications, and potential expansion of nuclear power technology this demand will remain high for years to come.  Therefore, job placement prospects are highly favorable and starting salaries reflect this high demand.

The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program offered at the Advanced Technology Center in Mexico, Missouri is the only one of its kind in Missouri and one of only a handful in the nation.  It was developed cooperatively with the Missouri University Research Reactor, the University of Missouri Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute, and AmerenUE Callaway Nuclear Power Plant, and Exelon Nuclear Corporation, all leaders in the nuclear industry. 

Enrollment in the Nuclear Technology program is limited and students are selected for this program on a competitive basis.  Contact the Office of Admissions for the specific application requirements and deadline.

The core curriculum is designed to follow training requirement guidelines established by accrediting organizations for training and qualification of radiological protection technicians, reactor operators, and maintenance technicians.  Three program options are available for students to specialize in radiation protection, reactor operations, and instrumentation and control.  An eight-week internship is included as a part of the curriculum in the second year at an approved company.

This program is only offered in Mexico, Missouri, at the Advanced Technology Center.
 

Program Mission

The mission of the Nuclear Technology program is a highly technical program designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop the technical expertise, math and analytical skills as well as the interpersonal skills required to begin successful careers as nuclear operators, maintenance technicians, or radiological protection technicians.
 

Program Goals

The goals of the program are to provide students the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to:

• Communicate nuclear technology related concepts effectively in both oral and written formats.

• Appraise worksite conditions requiring radiological controls.  Develop a design and plans that will minimize personnel exposure to radiation.

• Troubleshoot electrical and mechanical equipment.

• Evaluate changing nuclear reactor plant conditions.

• Conduct nuclear work while employing human performance tools to minimize human error.

MNT  101  Time Management.  This course includes strategies essential for success in a college and work environment.  Skills such as reading, test preparation, test taking, and overall time management techniques are discussed.  It is recommended this course be taken during the first semester to provide the student a place in which issues encountered may be addressed, and techniques applied during the entire course of study and beyond.  Students will be introduced to the expectations and responsibilities of a nuclear technician.  Human performance tools will also be discussed and applied.  1 credit hour.

MNT  105  Basic Nuclear Math and Theory.  Introduction to basic nuclear concepts using mathematics including dimensional analysis, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.  Additional topics include atomic structure, nuclear reactions, mass to energy conversion, industrial and science applications of nuclear processes, and risk/benefit analysis.  Prerequisite:  MAT 050 with a grade of “C” or better or SPM 050 with a passing grade or satisfactory placement score into MAT 070.  3 credit hours. 

MNT  114  Introduction to Radiation Safety.  Topics include types of radiation, radioactive decay, activity, radioactive sources, interaction of radiation with matter, radiation units, basic fundamentals of exposure, dose, and personnel dose.  The course also includes a basic radiation protection tasks laboratory.  Prerequisite:  MNT 105.  Corequisite:  MAT 115.  4 credit hours.

MNT  185  Reactor Plant Components.  Introduction to basic mechanical and electrical components used by nuclear power plants such as different types of piping, valves, pumps, ejectors, filters, turbines, heat exchangers, compressors, lubrication systems, valve actuators, breakers, transformers, relays, and other equipment.  2 credit hours.

MNT  195  Basic Reactor Safety, Theory, and Operations.  Introduction to the fission process, reactivity/criticality, basic reactor kinetics, heat removal, reactor types, nuclear power plant chemistry, and elementary thermodynamics.  In addition, basic radiation worker training will be provided in this course.  3 credit hours.

MNT  211  Piping and Instrumentation Drawings.  Types of piping and instrumentation components, their construction and their schematics; reading of piping and electrical drawings; and lockout/tagout procedures applicable to the nuclear utility industry.  Prerequisite:  MAR 101.  Corequisite:  MAR 111.  2 credit hours.

MNT  223  Radiation Detection.  Types of detector systems (ionization, Geiger-Muller, proportional counters, liquid and solid scintillation, semiconductor) and their uses, statistics of radioactive decay, systems for radiation detection (NIMBIN systems, preamplifiers, amplifiers, single channel analyzers, multi-channel analyzers), experimental design and measurement, data reduction.  Laboratories will include measurement of radioactive decay, measurement of radiation attenuation, utilization of systems for alpha, beta and gamma radiation counting and spectroscopy.  Corequisite:  MNT 114.  3 credit hours.

MNT  233  Radiation Dosimetry.  Radiation biology, radiation effects on simple chemical systems, biological molecules, cell, organisms and humans.  Stochastic vs. deterministic effects, units of exposure, dose and dose equivalent, external dosimetry, internal dosimetry, control of external and internal exposure, detector and instrumentation systems for measuring dose.  Corequisite:  MNT 114.  3 credit hours.

MNT  249  Radiation Protection.  Practical applications and demonstrations of radiation protection and health physics.  Radiological survey & analysis instruments, radiation monitoring systems, sample collection equipment, calibration sources and equipment, radiological protection standards, contamination control, monitoring of radiological work, radiological incident evaluation and control, decontamination, radioactive materials control, environmental monitoring.  Prerequisites:  MNT 223 and MNT 233.  3 credit hours.

MNT  260  Nuclear and Special Process Instrumentation.  Topics include principles of operation of radiation detectors, conductivity cells, turbidity detectors, dissolved oxygen instruments, and reactor protection systems including reactivity control instrumentation systems.  Sensors, transmitters, signal convertors, and auxiliary equipment that support these special instruments are also covered.  Includes a technical lab component.  Prerequisites:  MNT 185, MNT 195, and MAR 204.  2 credit hours.

MNT  264  Hydraulic and Pneumatic Measurement and Control Systems.  Topics include operational principles of flow, temperature, and pressure measurement systems, hydraulic and pneumatic sensors and actuators, variable speed pump controls, and associated processors and control loop systems.   Includes a technical lab component.  Prerequisites:  MNT 185, MNT 195, and MAR 204.  2 credit hours. 

MNT  268  Monitoring Systems and Troubleshooting.  This course covers troubleshooting various mockups of nuclear monitoring systems for systems that include components covered in the Nuclear and Special Process Instrumentation course.  Includes a technical lab component.  Prerequisites:  MNT 260 and MNT 264.  2 credit hours. 

MNT  270  Thermodynamics, Fluid Flow, and Advanced Reactor Theory.  Topics include properties of steam/water, advanced heat transfer, thermodynamic cycles and efficiency, heat exchanges, fuel cell heat transfer, pump theory and laws, cavitation, and erosion of piping components.  Advanced reactor kinetics, heat removal, nuclear power plant chemistry, reactivity calculations, reactor plant materials, reactor sensors, and radiation detectors are also covered.  Prerequisites:  MNT 185 and MNT 195.  5 credit hours.

MNT  274  Reactor Plant Systems.  This course covers the purpose, operation, and flow paths of basic reactor systems including many of the systems in ACAD 90-016 Section 7.2.  Prerequisites:  MNT 185 and MNT 195.  3 credit hours.  

MNT  278  Reactor Plant Operations.  This course covers reactor plant safety design and operation.  Basic reactor startup, shutdown, and emergency procedures and why those procedures are written are also covered.  Review of past reactor accidents and events.  Includes practical laboratory that prepares the student to fulfill the role of Nuclear Equipment Operator.  Laboratory will cover practical operating procedures in valve operation, breaker operation, placing equipment on and off of service, lubrication, pump operation, air compressors, diesel engines, and other equipment.  Prerequisites:  MNT 270 and MNT 274.  4 credit hours.

MNT  290  Internship.  The student will serve an internship of approximately 320 hours with a company that uses nuclear technicians in radiation protection, nuclear reactor operations, or nuclear reactor maintenance.  The student is expected to apply learned skills and training to be a productive employee, and the employer is expected to place the student in an environment that will build on the student’s first year of study and enhance the student’s knowledge of working in the nuclear industry.  Prerequisite:  Department Chair approval - GPA of 2.500 or better required.  4 credit hours.

MNT  299  Special Topics in Nuclear Technology.  Special Topics in Nuclear Technology (MNT) may include instruction on topics not covered in other MNT courses.  Topics covered in other MNT courses may also be covered in more depth in this special topics course.  Projects may be undertaken in any area related to the major program with credit hours determined by the level and amount of involvement.  The minimum involvement required for one credit is 30 contact hours.  The specific topic(s), objectives, plan of instruction, and evaluation criteria must be documented in the syllabus; approved by the Department/Division Chair; and filed in the Academic Records Office.  Students may complete more than one Special Topics course, provided that the credits earned in this manner do not exceed a total of four (4) credits.  1-4 credit hours. 

PHY 121  General Chemistry I.  This is an introductory course dealing with the fundamental principles of chemistry.  Meets for 3 hours of class and 4 hours of lab each week.  Prerequisite:  Two years of high school algebra or must be enrolled in or have completed College Algebra.  This course is taught by Moberly Area Community College at the Advanced Technology Center in Mexico, Missouri.  5 credit hours.

Last Updated: 7-08