Nuclear Power School

The Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program’s unique training requirements are met beginning with special-purpose training facilities staffed by highly qualified instructors. The US Navy's Nuclear Power School is widely acknowledged as having the most demanding academic program in the U.S. military.

Because of the sensitive nature of the program, the specifics of the academic courses are classified but the rigor and discipline they require are unparalleled among other academic nuclear programs. Topics include:

·       Mathematics

·       Differential Equations

·       Statistics

·       Nuclear physics

·       Health physics

·       Reactor principles

·       Mechanical Engineering

·       Material science and Metallurgy

·       Electrical power theory

·       Electricity generation principals

·       Thermodynamics

·       Industrial Engineering

·       Chemistry

·       Nuclear reactor technology

Students typically spend 45 hours per week in the classroom lectures, five days per week. Students handling the course classified materials are restricted from leaving the training building. To meet the demand for technical excellence, most are required to study an additional 10 to 35 hours per week in addition to class lectures. Students cannot study these subjects outside of the classroom.

The school operates at a fast pace with stringent academic standards in all subjects.