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MS HSS CBRNE Courses


Admission to the MS HSS CBRNE track requires a Bachelors degree in Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Math, Computer Science or Engineering.

In addition to 12 credit hours of the MS HSS core courses, students enrolled in the CBRNE track are required to take 18 hours of related to their research project courses, and defend Master Thesis. The following graduate courses developed specifically for the MS HSS program are offered in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Chemisty:

  • PHYS 598 Graduate seminar (2 hours)
  • PHYS 599 Thesis Research / Writing (up to 6 hours)
  • PHYS-570/571 Nuclear and Radiological Detection / Remediation (Lecture/Lab) - 4 hours.
    • Lecture: An advanced study of the fundamental principles of nuclear physics and their applications for detection and remediation of nuclear and radiological threats.
    • Laboratory: Students perform laboratory experiments in applications of nuclear physics for detection and remediation of nuclear and radiological threats. Students will gain experience in computerized data acquisition and data analysis using modern techniques and equipment. Laboratory experiments are performed in person at the Applied Physics Institute.
  • CHEM-572/573 Detection and Analysis of Chemical Agents/Explosives (Lecture/Lab) - 4 hours.

Lecture: Students will be educated in a number of current chemical agents and explosive threats that serve to undermine Homeland Security in the United States. Students will also learn of chemical techniques and countermeasures to address these threats.

Laboratory: Students will be educated in a number of current chemical agents and explosive threats that serve to undermine Homeland Security in the United States. Students will also learn of chemical techniques and countermeasures used to address these threats.

  • PHYS 590/591 Detection of Explosive and Chemical Threats(Lecture/Lab) - 4 hours.
    • Lecture: The course explores physical principles behind chemical agent, biological agent and explosives detection and remediation, and examines current detection techniques and systems deployed.
    • Laboratory: Explores physical principles behind chemical agent, biological agent and explosives detection and remediation. Examines current detection techniques and systems deployed. Laboratory experiments are performed in person at the Applied Physics Institute.
  • CHEM-592/593 Remediation of Chemical Agents and Explosives(Lecture/Lab) - 4 hours.
    • Lecture: Students will be educated in a number of current chemical agents and explosive threats that serve to undermine Homeland Security.
    • Laboratory: Students will be instructed in remediation techniques for chemical agents and explosive threats that serve to undermine Homeland Security.

In addition to listed above course, students are encourage to take appropriate courses provided by other WKU Departments: Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Health, or established 500-level courses from the Departments of Physics and Astronomy, Biology, and Chemistry.The specific courses are subject to approval by student's adviser and the program director.


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 Last Modified 9/27/22