Nuclear Security Courses
Introduction to Nuclear Safeguards and Security
This module is an introduction to the terms and concepts related to nuclear security and safeguards.
Easy introductory course that requires no prior knowledge
Threats To Nuclear Security
Course Difficulty:
Course Category: Nuclear Security
Average time to complete: 1 hour
Cost: Free
Module Description: In this course, students will be introduced to threats encountered when securing nuclear material, including potential adversary types, intentions, capabilities, and targets of interest.
Prerequisites: Students taking this course should have completed the NSSEP Basic Nuclear and Atomic Physics course. It is also recommended that students from a non-technical background view this section on health physics for a quick description of radiation’s effect on the body.
Learning Objectives: After completing this course, students should be able to describe the potential adversary groups and their interest in nuclear or radiological materials, determine which adversaries are intent and capable of committing nuclear terrorism, describe nefarious uses of radiological materials, and construct a threat definition of a potential adversary.
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Nuclear Security Culture
Course Difficulty:
Course Category: Nuclear Security
Average time to complete: 3 hours
Cost: Free
Module Description: This module gives a definition and history for the concept of nuclear security culture and defines the roles of States, organizations, managers, and individuals in promoting good nuclear security culture. It also provides a model for how elements of good nuclear security culture build upon one another as well as guidance on evaluating and improving the nuclear security culture of a facility or organization.
Prerequisites: None.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this course, students should be able to describe the elements of good nuclear security culture, understand the roles of organizations and individuals in promoting good nuclear security culture, and identify the ways in which nuclear security culture may be evaluated and improved within an organization.
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Physical Protection Systems
Course Difficulty: 
Course Category: Nuclear Security
Average time to complete: 3 hours
Cost: Free
Module Description: This module covers the basics of the design and evaluation of physical protection systems.
Prerequisites: Students taking this module should have a working knowledge of basic algebra.
Learning Objectives: Students completing this module should develop an understanding of the performance-based methodology used to design and evaluate a physical protection system to protect nuclear material from theft or sabotage. Students should be able to describe the three main elements of a physical protection system (Detection, Delay, and Response), how they are evaluated, and how they are interdependent. The student should also understand how the design basis threat (DBT) is determined and used when evaluating the effectiveness of a physical security system.
Note: To enroll in the courses, you must use either Chrome or Safari. The enrollment form does not work in Edge, Internet Explorer, or Firefox.
Insider Threats
Course Difficulty: 
Course Category: Nuclear Security
Average time to complete: 2 hours
Cost: Free
Module Description: This module describes the insider threats facing an organization and analyzes the complex nature of insider threats. It also describes how organizations and individuals can secure themselves against this threat and prepare to respond if an attack occurs.
Prerequisites: Students taking this course should have first completed the Physical Security Systems Module to understand the basics of multi-path analysis and the Adversary Sequence Diagram as it relates to outsiders attempting to gain access to materials in a facility.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this module students will have an understanding of who an insider is and the types of threats they pose to an organization. Students will also have basic knowledge regarding what motivates an insider to commit an attack and how to combat such attacks. Prominent historic cases of insider attacks will assist the student in visualizing these attacks in practice.
Note: To enroll in the courses, you must use either Chrome or Safari. The enrollment form does not work in Edge, Internet Explorer, or Firefox.
Other Courses
Basic Nuclear Science Courses
Explore free, self-paced introductory courses covering nuclear and atomic physics, radiation detection, statistics, and the nuclear fuel cycle. Designed for students and professionals, these courses provide foundational knowledge in nuclear science, safeguards, and security through accessible online learning modules.
Nuclear Safeguards Courses
Explore free, self-paced courses covering key nuclear safeguards topics such as containment and surveillance, nuclear material accountancy, spent fuel safeguards, and uranium enrichment monitoring. Designed for students and professionals, these modules provide practical insight into how nuclear materials and facilities are monitored, protected, and verified to support global nonproliferation efforts.