Montana Technological University in Butte is rolling out two new nuclear energy programs following approval by the Montana Board of Regents in March 2026, as first reported by nbcmontana.com. The programs — an undergraduate certificate and a Master of Science in Nuclear Energy — are designed to develop a skilled workforce as Montana faces significant shifts in its energy landscape.

What the Programs Include

The undergraduate certificate requires nine credits and is structured to integrate with Montana Tech’s existing engineering and STEM coursework. The graduate program offers two paths: a 31-credit thesis option and a 36-credit non-thesis option, giving students flexibility depending on their academic and career goals.

Students enrolled in either program will not handle nuclear materials directly on campus. Instead, hands-on training will be conducted through simulations or in partnership with Idaho National Laboratory, according to information provided to nbcmontana.com.

The Energy Case Behind the Programs

Program backers point to a convergence of pressures reshaping Montana’s energy future. State electricity demand is projected to climb roughly 20 percent over the next decade, while the Colstrip coal-fired power plant — one of the state’s major generation assets — is expected to reach its financial end of life by 2042.

Bob Morris, who holds the Lance Energy Chair at Montana Tech, framed the stakes plainly. “Montana is at an energy crossroads,” Morris told nbcmontana.com. “We’ve been a net energy exporter for 50 years, but as coal comes offline, we risk no longer producing enough energy for ourselves.”, as first reported by the NBC Montana

That half-century track record as a net energy exporter has been a point of pride for Montana policymakers and industry alike. The new programs reflect a growing consensus that maintaining that status will require a trained workforce familiar with next-generation energy technologies, including nuclear power.

Broader Context

Nuclear energy has gained renewed attention at both the state and federal level as policymakers look for reliable baseload power that produces no direct carbon emissions. Montana Tech’s move positions the Butte campus to capture early momentum in what backers expect to be a growing segment of the energy job market.

The programs complement efforts across Montana to prepare for infrastructure and workforce transitions. Governor Greg Gianforte’s administration has emphasized workforce development and licensing reform as economic priorities — the governor’s task force earlier this year delivered a sweeping blueprint to streamline the state’s professional licensing system, a broader effort that dovetails with expanding pathways in emerging technical fields.

Montana Tech has historically focused on engineering, mining, and applied sciences, making nuclear energy a natural extension of the university’s core identity. Officials expect the programs to draw students interested in careers at nuclear facilities, utilities, regulatory agencies, and research institutions across the region and the country.

With Regents approval already secured and the programs now launching, Montana Tech is among a relatively small number of universities outside major research corridors to offer graduate-level nuclear energy credentials.