Nuclear Weapons Technology

0.25 Credits · Level: Graduate

Nuclear Weapons Technology is a course in technological literacy, and should complement courses on nuclear force planning and strategy, arms control, and non-proliferation. This course delves deeply into the details of nuclear weapons design and production but does not expect students to have the physics or math background necessary to design a weapon. The primary learning goals are to understand how nuclear weapons work, calculate nuclear weapons effects, know the essentials of nuclear weapons manufacturing, review the history of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex, and develop insights into the technical side of non-proliferation and verification. After taking this course, students will be able to hold their own in conversations with experts on nuclear weapons, and make useful, informed contributions to policies that involve the weapons.