The LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center also has extensive laboratories for biological research. A field laboratory near campus is used by the NSC for environmental studies of radioisotopes. In addition, the NSC has an extensive collection of software and nuclear data libraries for radiation transport and dose calculations and for reactor physics and shielding analysis. The NSC offers approximately 30 undergraduate and graduate courses. Undergraduate students may obtain a minor in nuclear science or minor in nuclear energy.
Graduate students can major in nuclear science, specializing in several areas of interest.
Nuclear engineering deal with engineering aspects of nuclear systems, particularly nuclear reactors. Jobs in this are are available at nuclear power plants, national laboratories, and facilities that design and manufacture reactor fuels. This option typically requires two to two and a half years of course and thesis work. Radiation protection , also called health physics , involves measuring and monitoring radiation doses received bythose who work around radiation sources, to ensure that adequate protection is provided. Health physicists are employed at nuclear reactors, industrial and medical facilities, and government agencies.