Nondestructive Evaluation – Graduate Certificate

Through a series of courses totaling thirteen or more credit hours of graduate coursework, the certificate in Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) teaches professionals from engineering or physical sciences backgrounds the fundamentals of three major NDE techniques; eddy-current, ultrasonic and penetrating radiation methods. The program aims to train professionals working in numerous industrial sectors that rely on NDE for safe and efficient operation and include, but are not limited to, manufacturing, transport and power engineering. The program does not offer certification in NDE inspection methods, but focuses on the physical principles upon which these three major NDE inspection techniques are founded. Courses are taught by faculty and adjunct faculty in the College of Engineering who conduct research programs at Iowa State University’s Center for Nondestructive Evaluation.

Admission Requirements

The NDE certificate program seeks highly motivated students who are pursuing a career in NDE or an NDE-related discipline. Applicants must have a Bachelor degree in engineering or a physical science and must satisfy the prerequisites for the individual courses that comprise the certificate. In particular, an understanding of three-dimensional vector calculus, differential equations, and numerical computer programming (such as in MATLAB) is necessary.

Graduate certificate applicants must meet the following requirements.

1. Graduate College application
2. Original transcripts from all institutions previously attended
3. Original TOEFL scores (if applicable)
4. Three letters of recommendation
5. Statement of purpose
Certificate Requirements

The NDE Graduate Certificate consists of 13 or 14 graduate credits.

Required Courses:
MSE 550/EM 550 Fundamentals of Nondestructive Evaluation (Cr. 4.)
Students choose 2 or 3 from:
- C E 542 Structural Analysis by Finite Elements (Cr. 3)
- Mat E/EE 588 Eddy Current NDE (Cr. 3.)
- M E 529X. Penetrating Radiation Methods in NDE (Cr. 3.)
- EM 518 Waves in Elastic Solids with Application to NDE (Cr. 3.)
Elective Course:
One NDE-related elective to achieve a total of 13 or 14 graduate credits. This is not an exhaustive list. Please consult the Program Director to explore all available options and to decide on the most appropriate elective for your graduate certificate.
- EM 324 Mechanics of Materials (Cr. 3)
- Stat 496 Applied Statistics for Industry II (Cr. 3)
- AerE 590C Finite Elements Fundamentals with Applications (Cr. 3)
- EM 424 Intermediate Mechanics of Materials (Cr. 3)
- EM/AerE 514 Advanced Mechanics of Materials (Cr. 3)
- EM/MSE/ME 564 Fracture and Fatigue (Cr. 3)
- EM/MSE/AerE 569 Mechanics of Composite and Combined Materials (Cr. 3)
- EE 424 Introduction to Digital Signal Processing (Cr. 4)
- EE/Agron/Mteor 518 Microwave Remote Sensing (Cr. 3)
- EE 524 Digital Signal Processing (Cr. 3)
- EE 528 Digital Image Processing (Cr. 3)
- EE 545 Artificial Neural Networks (Cr. 3)
- MatE 418 Mechanical Behavior of Materials (Cr. 3)
- MatE 444 Corrosion and Failure Analysis (Cr. 3)
- MSE 540 Mechanical Behavior of Materials (Cr. 3)
- ME/MSE 521 Mechanical Behavior and Manufacturing of Polymers and Composites (Cr. 3)

Nondestructive Evaluation – Graduate Certificate

Admission Requirements

Certificate Requirements

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