Graduate Certificate in Radiation Curing Chemistry

The Radiation Curing Chemistry certificate program in not taking new student enrollments at this time.

The graduate certificate in Radiation Curing Chemistry is intended for individuals employed or who aspire to employment in sustainable advanced manufacturing industries, particularly those utilizing inks, coatings, resins, and/or adhesives.

This certificate program will introduce and strengthen knowledge and skills related to ultraviolet and electron beam (UV/EB) curing of polymer technologies and their application. Participants will be able to apply a theory-based framework to appropriately select resin systems and radiation curing technologies that meet application needs. Participants will construct and use a decision-making framework to analyze, problem-solve, and work with polymer/curing/application systems.

This certificate was developed by the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), in partnership with RadTech International North America, the association for ultraviolet and electron beam technologies, and other partners, originally supported, in part, by a U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration H-1B Technical Skills Training Grant, Enhancing American Jobs and Global Competitiveness: A Collaborative Initiative in Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing.

Program Learning Topics

• Fundamentals of polymer chemistry as they pertain to functional inks, coatings, resins and adhesives.
• Industrial applications of radiation curable resins and the advantages / disadvantages of various curing techniques.
• The interaction of radiation with the components of a radiation curable formulation and the representative surface/substrate during the curing process.
• Curing technique and dosage appropriate to various end-use applications.
• Application of radiation curable formulations to a surface/substrate and related safety operations.
• Environmental impacts and financial costs of radiation curable chemistries and equipment.
• Current and emerging events, issues, and trends within the radiation curing field.

Admission

What are all admission requirements for students in this program?  Please note those that differ from the institution's minimum admissions requirements and explain why they differ. 

Applicants will apply through the ESF Graduate Office and will be reviewed by the program chair on a rolling basis. In the admissions process, we will pay deference to people who have qualities, attributes, and experiences that may not fit squarely into the standard graduate admission requirements. Admission requirements for the program include:

• Transcripts of an earned bachelor's degree from a recognized institution;
• The graduate application;
• A nonrefundable $60(US) application fee;
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant's skills and potential as a leader / facilitator / problem-solver;
• A resume that communicates the applicant's academic, professional, or community-level experience;
• A statement of goals for the applicant's participation in the certificate program; and
• Students whose primary language is not English are also required to provide evidence of English language proficiency.

The admissions requirements are mostly the same as for all graduate applicants.  Key differences from the institution's minimum admission requirements include: 1) the requirement for a "B" average during junior and senior year may be waived to make the program available to students who can demonstrate leadership potential through other means; 2) GRE scores are not required for the program application, which is consistent with the application requirements for other Advanced Certificate programs at ESF and those at other institutions; and 3) web page and other program information/materials will represent requirements for letters of recommendation, resume, and statement of goals in a way that resonates with and appeals to applicants from diverse and non-traditional backgrounds such as to community and citizen-leaders, as well as applicants with more traditional academic /  professional experiences.