Topic outline

  • Engineering Failure Case Study – Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant

    Credits: 1 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    This course explores the engineering failure that led to the accident at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant in 1979, the most serious accident in the history of commercial nuclear power in the United States. It provides an in-depth examination of the sequence of events, technical flaws, and human errors that contributed to the incident. The course is tailored for engineers seeking to understand how critical oversights and system design shortcomings can lead to catastrophic outcomes, with lessons applicable across all engineering disciplines.

    Topics/Objectives:

    • Understand the technical and operational failures that led to the Three Mile Island accident.
    • Analyze the role of engineering design and human factors in the event.
    • Recognize the importance of effective risk management and failure analysis in engineering projects.
    • Apply lessons learned from the Three Mile Island accident to improve safety and reliability in engineering systems.

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
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    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.

    Important – Payment is required prior to printing of your certificate of completion.

    We operate on a trust-based model. You are welcome to complete Steps 1 through 3 to fully review the course material at your leisure. 

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    Print the Certificate of Completion


    Intended Audience: This course is intended for licensed professional engineers of all disciplines, particularly those working in energy, systems design, and safety-critical industries. It provides valuable insights into engineering ethics, risk management, and the importance of redundancy in complex systems.

    Publication Source: Cadistics Courseware

    Donald Parnell, PE