COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State University plans to establish Ohio’s first undergraduate nuclear engineering major, a program the university hopes to launch next fall if it receives approval from its trustees. The program would expand on Ohio State’s existing graduate and minor offerings. Its proposed $4.5 million in funding includes a $2.5 million contribution from nuclear technology company Oklo, $500,000 from company leaders and a university match. The money is expected to support student scholarships, renovations to facilities and an endowed professorship. The announcement comes as nuclear power projects develop in central Ohio and employers seek workers with specialized training. Mechanical and aerospace engineering professor Rob Siston said the degree could prepare students for work in energy as well as nuclear medicine and national defense. Oklo is working with Meta on a project intended to supply power to the company’s data centers in New Albany using enriched uranium. The project is expected to bring more than 2,000 jobs, said John Hanson, Oklo’s chief of staff. Hanson said the company expects the degree program to help keep more hires in Ohio. The company is also involved in renewed nuclear activity in Pike County. A uranium-enrichment facility there, described as the first U.S.-owned plant to enrich uranium, closed in 2001 after decades of environmental concerns. Asked how expanded education could help ensure nuclear engineering is pursued safely, Hanson said continued improvements to the technology begin in the classroom. The university has not yet provided details about the major’s curriculum or its safety-focused coursework. Ohio State’s proposal remains subject to trustee approval. If approved, it would make the university’s existing nuclear engineering education available as a standalone undergraduate major.