Nuclear Engineering (BS): Nuclear Fuels and Materials
Nuclear Engineering is a multidisciplinary field engaged in the development, design, deployment and analysis of methods and devices that utilize fundamental nuclear processes. These processes include natural and induced radioactive decay, the splitting of heavy atomic nuclei (fission), and the merging of light nuclei (fusion). The Bachelor of Science (BS) program prepares graduates for positions in industry, national laboratories, or for graduate study. The curriculum incorporates basic sciences and engineering, with emphasis on mathematics and physics, followed by course work in nuclear science and engineering.
The Nuclear Fuels and Materials concentration allows specialization in experimental and theoretical aspects of materials science related to nuclear reactors. A separate capstone design course is offered in this concentration.
The nuclear engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, and leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering. Advanced undergraduates who desire to attend graduate school at NC State may enter a combined 5-year BS/MNE professional program or BS/MS bachelor/master degree program during their senior year which will culminate at the end of their fifth year with both the Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering and the Master of Nuclear Engineering or the Master of Science degrees, respectively.
Plan Requirements
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC 113 | Introduction to Computing - MATLAB | 3 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE 201 | Introduction to Nuclear Engineering | 2 |
| MAE 206 | Engineering Statics | 3 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY 208 & PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| NE 202 | Radiation Sources, Interaction and Detection 2 | 4 |
| NE 228 | Introduction To Fusion Energy | 3 |
| NE 309 | Introduction to Materials for Nuclear Energy | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE 205 | Thermodynamics for Nuclear Engineering | 3 |
| NE 301 | Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering 2 | 3 |
| NE 350 | Applied Mathematics in Nuclear Engineering | 3 |
| MA 401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3 |
| NE 409 | Nuclear Materials | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NE 360 | Continuum Mechanics for Nuclear Engineers | 3 |
| NE 400 | Nuclear Reactor Energy Conversion | 4 |
| NE 401 | Reactor Analysis and Design | 3 |
| Fuels and Materials Concentration Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE 402 | Reactor Engineering | 4 |
| NE 404 | Radiation Safety and Shielding | 3 |
| NE 406 | Nuclear Engineering Senior Design Preparation | 1 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NE 403 | Nuclear Reactor Laboratory | 2 |
| NE 405 | Reactor Systems | 3 |
| NE 416 | Nuclear Materials Design Project | 3 |
| Fuels and Materials Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Total Hours | 106 | |
- 1
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 2
A grade of C- or higher is required.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Nuclear Fuels and Materials Concentration Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NE 412 | Nuclear Fuel Cycles | 3 |
| NE 431 | Nuclear Waste Management | 3 |
| NE 533 | Nuclear Fuel Performance | 3 |
| NE 550 | Introduction to Atomistic Simulations | 3 |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC 113 | Introduction to Computing - MATLAB | 3 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PY 205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 3 |
| PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | 1 |
| Select one of the following Economics courses: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE 201 | Introduction to Nuclear Engineering | 2 |
| MAE 206 | Engineering Statics | 3 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY 208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 3 |
| PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 1 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| NE 202 | Radiation Sources, Interaction and Detection 2 | 4 |
| NE 228 | Introduction To Fusion Energy | 3 |
| NE 309 | Introduction to Materials for Nuclear Energy | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE 205 | Thermodynamics for Nuclear Engineering | 3 |
| NE 301 | Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering 2 | 3 |
| NE 350 | Applied Mathematics in Nuclear Engineering | 3 |
| MA 401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3 |
| NE 409 | Nuclear Materials | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NE 360 | Continuum Mechanics for Nuclear Engineers | 3 |
| NE 400 | Nuclear Reactor Energy Conversion | 4 |
| NE 401 | Reactor Analysis and Design | 3 |
| Fuels and Materials Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| Fuels and Materials Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE 402 | Reactor Engineering | 4 |
| NE 404 | Radiation Safety and Shielding | 3 |
| NE 406 | Nuclear Engineering Senior Design Preparation | 1 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NE 403 | Nuclear Reactor Laboratory | 2 |
| NE 405 | Reactor Systems | 3 |
| NE 416 | Nuclear Materials Design Project | 3 |
| Fuels and Materials Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 123 | |
- 1
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 2
A grade of C- or higher is required.
Career Opportunities
Nuclear power reactor operation continues with ninety eight reactors operating in the nation, increasing our reliance upon nuclear energy as a substitute for energy from fossil fuels. Development of advanced fission and fusion reactors offers the potential of vast new energy sources. Industrial and medical applications of radiation continue to increase in diverse industries. Demand for nuclear engineers is on the rise within the electric power industry and national laboratories, naval reactors, and other industries. According to the National Society of Professional Engineers, nuclear engineers are among the top five best compensated of the engineering disciplines.
Career Titles
- Energy Engineer
- Engineering Professor
- Nuclear Engineer
- Nuclear Fuels Research Engineer
- Radiation Protection Engineer
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American Nuclear Society
Nuclear Energy Institute
National Association of Power Engineers
National Society of Professional Engineers