Nuclear science and engineering

The department's undergraduate program offers a strong foundation in science-based engineering, providing the skills and knowledge for a broad range of careers, with an emphasis on hands-on exploration of the subject matter. The program develops scientific and engineering fundamentals in the production, interactions, measurement, and control of radiation arising from nuclear processes. In addition, the program introduces students to thermal-fluid engineering, electronics, and computational methods. Building upon these fundamentals, students understand the principles, design, and appropriate application of nuclear-based systems that have broad societal impacts in energy, human health, and security—for example, reactors, imaging systems, detectors, and plasma confinement. In addition, they develop professional skills in quantitative research, written and oral technical communication, team building, and leadership. The program provides excellent preparation for subsequent graduate education and research in a broad range of fields. In the nuclear field, there is high demand for nuclear engineers around the world as the nuclear energy industry continues to expand. Other nuclear and radiation applications are increasingly important in medicine, industry, and government. A characteristic of the curriculum is the development of practical skills through hands-on education. This is accomplished through a laboratory subject on radiation physics, measurement, and protection (22.09 Principles of Nuclear Radiation Measurement and Protection), and through the laboratory components and exercises of the electronics (22.071 Electronics, Signals, and Measurement), ionizing radiation, and computational subjects. Even foundational courses in nuclear unit processes (22.01 Introduction to Nuclear Engineering and Ionizing Radiation) and neutronics (22.05 Neutron Science and Reactor Physics) include hands-on activities and analyses of real objects/systems . Examples include burning...