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,听, and听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 | |
| 颁贬听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| 颁贬听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| 贰听101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 |
| 贰听115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC听113 | Introduction to Computing - MATLAB | 3 |
| MA听241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PY听205 &听PY听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听102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2 |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE听201 | Introduction to Nuclear Engineering | 2 |
| MAE听206 | Engineering Statics | 3 |
| MA听242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY听208 &听PY听209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MA听341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| NE听202 | Radiation Sources, Interaction and Detection 2 | 4 |
| NE听228 | Introduction To Fusion Energy | 3 |
| NE听309 | Introduction to Materials for Nuclear Energy | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE听205 | Thermodynamics for Nuclear Engineering | 3 |
| NE听301 | Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering 2 | 3 |
| NE听350 | Applied Mathematics in Nuclear Engineering | 3 |
| MA听401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3 |
| NE听409 | Nuclear Materials | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NE听360 | Continuum Mechanics for Nuclear Engineers | 3 |
| NE听400 | Nuclear Reactor Energy Conversion | 4 |
| NE听401 | Reactor Analysis and Design | 3 |
| Fuels and Materials Concentration Electives | 6 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE听402 | Reactor Engineering | 4 |
| NE听404 | Radiation Safety and Shielding | 3 |
| NE听406 | Nuclear Engineering Senior Design Preparation | 1 |
| 听 | Hours | 8 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NE听403 | Nuclear Reactor Laboratory | 2 |
| NE听405 | Reactor Systems | 3 |
| NE听416 | Nuclear Materials Design Project | 3 |
| Fuels and Materials Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 11 |
| 听 | 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听412 | Nuclear Fuel Cycles | 3 |
| NE听431 | Nuclear Waste Management | 3 |
| NE听533 | Nuclear Fuel Performance | 3 |
| NE听550 | Introduction to Atomistic Simulations | 3 |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 颁贬听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| 颁贬听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| 贰听101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 |
| 贰听115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSC听113 | Introduction to Computing - MATLAB | 3 |
| MA听241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PY听205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 3 |
| PY听206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | 1 |
| Select one of the following Economics courses: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| E听102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2 |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE听201 | Introduction to Nuclear Engineering | 2 |
| MAE听206 | Engineering Statics | 3 |
| MA听242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY听208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 3 |
| PY听209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 1 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MA听341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| NE听202 | Radiation Sources, Interaction and Detection 2 | 4 |
| NE听228 | Introduction To Fusion Energy | 3 |
| NE听309 | Introduction to Materials for Nuclear Energy | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE听205 | Thermodynamics for Nuclear Engineering | 3 |
| NE听301 | Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering 2 | 3 |
| NE听350 | Applied Mathematics in Nuclear Engineering | 3 |
| MA听401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3 |
| NE听409 | Nuclear Materials | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NE听360 | Continuum Mechanics for Nuclear Engineers | 3 |
| NE听400 | Nuclear Reactor Energy Conversion | 4 |
| NE听401 | Reactor Analysis and Design | 3 |
| Fuels and Materials Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| Fuels and Materials Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NE听402 | Reactor Engineering | 4 |
| NE听404 | Radiation Safety and Shielding | 3 |
| NE听406 | Nuclear Engineering Senior Design Preparation | 1 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NE听403 | Nuclear Reactor Laboratory | 2 |
| NE听405 | Reactor Systems | 3 |
| NE听416 | Nuclear Materials Design Project | 3 |
| Fuels and Materials Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| 听 | 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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