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Program Description
The overall educational objective of the Nuclear Engineering Minor is to help prepare graduates to apply the knowledge and capabilities gained in their main program of study to a wide range of career paths related to nuclear engineering. Many nuclear applications require a multi-disciplinary approach, and nuclear engineers frequently specialize in subfields such as power reactors, reactor thermal hydraulics, nuclear materials for harsh environments, radiation detection, nuclear fusion and plasma science, biomedical applications, health physics, radiochemistry, or nuclear security and non-proliferation.
Students completing the Nuclear Engineering Minor will learn fundamental concepts within nuclear engineering, but will also have the flexibility to choose electives to build a minor program focusing on topics relevant to their primary field of study and/or particular career goals.
What is Nuclear Engineering?
Nuclear Engineering is a multidisciplinary field that goes beyond providing nuclear power for electrical production. Nuclear engineers may apply their knowledge in various fields, including disease treatment, safeguarding food supplies, operate nuclear energy systems, develop regulations to ensure safety, or facilitate space exploration.
Entrance to Minor
For entrance to the nuclear engineering minor, students must:
- be admitted to a major other than nuclear engineering; and
- have a cumulative GPA of 2.6 or higher.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18-20 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| NUCE 301 | Fundamentals of Reactor Physics | 4 |
| NUCE 310W | Issues in Nuclear Engineering | 2 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 0-8 credits in Reactor Design and Thermodynamics from the following: | 0-8 | |
| Introduction to Reactor Design | ||
| Analytical Techniques for Nuclear Concept | ||
| Introduction to Thermal-Fluid Sciences for Nuclear Engineers - I | ||
or CHE 220 | Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | |
or CHEM 450 | Physical Chemistry - Thermodynamics | |
or EMCH 302H | Thermodynamics, Heat Conduction, and Principles of Modeling, Honors | |
or EME 301 | Thermodynamics in Energy and Mineral Engineering | |
or MATSE 401 | Thermodynamics of Materials | |
or ME 201 | Introduction to Thermal Science | |
or ME 300 | Engineering Thermodynamics I | |
| Introduction to Thermal-Fluid Sciences for Nuclear Engineers - II | ||
or AERSP 311 | Aerodynamics I | |
or CE 360 | Fluid Mechanics | |
or CHE 330 | Process Fluid Mechanics | |
or EME 303 | Fluid Mechanics in Energy and Mineral Engineering | |
or ME 320 | Fluid Flow | |
| Select 6-12 credits of 400-Level Courses. Students should consult the Department of Nuclear Engineering for the up-to-date list of approved 400-level courses that meet this requirement. | 6-12 | |
Some prescribed or additional courses may require prerequisites and/or concurrent enrollment in courses not required by the minor. Students are advised to consult the current bulletin listing for each course to ensure prerequisites and concurrent requirements are satisfied prior to enrollment in courses for the minor.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Amanda Johnsen
Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Program Director of Nuclear Engineering
113 Hallowell Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-6222
amj15@psu.edu
Contact
University Park
KEN AND MARY ALICE DEPARTMENT OF NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
206 Hallowell Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-6222
bah41@psu.edu