Dwight Look College of Engineering

Curriculum in Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear engineering deals with the application and utilization of nuclear processes and radiations. The use of nuclear energy for the production of electrical power is a mature industry. Nuclear engineers work on all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle and for many different types of employers such as government and private labs, regulatory agencies, reactor vendors, utilities and architect engineers. In addition, nuclear energy for space applications is a rapidly expanding field. Radionuclide technology in industry and medicine requires a large number of well-trained radiological health engineers. To supply qualified engineers, the Department of Nuclear Engineering offers curricula leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering and in Radiological Health Engineering. Both degrees are accredited by the Engr. Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc. formerly the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET).

The missions of the Nuclear Engineering Department are:

  • to produce high quality graduates from the undergraduate through the doctoral levels to help meet the technical manpower needs of our state, region, nation and the international community;

  • to conduct research, including collaboration with research in related fields, to advance the state of knowledge in these disciplines in support of the needs of society; and

  • to perform service in these disciplines for many constituencies including our College and University, industry, government and national laboratories, professional organizations, and the public.

In fulfilling these missions, the objective of the undergraduate program is to prepare students for success in their professional endeavors following the baccalaureate degree. These endeavors may include direct employment in the private or public sectors, graduate studies in engineering or science, professional studies in medicine, business, law or public administration, service in the military, or entrepreneurial activities. To achieve this purpose, four principal educational objectives are identified. Graduates of our Bachelor of Science program in Nuclear Engineering:

  1. will work on the challenges of maintenance, improvement, innovation, education, and research in nuclear power and industrial utilization of nuclear radiation and radionuclides. In this work, they will fulfill independent assignments, engage in collaborations, and manage the work of others with effective communications characterizing all phases of their responsibilities;
  2. will conduct their professional activities with full recognition of the choices and challenges implicit to their work, to its ethical dimensions, and to their implications for matters beyond their immediate tasks;
  3. will take the local, global, historical, social, economic, and political settings into account in both their domestic and international endeavors; and
  4. will recognize and utilize both the accumulated body of results from prior work and the continuing evolution of science and technology as essential resources for the effective conduct of their work.

The nuclear engineering baccalaureate degree programs stress engineering science fundamentals and mathematics. However, considerable numbers of elective hours are available in the curriculum to permit students to broaden their educations as desired.

Most of the facilities used in the M.S. and Ph.D. programs are also used in the undergraduate degree programs. These facilities make the Department of Nuclear Engineering one of the best equipped in the United States. Texas A&M is now the only University in the United States with two nuclear reactors on its campus.

(See Freshman Year 1 )

SOPHOMORE YEAR

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
MEEN 221 Statics and Particle Dynamics (2-2) 3   CVEN 305 Mechanics of Materials (3-0) 3
MEEN 222 Materials Science (2-2) 3   ECEN 215 Prin. of Electrical Engineering (2-2) 3
MATH 251 Engineering Mathematics III (3-0) 3   MATH 308 Differential Equations (3-0) 3
NUEN 201 Intro. to Nuc. Engr. I (3-0) 3   MEEN 315 Principles of Thermodynamics (2-2) 3
University Core Curriculum elective 3   3   NUEN 302 Intro. to Nuc. Engr. II (3-0) 3
    15       15

JUNIOR YEAR

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
ENGL 301 Technical Writing 5
or
COMM 203 Public Speaking 		(3-0) 3   ISEN 302 Econ. Analysis of Engr. Proj. (2-0) 2
MATH 311 Topics in Appl. Mathematics I (3-0) 3   MEEN 461 Heat Transfer (3-3) 4
MEEN 344 Fluid Mechanics (2-2) 3   NUEN 303 Nuc. Detection and Isotopes6 (3-0) 3
NUEN 301 Nuclear Reactor Theory (3-0) 3   NUEN 304 Nuclear Reactor Analysis (2-3) 3
NUEN 309 Radiological Safety (3-0) 3   NUEN 329 Analytical and Num. Meth. (3-0) 3
    15   University Core Curriculum elective 3   3
            18

SENIOR YEAR

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
NUEN 405 Nuc. Eng. Experiments (3-0) 3   ENGR 482 Ethics and Engineering (2-2) 3
NUEN 406 Nuc. Engr. Sys. and Design (3-0) 2   NUEN 410 Design of Nuclear Reactors (4-0) 4
NUEN 430 Comp. Appl. in Nuc. Engr. (3-0) 2   NUEN 481 Seminar (1-0) 1
NUEN Technical elective4   3   Technical elective 4   3
Technical elective4   3   Technical elective 4   2
University Core Curriculum elective3   3   University Core Curriculum elective3   3
    16       16
NOTES:
  1. NUEN 101 is also required during the first semester of the freshman year.
  2. Entering students will be given a placement test in mathematics. Test results will be used to select the appropriate starting course.
  3. To be selected from the University Core Curriculum. Of the 18 hours shown as University Core Curriculum electives, 3 must be from visual and performing arts, 3 from social and behavioral sciences, 6 from U.S. history (typically HIST 105 and 106), 6 from political science (POLS 206 and 207), and 6 from international and cultural diversity courses. The international and cultural diversity hours may be met by courses satisfying the visual and performing arts, social and behavioral sciences, and the political science and history requirements if they are also on the approved list for international and cultural diversity courses. In addition, ENGR 482 or PHIL 482 must be taken.
  4. As approved by departmental advisor.
  5. ENGL 210 is an acceptable substitute.
  6. NUEN 303; Writing Intensive Course.