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The minor in nuclear engineering is designed to provide undergraduate students from other appropriate engineering or science programs with the fundamental concepts and practices of nuclear physics and nuclear engineering. It is designed to provide students with the essentials for employment in nuclear-related fields.听 Students considering nuclear graduate programs would also benefit from the minor in nuclear engineering. The courses designed for this minor will cover the nuclear engineering areas necessary to achieve the program learning outcomes.
The Minor in Nuclear Engineering will prepare graduates to:
Meet the expectations of employers and the broader industry by gaining up-to-date technical knowledge and skills, equipping them for careers, leadership roles, or entrepreneurial opportunities within the nuclear energy sector.
Pursue further academic studies or professional development in nuclear engineering, contributing to advancements in reactor technology, safety protocols, and sustainable energy solutions.
Upon completion of the Minor in Nuclear Energy, graduates will be able to:
NUCE 301 Radiation Science and Health Physics (3-0-3)
Prerequisites: MATH211, or MATH206
This course provides students with an understanding of radiation science, including radiation shielding, as a foundation for understanding the theoretical and practical aspects of radiological protection and a working knowledge of radiation protection legislation. Topics covered include introduction to modern physics, radioactivity, nuclear reactions, radiation interactions with matter, radiation detection, radiation protection, dose, and legislation.
NUCE 303 Mechanics & Thermal-hydraulics Principles for Nuclear Engineering (3-0-3)
Prerequisite: PHYS 121
This course provides a thorough understanding of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mechanics of materials, with applications in nuclear engineering. Topics are chosen for their relevance to reactor thermal-hydraulics, coolant flow dynamics, and structural integrity.
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NUCE 304 Evaluative Methods for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Security (3-0-3)
Prerequisite: MATH 112
This course provides the key elements related to nuclear non-proliferation and security such as, legal framework, operational interactions, and physical protection system design and evaluation methods. Topics include international and national legal framework regulating nuclear non-proliferation and security, threat assessment, detection and response to criminal or unauthorized acts involving nuclear and other radioactive material, nuclear material accountancy, containment and surveillance, as well as international and state-level approaches to safeguarding nuclear materials.
NUCE 352 Materials in Nuclear Power Plants听
Prerequisites: CHEG 350, or MEEN 225, or AERO 320 or equivalent
The course covers materials (metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, and concrete) used in nuclear power plants. Topics covered include understanding of material behavior and the effects of structure, properties, and processing of materials used in nuclear systems on their behavior in radiation environments. Emphasis is on the impact of radiation on the microstructure, mechanical, electrical, thermal and corrosion properties of materials.
NUCE 401 Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Physics (3-0-3)
Co-requisite:听NUCE 301
This course provides the students with a basic understanding of nuclear reactor physics. It also provides students with fundamental principles and practical applications related to the utilization of nuclear energy from fission. It covers the concepts of neutron diffusion in one-group and multi-group contexts. It also gives a brief introduction to the subject of time-dependent nuclear reactor behaviors.
NUCE 402 Introduction to Nuclear Systems and Operation (3-0-3)
Prerequisites: NUCE 303, or (MEEN335 and MEEN240), or (AERO335 and AERO240), or (CHEG230 and CHEG232), or (PEEG302 and MEEN240)
This course provides students with an overview of nuclear systems and power plants, including operation steps, energy transport schemes, various power reactor types, safety principles, and control functions, as a foundation to understanding the theoretical and practical aspects of nuclear plant design and operation and a working knowledge of various safety features.
NUCE 404 System Code Analysis in Nuclear Engineering (3-0-3)
Prerequisite: NUCE 303, or PEEG 302, or MEEN 343
Co-requisite: NUCE 402
This course provides an in-depth introduction to the TRACE system code for analyzing thermal-hydraulics and reactor systems in nuclear engineering. Students explore the theoretical underpinnings, learn to construct models, and perform simulations to analyze steady-state and transient behaviors of nuclear systems.