Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering
Department Office: 216 Talbot Laboratory, 104 South Wright, Urbana, (217) 333-2295
Curriculum in Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering
Nuclear, plasma, and radiological engineering is a branch of engineering that is concerned with the development and use of nuclear energy and radiation sources for a wide variety of applications in energy production, in materials processing and science, and for biomedical and industrial uses. Areas of interest include the continued safe and reliable application of fission reactors as central electric power plant thermal sources; plasma processing applications and the longer term development of fusion reactors for electric power generation; and the use of radiation sources in such areas as materials, biological systems, medical treatment, radiation instrumentation, environmental systems, and activation analysis.
The first two years of the curriculum provide a strong foundation in basic sciences (physics, mathematics, and chemistry), engineering sciences (analytical mechanics and thermodynamics), an introduction to digital computer use, and introduction to nuclear energy systems. Most technical concentration takes place in the third and fourth years of the curriculum according to the educational and career interest of the students. The curriculum provides three professional concentration areas: power, safety and the environment; plasma and fusion science and engineering; and radiological, medical, and instrumentation applications. Each concentration area follows flexibility in developing advanced technical expertise but also requires depth of understanding in the area. The third path meets all pre-med requirements and facilitates the minor in bioengineering. To complete this concentration area, students should take certain chemistry and biology courses in the first two years of the curriculum.
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation and is organized as follows.
Orientation and Professional Development
These courses introduce the opportunities and resources your college, department, and curriculum can offer you as you work to achieve your career goals. They also provide the skills to work effectively and successfully in the engineering profession.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation1 |
| 1 | NPRE 100—Orient to Nucl Plasma Rad Eng1 |
| 1 | Total |
1. External transfer students take ENG 300—Engrg Transfer Orientation instead.
Foundational Mathematics and Science
These courses stress the basic mathematical and scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I |
| 4 | MATH 221 - Calculus I1 |
| 3 | MATH 231 - Calculus II |
| 4 | MATH 241 - Calculus III |
| 3 | MATH 285 - Intro Differential Equations |
| 4 | PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4 | PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 28 | Total |
1. MATH 220 - Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering Technical Core
These courses stress fundamental concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of nuclear engineering.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 2 | AE 252 - Aerospace Dynamics I1
|
| 3 | CS 101 - Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci1
|
| 3 | ECE 205 - Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 1 | ECE 206 - Elec & Electronic Circuits Lab |
| 3 | ME 300 - Thermodynamics |
| 3 | NPRE 247 - Modeling Nuclear Energy System |
| 3 | NPRE 431 - Materials in Nuclear Eng |
| 4 | NPRE 441 - Radiation Protection |
| 3 | NPRE 446 - Radiation Interact w/Matter I |
| 3 | NPRE 447 - Radiation Interact w/Matter II |
| 4 | NPRE 448 - Nuclear Syst Eng & Design |
| 3 | NPRE 451 - Nuclear Plasma & Rad Eng Lab |
| 4 | NPRE 455 - Neutron Diffusion & Transport |
| 4 | NPRE 458 - Design in Nucl Plasma Rad Eng |
| 2 | TAM 210 - Introduction to Statics1 |
| 45 | Total |
1. Students may elect to take CS 125 in place of CS 101, TAM 211 in place of TAM 210, and TAM 212 in place of AE 252. The extra hour will be applied toward the Professional Concentration Area electives.
Professional Concentration Area Electives
The NPRE Professional Concentration Area requirement is fulfilled by taking certain required technical and some elective technical courses stressing the rigorous analysis and design principles practiced in one of the three professional concentration areas: Power, Safety, and the Environment; Plasma and Fusion Science Engineering; or Radiological, Medical, and Instrumentation Applications.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 26 | Professional Concentration Area electives. See the Professional Concentration Areas section below. |
Social Sciences and Humanities
The social sciences and humanities courses, as approved by the College of Engineering, ensure that students have exposure in breadth and depth to areas of intellectual activity that are essential to the general education of any college graduate.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 18 | Electives in social sciences and humanities approved by the College of Engineering and satisfying the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities, including cultural studies western and non-western. |
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | RHET 105 - Principles of Composition |
| Advanced Composition. May be satisfied by completing a course with the Advanced Composition designation in either the social sciences and humanities or the free elective categories. | |
| 4 | Total |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors.| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree. |
Professional Concentration Areas
Students are expected to develop a solid background in one of the various subfields within a Professional Concentration Area which are defined below.Power, Safety, and the Environment
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | TAM 335—Introductory Fluid Mechanics or ME 310—Introductory Gas Dynamics |
| 3 | NPRE 421—Plasma and Fusion Science |
| 2 | NPRE 432—Nuclear Eng Materials Lab or NPRE 453—Nuclear Reactor Laboratory |
| 17 | Technical electives broken down as follows: |
6 |
A minimum of 6 hours of departmentally approved NPRE Electives. |
11 |
Technical electives selected from departmentally approved Power, Safety, and the Environment elective course work in one of the following subfields: Thermal Sciences; Power and Control Systems; Solid, Fluid and Continuum Mechanics; Computational Sciences and Engineering; Environmental Engineering and Science. The student's academic advisor must approve the chosen course set to insure that a strong program is achieved. |
| 26 | Total |
Plasma and Fusion Science and Engineering
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | TAM 335—Introductory Fluid Mechanics or ME 310—Introductory Gas Dynamics |
| 3 | NPRE 421—Plasma and Fusion Science |
| 2 | NPRE 423—Plasma Laboratory |
| 3 | NPRE 429—Plasma Engineering |
| 14 | Technical electives selected from departmentally approved Plasma and Fusion Science and Engineering elective course work in one of the following subfields: Physical Science, Electrical Engineering, or Electronic Materials. The student's academic advisor must approve the chosen course set to insure that a strong program is achieved.
|
| 26 | Total |
Radiological, Medical and Instrumentation Applications
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | NPRE 435—Imaging w/Ionizing Radiation |
| 2 | MCB 403—Cell & Membrane Physiology Lab or NPRE 444—Nuclear Analytical Methods Lab |
| 21 | Technical electives selected from departmentally approved Radiological, Medical and Instrumentation Applications elective course work in one of the following subfields: Biomolecular Engineering, Biomedical Engineering. The student's academic advisor must approve the chosen course set to insure that a strong program is achieved.
|
| 26 | Total |
Suggested Sequence
The schedule that follows is illustrative, showing the typical sequence in which courses would be taken by a student with no college course credit already earned and who intends to graduate in four years. Each individual's case may vary, but the position of required named courses is generally indicative of the order in which they should be taken.First year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 | ENG 100 - Engineering Orientation |
| 4 | MATH 221 - Calculus I1 |
| 1 | NPRE 100 - Orient to Nucl Plasma Rad Eng |
| 4-3 | RHET 105 - Principles of Composition2 or |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16-15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CS 101 - Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci4 |
| 3 | MATH 231 - Calculus II |
| 4 | PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 3-4 | Free elective5or RHET 105 - Principles of Composition2 |
| 16-17 | Total |
Second year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | MATH 241 - Calculus III |
| 4 | PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | TAM 210 - Introduction to Statics4 |
| 3 | Professional Concentration Area elective6 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | AE 252 - Aerospace Dynamics I4 |
| 3 | MATH 285 - Intro Differential Equations |
| 3 | ME 300 - Thermodynamics |
| 2 | PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 3 | NPRE 247 - Modeling Nuclear Energy System |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16 | Total |
Third year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | ECE 205 - Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 1 | ECE 206 - Elec & Electronic Circuits Lab |
| 3 | NPRE 446 - Radiation Interact w/Matter I |
| 4 | TAM 335 - Introductory Fluid
Mechanics or ME 310 - Introductory Gas Dynamics or Professional Concentration Area elective in Radiological, Medical, and Instrumentation Applications7 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | NPRE 421 - Plasma and Fusion
Science or Professional Concentration Area elective in Radiological, Medical, and Instrumentation Applications7 |
| 3 | NPRE 447 - Radiation Interact w/Matter II |
| 3 | NPRE 451 - Nuclear Plasma & Rad Eng Lab |
| 4 | NPRE 455 - Neutron Diffusion & Transport |
| 2 | Professional Concentration Area elective6 |
| 15 | Total |
Fourth year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | NPRE 431 - Materials in Nuclear Eng |
| 4 | NPRE 448 - Nuclear Sys Eng and Design |
| 6 | Professional Concentration Area electives6 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | NPRE 441 - Radiation Protection |
| 4 | NPRE 458 - Design in Nucl Plasma Rad Eng |
| 8 | Professional Concentration Area electives6 |
| 16 | Total |
1. MATH 220 - Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
2. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first year as authorized. The alternative is a free elective.
3. Each student must satisfy the 18-hour social sciences and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering, including ECON 102 or 103, and satisfy the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities.
4. Students may elect to take CS 125 in place of CS 101, TAM 211 in place of TAM 210, and TAM 212 in place of AE 252. The extra hour will be applied toward the Professional Concentration Area electives.
5. Consideration should be given to NPRE 101 - Introduction to Energy Sources and NPRE 199 - Undergraduate Open Seminar as free electives in the spring semester of the freshman or sophomore year. Alternately, free elective hours provide a means to fulfill requirements for campus minors such as Bioengineering, Computer Science, International Minor in Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics, without excessive additional hours beyond the normal degree requirements.
6. A student must fulfill the NPRE Professional Concentration Area requirement by taking the required technical courses and technical elective courses in one of the three professional concentration areas: Power, Safety, and the Environment; Plasma and Fusion Science Engineering; or Radiological, Medical, and Instrumentation Applications.
7. Students in the Power, Safety, and the Environment and in the Plasma and Fusion Science Engineering Professional Concentration Areas must take a fluid mechanics course (TAM 335 or ME 310) and NPRE 421. Students in the Radiological, Medical, and Instrumentation Applications Professional Concentration Area must select courses in that Area instead.