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 allows flexibility in developing advanced technical expertise but also requires depth of understanding in the area. The third path meets 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 Eng |
| 1 | Total |
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 Statics1,2 |
| 3 | TAM 212- Introductory Dynamics2 |
| 46 | Total |
1. Students may elect to take CS 125 in place of CS 101, and TAM 211 in place of TAM 210. The extra hour will be applied toward the Professional Concentration Area electives.
2. Students in the Plasma and Fusion Science Engineering Professional Concentration Area may elect to take PHYS 325 in place of TAM 212. Further, students in this concentration may elect to take both PHYS 325 and PHYS 326 in place of TAM 210 and TAM 212. The extra hour from PHYS 325 and 326 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 |
|---|---|
| 25 | Professional Concentration Area electives. See the Professional Concentration Areas section below. |
Liberal Education
The liberal education courses develop students’ understanding of human culture and society, build skills of inquiry and critical thinking, and lay a foundation for civic engagement and lifelong learning.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | ECON 102—Microeconomic Principles or ECON 103—Macroeconomic Principles |
| 3 | Electives from the campus General Education social & behavioral sciences list. |
| 6 | Electives from the campus General Education humanities & the arts list. |
| 6 | Electives either from a list approved by the college or from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts. |
| 18 | Total |
Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course and (ii) one non-western/U.S. minority culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
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 in either the liberal education or free elective categories which has the Advanced Composition designation. Alternately, NPRE 481—Writing Sem on Tech & Security should be considered, which may also be applied to the Professional Concentration elective hours. | |
| 4 | Total |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, 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, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, 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 |
| 16 | Technical electives broken down as follows: |
6 |
A minimum of 6 hours of departmentally approved NPRE Electives. |
10 |
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. |
| 25 | 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 |
| 13 | 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. |
| 25 | 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 |
| 20 | 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.
|
| 25 | 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 Free elective |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 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 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 3-4 | Free elective5 or 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 Statics4,6 |
| 3 | Professional Concentration Area elective7 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 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 | TAM 212—Introductory Dynamics6 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 17 | 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 Applications8 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 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 Applications8 |
| 3 | NPRE 447—Radiation Interact w/Matter II |
| 3 | NPRE 451—Nuclear Plasma & Rad Eng Lab |
| 4 | NPRE 455—Neutron Diffusion & Transport |
| 3 | Professional Concentration Area elective7 |
| 16 | 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 electives7 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | NPRE 441—Radiation Protection |
| 4 | NPRE 458—Design in Nucl Plasma Rad Eng |
| 6 | Professional Concentration Area electives |
| 14 | 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. Liberal education electives must include 6 hours of social & behavioral sciences and 6 hours of humanities & the arts course work from the campus General Education lists. ECON 102 or ECON 103 must be one of the social & behavioral sciences courses, recommended to be taken early. The remaining 6 hours may be selected from a list maintained by the college, or additional course work from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts. Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course and (ii) one non-western/U.S. minority culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
4. Students may elect to take CS 125 in place of CS 101, and TAM 211 in place of TAM 210. The extra hour will be applied toward the Professional Concentration Area electives.
5. Consideration should be given to NPRE 101—Introduction to Energy Sources as a free elective 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. Students in the Plasma and Fusion Science Engineering Professional Concentration Area may elect to take PHYS 325 in place of TAM 212. Further, students in this concentration may elect to take both PHYS 325 and PHYS 326 in place of TAM 210 and TAM 212. The extra hour from PHYS 325 and 326 will be applied toward the Professional Concentration Area electives.
7. 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.
8 . 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.