Curriculum in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Nuclear 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.
Educational Objectives
Students pursuing the curriculum in nuclear, plasma, and radiological engineering should develop a comprehensive understanding of basic sciences, basic engineering, and advanced technical areas specific to nuclear, plasma, and radiological engineering and the means to employ these principles in engineering practice. This should include the ability to synthesize various concepts in engineering design and in the development of new engineering concepts, understanding, and applications. Students should develop a broad university-level understanding and appreciation of social and behavioral sciences, humanities, human cultures, and advanced communications skills consistent with the principles of general education. Students should also develop an appreciation of their abilities to contribute to society through ethical engineering practice. The curriculum should provide a large, flexible selection of both technical and free electives, which enables students to emphasize breadth or depth of study or both in their chosen field of concentration. The curriculum should prepare its graduates not only to enter directly into a wide variety of careers in nuclear, plasma, and radiological engineering but also to continue advanced professional study at the graduate level. The curriculum should prepare students, regardless of their chosen career path, to continue their professional development throughout their careers.
Educational Outcomes
The nuclear, plasma, and radiological engineering degree program seeks to produce graduates who are able to:
- understand and apply principal concepts in mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering sciences,
- understand and apply principal concepts in the area of radiation sources, interactions, and transport,
- understand and apply advanced engineering concepts in their chosen area of professional concentration, consistent with full preparation for graduate-level, advanced professional study in that or other areas,
- comprehend and apply computational techniques,
- communicate effectively verbally and in writing,
- analyze engineering problems, think critically and inventively about solutions to engineering problems, and use judgment to formulate effective approaches to solutions,
- address more complex engineering problems by synthesizing and adapting knowledge from several areas and use this approach effectively in engineering design,
- incorporate a perspective about ethical, social, and cultural values and an international perspective into their engineering practice,
- maintain a professional outlook that embodies continued learning and professional development throughout their professional lives,
- appreciate an appropriate variety of basic and advanced concepts in other disciplines (i.e. general education),
- work effectively alone, in small groups, and in larger interdisciplinary groups.
The Curriculum
The first two years of the curriculum provides 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.
The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation.
Suggested Sequence
First year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102—General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Lecture |
| 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 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16-15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CS 101—Intro to Computing, Eng & Sci4 |
| 3 | MATH 231—Calculus II |
| 4 | PHYS 211—Univ 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—Univ 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—Intro to Aerospace Dynamics4 |
| 3 | MATH 385—Intro Differential Equations |
| 3 | ME 300—Thermodynamics |
| 2 | PHYS 214—Univ Physics, Quantum Phys |
| 3 | NPRE 247—Modeling Nuclear Energy System |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16 | Total |
Third year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | ECE 205—Intro Elec & Electr Circuits |
| 1 | ECE 206—Intro Elec & Electr Ckts Lab |
| 3 | MATH 380—Advanced Calculus7 |
| 3 | NPRE 446—Prin Rad Interact 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 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | NPRE 421—Plasma and Fusion
Science or Professional Concentration Area elective in Radiological, Medical, and Instrumentation Applications 8 |
| 3 | NPRE 447—Prin Rad Interact Matter, I |
| 3 | NPRE 451—Nucl Plasma Rad Eng Lab |
| 3 | NPRE 455—Neutron Diffusion & Transport |
| 2 | Professional Concentration Area elective6 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 17 | Total |
Fourth year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | NPRE 431—Materials in Nuclear Eng |
| 3 | NPRE 448—Nuclear Sys Eng and Design |
| 6 | Professional Concentration Area elective6 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | NPRE 441—Prin of Radiation Protection |
| 4 | NPRE 458—Design in Nucl Plasma Rad Eng |
| 8 | Professional Concentration Area elective6 |
| 15 | 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 science 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. Math 380 will be phased out and is not to be taken by freshmen entering on or after Fall 2006. Consult the Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering Department to determine what should be taken in its place.
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.
Professional Concentration Areas
Students must fulfill the Professional Concentration Area requirements by completing sets of required courses and technical elective courses in one of the three areas of professional concentration:
- Power, Safety, and the Environment
- Plasma and Fusion Science and Engineering
- Radiological, Medical, and Instrumentation Applications
Students are encouraged to select a concentration area as early in their program as possible, and no later than their fourth semester. The number of credit hours required for each of the concentration areas is 26. The course requirements for each concentration area are indicated below.
Students are expected to develop a solid background in one of the various subfields within a Professional Concentration Area which are defined below. Students must select a set of technical elective courses to build depth in a specific area, rather than select introductory courses in each of several subfields. The student's academic advisor must approve the student's course set to insure that a strong program is achieved.
Power, Safety, and the Environment
Students who wish to specialize in the Power, Safety, and the Environment Professional Concentration Area must take 9 hours of required engineering courses and select 17 hours of technical electives.
Required Courses
The required courses consist of a fluid mechanics course (4 hours), a plasma and fusion engineering course (3 hours), and an advanced laboratory course (2 hours):
| Hours | Required Courses |
|---|---|
| 4 | TAM 335—Introductory Fluid
Mechanics or ME 310—Introductory Gas Dynamics |
| 3 | NPRE/ECE 421/PHYS 479—Plasma and Fusion Science |
| 2 | NPRE 432—Nuclear Eng Materials Lab or NPRE 453—Nuclear Reactor Laboratory |
Technical Electives
Students must select 17 hours of technical electives broken down as follows:
- a minimum of 6 hours of coursework from a departmentally approved list of NPRE Electives
- the remaining 11 hours from departmentally approved lists of coursework 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
Plasma and Fusion Science and Engineering
Students who wish to specialize in the Plasma and Fusion Science and Engineering Professional Concentration Area must take 12 hours of required engineering courses and select 14 hours of technical electives.
Required Courses
The required courses consist of two plasma courses (6 hours), a fluid mechanics course (4 hours), and an advanced plasmas laboratory course (2 hours):
| Hours | Required Courses |
|---|---|
| 4 | TAM 335—Introductory Fluid Mechanics or ME 310—Introductory Gas Dynamics |
| 3 | NPRE/ECE 421/PHYS 479—Plasma and Fusion Science |
| 2 | NPRE 423—Plasma Laboratory |
| 3 | NPRE 429—Plasma Engineering |
Technical Electives
14 hours must be selected from departmentally approved lists of coursework in of of the following subfields:
- Physical Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronic Materials
Radiological, Medical and Instrumentation Applications
Students who wish to specialize in the Radiological, Medical and Instrumentation Applications Professional Concentration Area must take 5 hours of required engineering courses and select 21 hours of technical electives.
Required Courses
The required courses consist of an advanced radiological engineering course (3 hours) and one of the advanced laboratory courses (2 hours):
| Hours | Required Courses |
|---|---|
| 3 | NPRE 435—Prin Imaging w Ionizing Rad |
| 2 | MCB 403—Cell & Membrane Physiology Lab or NPRE 444—Nuclear Analytical Methods Lab |
Technical Electives
21 to 22 hours must be selected from departmentally approved lists of course work in one of the following subfields:- Biomolecular Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering