Nuclear Engineering Major, MS

A graduate program leading to the Master of Science degree is available to graduates of recognized undergraduate curricula as described above. Each applicant will be advised as to the necessary prerequisite courses before he/she enters the program.

Requirements

The minimum requirements for the MS in nuclear engineering are

• A major consisting of 12 hours of graduate courses in nuclear engineering which must include at least two of the following courses – NE 511 , NE 521 , NE 551 , NE 571 . 
• 6 hours of elective courses in mathematics, statistics, or another field related to nuclear engineering. 
• 6 hours in either nuclear engineering or a related field. 
• One of the following three options for a culminating experience.
  
  Option 1 – a thesis project (6 hours of NE 500 ).
  Option 2 – two to four engineering practice projects (6 hours of NE 598 ).
  Option 3 – one engineering practice project (3 hours of NE 598 ) plus 3 hours of additional nuclear engineering course work.

The determination of which option a student may undertake is made by the student’s graduate committee and is based on the student’s personal interests, academic background, and work experience, as well as the nature of projects currently available in the department. A thesis project requires the student to conduct independent, in-depth research. An engineering practice project is similar to a thesis project but smaller in scope and can be research, design, product development, special operations, or a critical review of published literature in a specific technical area. The student must submit a brief written proposal for each project undertaken, either thesis or engineering practice, which must be approved by the student’s graduate committee. The final report for an engineering practice project is normally prepared in thesis format (i.e., according to the Graduate School, Guide to the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations); however, another formal report format may be used if approved by the student’s graduate committee. The student must also register for the appropriate number of hours of either 500 or 598, as specified by the student’s major professor, during each semester that work is performed on a thesis or engineering practice project. Finally, the student must pass an oral examination on all work presented for the degree (all course work and all projects).

The MS with a major in nuclear engineering is also available to distance students via selected courses that are delivered over the web to the student’s computer.