Nuclear Engineering

Graduates of the programs within Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering will be expected to:

• Engage in professional practice at or beyond the entry level or enroll in high-quality graduate programs, applying their engineering knowledge, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.
• Become leaders in engineering, science, academia, business, and public service.
• Continue their intellectual development through participation in continuing education, professional development, and/or community service.

The outcomes we desire our graduates to demonstrate are:

• An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to engineering problems.
• An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
• An ability to design systems, components, or processes to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
• An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
• An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
• An ability to communicate effectively with written, oral, and visual means.
• The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.
• A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
• A knowledge of contemporary issues.
• An ability to use modern engineering techniques, skills, and computing tools necessary for engineering practice.

First Year

Fall

• MANE 1961 Intro to Nuclear Engineering Credit Hours: 1
  (See footnote 2 below)
• HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4

• CHEM 1100 - Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4
• ENGR 1100 - Introduction to Engineering Analysis Credit Hours: 4
• MATH 1010 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4

Spring

• HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4

• ENGR 1200 - Engineering Graphics and CAD Credit Hours: 1
• ENGR 1600 - Materials Science for Engineers Credit Hours: 4
• MATH 1020 - Calculus II Credit Hours: 4
• PHYS 1100 - Physics I Credit Hours: 4

Second Year

Fall

• Free Elective I Credit Hours: 4
• HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4
• MATH 2400 - Introduction to Differential Equations Credit Hours: 4

• (See footnote 6 below)

• PHYS 1200 - Physics II Credit Hours: 4

Spring

• HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4

• CSCI 1190 - Beginning Programming for Engineers Credit Hours: 1
• ENGR 2050 - Introduction to Engineering Design Credit Hours: 4

• (See footnote 1 below)

• MANE 2830 - Nuclear Phenomena for Engineering Applications Credit Hours: 4
• MATH 2010 - Multivariable Calculus and Matrix Algebra Credit Hours: 4

• (See footnote 6 below)

Third Year

Fall

• HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4

• ENGR 2250 - Thermal and Fluids Engineering I Credit Hours: 4
• MANE 2400 - Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering Credit Hours: 4
• MANE 4350 - Nuclear Instrumentation and Measurement Credit Hours: 3

Spring

• Professional Development II Credit Hours: 2
  (See footnote 5 below)

• ENGR 2600 - Modeling and Analysis of Uncertainty Credit Hours: 3
• MANE 4400 - Nuclear Power Systems Engineering Credit Hours: 4
• MANE 4470 - Radiological Engineering Credit Hours: 3
• MANE 4480 - Physics of Nuclear Reactors Credit Hours: 4

Fourth Year

Fall

• Restricted (NE) Elective I Credit Hours: 3
• Free Elective II Credit Hours: 4

• ENGR 4010 - Professional Development III Credit Hours: 1

• (See footnote 3 below)

• MANE 4050 - Modeling and Control of Dynamic Systems Credit Hours: 4
• MANE 4370 - Nuclear Engineering Laboratory Credit Hours: 4
• MANE 4380 - NEEP Senior Design Project I Credit Hours: 1

Spring

• Technical Elective Credit Hours: 3
  (See footnote 4 below)
• Restricted (NE) Elective II Credit Hours: 3
• Free Elective III Credit Hours: 4

• MANE 4390 - NEEP Senior Design Project II Credit Hours: 2
• MANE 4440 - Critical Reactor Laboratory Credit Hours: 3

Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Electives

In this area, the electives are based on the Institute and School of Engineering requirements. Students are urged to elect humanities, arts, and social science sequences through which they will obtain adequate breadth and depth in subject areas. Students desiring minors in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences must consult the school or department in which the courses are offered to obtain further information and specific requirements.

Footnotes

1. Includes Professional Development I.
2. Other 1-credit Engineering Exploration courses, such as ENGR 1300 may be substituted.
3. May be taken either semester senior year. 
4. Any course in engineering or science at 2000 level or higher.
5. Students choose either PSYC 4170 or STSS 4840 to fulfill this requirement.
6. MATH 2010 and MATH 2400 may be taken in either semster of the second year.

Requirements

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for all non-native English speakers. Applicants who have completed three or more years of secondary education in the U.S. may request an exemption by emailing Rensselaer Admissions. Rensselaer expects a minimum TOEFL score of at least 88 iBT, or 570 PBT. For students not able to take the TOEFL, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Pearson’s Test of English (PTE) may be substituted for the TOEFL. An IELTS score of at least 7.0 or a PTE score of at least 59 is expected. Only the academic format is accepted.
• In general, we look for students who have earned A’s and B’s in a challenging curriculum. We pay close attention to exactly which classes you have taken and how you have performed in them, instead of focusing on a certain GPA.
• Request a letter of recommendation from a counselor or teacher. 
  A recommendation provided by a math or science teacher who knows you well is preferred.
• Remit the $70 application fee.

Scholarships

• Rensselaer Grant
• Rensselaer Leadership Award
• Rensselaer Merit Scholarship (awarded prior to the 2009-2010 academic year)
• Rensselaer Medal Scholarship
• Rensselaer Room & Board Scholarship