Program Overview

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Nuclear Engineering, BS

Nuclear engineers harness the strongest forces of nature to tackle some of societys biggest challenges. Our curriculum gives students depth and breadth to keep up with rapidly changing technology, and our close-knit learning community supports our students' success during their degree and as they launch their careers. Students interested in clean energy applications can choose from the Nuclear Systems focus area or the Fusion Plasma focus area. The radiation sciences option provides a pathway for careers in medical applications of radiation.

How to Get in

Admission to the College as a First-Year Student

Students applying to UWMadison need to indicate an engineering major as their first choice in order to be considered for direct admission to the College of Engineering. Direct admission means that students get to start their college career in the engineering program of their choice and have access to engineering-specific resources and facilities. Students who are directly admitted need to meet progression requirements at the end of the first year to guarantee advancement in that program.

Cross-Campus Transfer to Engineering

UWMadison students in other schools and colleges on campus must meet minimum admission requirements for admission consideration to engineering degree programs. Cross-campus admission is competitive and selective, and academic performance expectations may increase as demand trends change. The students overall academic record at UWMadison is also considered. Students apply to their intended engineering program by submitting the online application by stated deadlines for spring and fall.

Off-Campus Transfer to Engineering

With careful planning, students at other accredited institutions can transfer coursework that will apply toward engineering degree requirements at UWMadison. Off-campus transfer applicants are considered for direct admission to the College of Engineering by applying to the Office of Admissions with an engineering major listed as their first choice. Those who are admitted to their intended engineering program must meet progression requirements at the point of transfer or within their first two semesters at UWMadison to guarantee advancement in that program. A minimum of 30 credits in residence in the College of Engineering is required after transferring, and all students must meet all requirements for their engineering major.

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world.

• BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
• BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
• BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
• Communication Part A & Part B
• Ethnic Studies
• Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B

Summary of Requirements

The following curriculum applies to students admitted to the nuclear engineering degree program.

Course List

• Mathematics and Statistics: 22 credits
• Science: 13 credits
• Engineering Science: 27 credits
• Nuclear Engineering Core: 23 credits
• Nuclear Engineering Focus Area: 15 credits
• Technical Electives: 2 credits
• Introduction to Engineering: 3 credits
• Communication Skills: 8 credits
• Liberal Studies: 16 credits Total Credits: 129

Named Option

Talk to your academic advisor about declaring the Radiation Sciences option. Students must have and are expected to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Honors in Undergraduate Research Program

Qualified undergraduates may earn an Honor in Research designation on their transcript and diploma by completing 8 credits of undergraduate honors research, including a senior thesis.

University Degree Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree from UWMadison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements.

Learning Outcomes

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Four-Year Plan

A sample four-year plan is provided to help students plan their course schedule.

Advising and Careers

Every College of Engineering undergraduate has an assigned academic advisor. Academic advisors support and coach students through their transition to college and their academic program all the way through graduation.

Resources and Scholarships

The Department of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics & the College of Engineering have several types of scholarships available to incoming and current engineering students.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Nuclear, Radiological, and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Program Educational Objectives

We recognize that our graduates will choose to use the knowledge and skills that they have acquired during their undergraduate years to pursue a wide variety of career and life goals, and we encourage this diversity of paths. Our educational objectives for the nuclear engineering program are to allow them to:

1. Exhibit strong performance and continuous development in problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, and communication, initially applied to nuclear engineering, and demonstrating an unwavering commitment to excellence.
2. Demonstrate continuing commitment to, and interest in, their training and education, as well as those of others.
3. Transition seamlessly into a professional environment and make continuing, well-informed career choices.
4. Contribute to their communities.