Program Overview

Nuclear Science and Engineering (Course 22)

The Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering. This program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in the principles and applications of nuclear science and engineering.

General Institute Requirements (GIRs)

The General Institute Requirements include a Communication Requirement that is integrated into both the HASS Requirement and the requirements of each major. The GIRs for the Nuclear Science and Engineering program are as follows:

• Science Requirement: 6 subjects
• Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Requirement: 8 subjects, with at least two designated as communication-intensive (CI-H) to fulfill the Communication Requirement
• Restricted Electives in Science and Technology (REST) Requirement: 2 subjects, which can be satisfied from among a list of approved subjects
• Laboratory Requirement: 1 subject, which can be satisfied by 22.09 in the Departmental Program
• Total GIR Subjects Required for SB Degree: 17
• Physical Education Requirement: swimming requirement, plus four physical education courses for eight points

Departmental Program

The Departmental Program in Nuclear Science and Engineering requires students to choose at least two subjects in the major that are designated as communication-intensive (CI-M) to fulfill the Communication Requirement. The program consists of the following components:

• Basic Requirements:
  • 2.005: Thermal-Fluids Engineering I (12 units)
  • 18.03: Differential Equations 1 (12 units)
  • 22.01: Introduction to Nuclear Engineering and Ionizing Radiation (12 units)
  • Computation Elective: select one of the following subjects (12 units)
    • 1.000: Introduction to Computer Programming and Numerical Methods for Engineering Applications
    • 2.086: Numerical Computation for Mechanical Engineers
    • 6.100A & 6.100B: Introduction to Computer Science Programming in Python and Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science
    • 6.100A & CSE.C20[J]: Introduction to Computer Science Programming in Python and Introduction to Computational Science and Engineering
    • 12.010: Computational Methods of Scientific Programming
    • 22.C25[J]: Real World Computation with Julia
• Required Core Subjects:
  • 22.02: Introduction to Applied Nuclear Physics (12 units)
  • 22.033: Nuclear Systems Design Project (15 units)
  • 22.04[J]: Social Problems of Nuclear Energy (CI-M) (12 units)
  • 22.05: Neutron Physics and Radiation Transport (12 units)
  • 22.06: Engineering of Nuclear Systems (12 units)
  • 22.061: Fusion Energy (12 units)
  • 22.09: Principles of Nuclear Radiation Measurement and Protection (CI-M) (15 units)
• Required Thesis:
  • 22.THT: Undergraduate Thesis Tutorial (3 units)
  • 22.THU: Undergraduate Thesis (CI-M) (9 units)
• Mathematics Elective: select one of the following subjects (12 units)
  • 6.3700: Introduction to Probability
  • 18.04: Complex Variables with Applications
  • 18.05: Introduction to Probability and Statistics
  • 18.06: Linear Algebra
  • 18.C06[J]: Linear Algebra and Optimization
  • 18.075: Methods for Scientists and Engineers
  • 18.600: Probability and Random Variables
• Materials Science and Physics Elective: select one of the following subjects (12 units)
  • 1.050: Solid Mechanics
  • 2.001: Mechanics and Materials I
  • 3.010: Structure of Materials
  • 3.013: Mechanics of Materials
  • 8.03: Physics III
• Restricted Elective in NSE: select one of the following subjects (12 units)
  • 22.071: Analog Electronics and Analog Instrumentation Design
  • 22.022: Quantum Technology and Devices
  • 22.039: Integration of Reactor Design, Operations, and Safety
  • 22.051: Systems Analysis of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
  • 22.055: Radiation Biophysics
  • 22.072: Corrosion: The Environmental Degradation of Materials
  • 22.074: Radiation Damage and Effects in Nuclear Materials
  • 22.078[J]: Nuclear Energy and the Environment: Waste, Effluents, and Accidents
  • 22.081[J]: Introduction to Sustainable Energy
  • 22.03[J]: Introduction to Design Thinking and Rapid Prototyping (when paired with another 6-unit subject in NSE)
  • 22.C01 & 6.C01: Modeling with Machine Learning: Nuclear Science and Engineering Applications and Modeling with Machine Learning: from Algorithms to Applications
  • 2.006: Thermal-Fluids Engineering II
  • 3.14: Modern Physical Metallurgy

The total units required for the Nuclear Science and Engineering program are 186 units in the major, with 48 units of unrestricted electives. The units for any subject that counts as one of the 17 GIR subjects cannot also be counted as units required beyond the GIRs. Consult the NSE Academic Office, Room 24-102, regarding substitutions. Note that unit totals shown are the minimum requirements.