Program Overview

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Overview of the Nuclear Engineering Program

The Nuclear Engineering Program at Virginia Tech offers a comprehensive range of academic and research opportunities. The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the principles of nuclear engineering, as well as the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of interest.

Program Structure

The program is structured to provide students with a broad range of knowledge and skills in nuclear engineering, including:

• Nuclear reactor design and operation
• Nuclear safety and security
• Radiation protection and shielding
• Nuclear fuel cycle and waste management
• Nuclear materials and corrosion

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum requirements for the Nuclear Engineering Program include:

• A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level coursework
• A minimum of 6 credit hours of research coursework
• A thesis or dissertation
• A comprehensive exam

Core Courses

The core courses for the Nuclear Engineering Program include:

• NSEG 5114: Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals
• NSEG 5124: Nuclear Reactor Analysis
• NSEG 5134: Applied Monte Carlo Methods for Particle Transport
• NSEG 5204: Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• NSEG 5214: Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Systems

Elective Courses

The elective courses for the Nuclear Engineering Program include:

• NSEG 5424: Reactor Thermal Hydraulics
• NSEG 5604: Radiation Detection and Shielding
• NSEG 6124: Advanced Nuclear Reactor Analysis
• NSEG 6334: Nuclear Reactor Safety Analysis
• MSE 5384G: Advanced Nuclear Materials

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the Nuclear Engineering Program include:

• A bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., engineering, physics, mathematics)
• A minimum GPA of 3.0
• GRE scores (optional)
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement

Research Areas

The research areas for the Nuclear Engineering Program include:

• Nuclear reactor design and operation
• Nuclear safety and security
• Radiation protection and shielding
• Nuclear fuel cycle and waste management
• Nuclear materials and corrosion

Faculty and Staff

The faculty and staff for the Nuclear Engineering Program include:

• Prof. Haghighat (Program Director)
• Prof. Mark Pierson
• Ms. Allison Jones (Program Coordinator)

Facilities

The facilities for the Nuclear Engineering Program include:

• State-of-the-art research laboratories
• Computer facilities with specialized software
• Library resources with access to journals and databases

History

The Nuclear Engineering Program at Virginia Tech has a long history of excellence in education and research. The program was established in the 1950s and has since grown to become one of the leading programs in the country.

Campus

The Nuclear Engineering Program is located on the Blacksburg campus of Virginia Tech, as well as the Greater Washington, DC, Metro Area Campus.

Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Science, Technology, and Policy

The Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Science, Technology, and Policy is a joint program among the Department of Science and Technology in Society, the School of Public and International Affairs, and the Nuclear Engineering Program. The certificate is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the technical, policy, and social aspects of nuclear science and technology.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Science, Technology, and Policy include:

• A minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework
• A minimum of 2 credit hours of core courses
• A minimum of 6 credit hours of elective courses
• A capstone course

Core Courses

The core courses for the Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Science, Technology, and Policy include:

• STS/SPIA/NSEG 5284: Nuclear Nonproliferation, Safeguards, and Security
• GRAD 5134: Interdisciplinary Research

Elective Courses

The elective courses for the Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Science, Technology, and Policy include:

• NSEG 5114: Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals
• NSEG 5124: Nuclear Reactor Analysis
• NSEG 5134: Applied Monte Carlo Methods for Particle Transport
• NSEG 5204: Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• NSEG 5214: Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Systems
• GIA 5514: Global Security
• GIA 5664: Energy and Environmental Security
• PAPA 5254: Homeland Security and the Terrorist Threat
• PAPA 5354: Homeland Security Response and Recovery
• STS/SPIA 6554: Energy Policy
• STS/SPIA 6564: Risk in Contemporary Culture

List of Courses

The list of courses for the Nuclear Engineering Program and the Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Science, Technology, and Policy includes:

• NSEG 5114: Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals
• NSEG 5124: Nuclear Reactor Analysis
• NSEG 5134: Applied Monte Carlo Methods for Particle Transport
• NSEG 5204: Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• NSEG 5214: Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Systems
• NSEG 5424: Reactor Thermal Hydraulics
• NSEG 5604: Radiation Detection and Shielding
• NSEG 6124: Advanced Nuclear Reactor Analysis
• NSEG 6334: Nuclear Reactor Safety Analysis
• MSE 5384G: Advanced Nuclear Materials
• STS/SPIA/NSEG 5284: Nuclear Nonproliferation, Safeguards, and Security
• GRAD 5134: Interdisciplinary Research
• GIA 5514: Global Security
• GIA 5664: Energy and Environmental Security
• PAPA 5254: Homeland Security and the Terrorist Threat
• PAPA 5354: Homeland Security Response and Recovery
• STS/SPIA 6554: Energy Policy
• STS/SPIA 6564: Risk in Contemporary Culture

Information

The Nuclear Engineering Program and the Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Science, Technology, and Policy are designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the technical, policy, and social aspects of nuclear science and technology. The program is structured to provide students with a broad range of knowledge and skills in nuclear engineering, as well as the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of interest. The curriculum requirements include a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level coursework, a minimum of 6 credit hours of research coursework, a thesis or dissertation, and a comprehensive exam. The program is located on the Blacksburg campus of Virginia Tech, as well as the Greater Washington, DC, Metro Area Campus. The faculty and staff for the program include Prof. Haghighat (Program Director), Prof. Mark Pierson, and Ms. Allison Jones (Program Coordinator). The facilities for the program include state-of-the-art research laboratories, computer facilities with specialized software, and library resources with access to journals and databases. The program has a long history of excellence in education and research, and is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a variety of careers in the field of nuclear engineering.