Program Overview

Nuclear Engineering Program

The Master of Nuclear Engineering (MNE) is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in an engineering discipline or the applied sciences who wish to pursue a graduate degree in nuclear engineering. The strengths of the NC State program include its first-in-the-nation university nuclear reactor program and research opportunities in fission, fusion, materials in extreme environments, industrial plasma processes, radiation physics and applications.

Program Details

• Delivery Format: Online
• Entrance Exam: Not Required
• College: College of Engineering
• Degree Type: Master's Degrees
• Credit Hours: 30-credit-hour degree program
• Thesis Requirement: No thesis, final oral exam, or on-campus residency required
• GRE Scores: Not required for admission

Eligibility

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in an engineering discipline
• An overall grade point average of 3.0
• Three letters of recommendation from persons able to comment on the applicant’s qualification for graduate study
• International applicants must take the TOEFL or IELTS examination unless they have completed one year of study at a university in the United States

Plan of Study

• Completion of 30 credit hours with an overall GPA of 3.0
• Coursework must include 15-18 graduate credit hours in nuclear engineering
• A minimum of nine credit hours are required outside of nuclear engineering to develop interdisciplinary breadth
• Completion of a 3 credit hour nuclear engineering project usually taken during the final semester
• At least one nuclear engineering course must be at the 7XX level
• Students without an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering are required to enroll in NE 520, Radiation and Reactor Fundamentals

Career Prospects

Nuclear engineers work with powerful elements that are an excellent source of energy but are extremely dangerous if not properly controlled and discarded. While some engineers with a bachelor’s degree are able to get an entry-level position as a nuclear engineer, many of the positions in this industry require a master’s degree. The Master of Nuclear Engineering covers topics such as reactor engineering, radiation safety, nuclear materials basics, plasma science, and radiation and reactor fundamentals. Graduates are well-equipped for nuclear engineering jobs.

Accreditation

North Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees.