What Can You Do with a Nuclear Engineering Degree?

Our graduates are prepared to immediately embark on careers in the nuclear energy sector around the world as well as emerging nuclear technologies here in Wisconsin. Our curriculum also prepares students for success in graduate study in fission, fusion, medical physics, and other areas of engineering science.

Clean Energy and Cancer CuresNuclear engineers apply nuclear science and technology to develop the world’s largest clean energy systems, support national security, power the exploration of our solar system, and diagnose and cure diseases.

Reactor Operations

Set yourself apart! Visit www.engr.wisc.edu/ep today and discover more about this program!

B.S. in Nuclear Engineering

What Can You Do with an NE Degree?

The curriculum gives students excellent preparation for graduate study in the fission and fusion areas, medical and health physics, applied superconductivity, particle accelerator technology, and other areas of engineering science. The curriculum also prepares the graduate for work in many areas where a broad technical background is more important than specialization in a specific field. Thus, the NE graduate is also prepared to work in any area where a broad engineering background is helpful, such as management, technical sales, or law.

Our 1 MW nuclear reactor is used for course work, training and various research projects.

Students interested in reactor operations can become licensed operators of the 1 MW TRIGA reactor. Completion of NE 234, Reactor Operations, and training within the program can lead to a reactor operating license and employment in the reactor laboratory. All students in the Power track will take a laboratory course that uses this rare academic resource. Hand-on experience with a nuclear reactor enhances employment opportunities for all of our graduates.

Nuclear engineers apply nuclear science and technology to develop the world’s largest clean energy systems, support national security, power the exploration of our solar system, and to diagnose and cure diseases. While most nuclear engineers contribute to clean energy by operating the existing fleet of nuWhile most nuclear engineers contribute to clean energy by operating the existing fleet of nuclear power plants and designing the next generation of reactors, a growing

ing is defined as the application of nuclear and radiation processes in

technology. Nuclear engineers help meet the energy needs of our society,

support national security, and to contribute to the improvement of health

through medical applications. An important application is the generation of

electricity using nuclear reactors. Another important application is in

medicine, where radiation and radioisotopes are used to diagnose and treat

illness. Because the nuclear engineering curriculum integrates nuclear and

radiation physics with other engineering disciplines, graduates are prepared

to work in a number of technical activities outside the nuclear engineering

field.

Nuclear energy, both from fission and fusion, offers a promising approach to

meeting the world’s energy needs--an approach that may preserve jobs,

raise the standard of living of Americans, lift millions of people out of

energy poverty, and alleviate the depletion of natural resources including

natural gas, petroleum, and coal. Even more important, nuclear energy is an

important component of a clean energy future, scale because it releases no

harmful SO2, NOX, CO2, or particulate matter into the atmosphere.

Nuclear energy has played, and continues to play, an important role in space

exploration. Nuclear engineering has enabled the use of isotopic power

supplies in deep space probes like the Cassini mission and the Mars

Curiosity rover, and may eventually be used to design fission or

fusion-based systems for more demanding missions.

clear power plants and designing the next generation of reactors, a growing

ing is defined as the application of nuclear and radiation processes in technology. Nuclear engineers help meet the energy needs of our society, support national security, and to contribute to the improvement of health through medical applications. An important application is the generation of electricity using nuclear reactors. Another important application is in medicine, where radiation and radioisotopes are used to diagnose and treat illness. Because the nuclear engineering curriculum integrates nuclear and radiation physics with other engineering disciplines, graduates are prepared to work in a number of technical activities outside the nuclear engineering field.

Nuclear energy, both from fission and fusion, offers a promising approach to meeting the world’s energy needs--an approach that may preserve jobs, raise the standard of living of Americans, lift millions of people out of energy poverty, and alleviate the depletion of natural resources including natural gas, petroleum, and coal. Even more important, nuclear energy is an important component of a clean energy future, scale because it releases no harmful SO2, NOX, CO2, or particulate matter into the atmosphere. Nuclear energy has played, and continues to play, an important role in space exploration. Nuclear engineering has enabled the use of isotopic power supplies in deep space probes like the Cassini mission and the Mars Curiosity rover, and may eventually be used to design fission or fusion-based systems for more demanding missions.

Since the discovery of fission, electricity is being produced commercially in a several hundred billion dollar industry. Applications of radioactive tracers have been made in medicine, science, and industry. Radiation from particle accelerators and materials made radioactive in nuclear reactors are used worldwide to treat cancer and other diseases, to provide power for satellite instrumentation, to preserve food, to sterilize medical supplies, to search for faults in welds and piping, and to polymerize chemicals. Low energy plasmas are used in the manufacture of microelectronics components and to improve the surface characteristics of materials. High energy plasmas offer the possibility of a new energy source using thermonuclear fusion.`

Nuclear energy provides

55%

of the nation’s clean energy

The Mars Curiosity rover was powered

for more than

2700 days by a nuclear

battery

Radioactive Mo-99 is important for the

medical treatment of

50,000

patients each day in the US

A Small Sample of Employers

#4 Nuclear Engineering Program

(U.S. News)

#4 median starting salary

$73,175of all college majors

(U.S. News)

Nuclear Engineering TracksDuring the first 2-3 years students take similar foundational courses in a broad range of disciplines including physics, chemistry, mathematics, computing methods, and the engineering sciences. During the second half of the program, students will begin to take specialized courses in their tracks.

Radiation Sciences Track

Set yourself apart! Visit www.engr.wisc.edu/ep today and discover more about this program!

B.S. in Nuclear Engineering

Research OpportunitiesStudents have the opportunity to earn academic credit or compensation for working on research. Participating in research can help students explore Nuclear Engineering and allows those considering graduate school to compare areas of research. Up to 3 cr of NE 699 can be used as engineering electives.

Power Track

Internship & Co-op OpportunitiesA co-op or internship is an excellent way to gain engineering experience while working in a company, either for a summer or a semester. Many students have found these programs extremely valuable in enhancing their education and are frequently in a favored position to gain employment with the company after graduation.

Student Organization/LeadershipAmerican Nuclear Society (ANS): http://www.atomicbadger.org

ANS Students attend a national meeting to discuss their research and network with industry representatives.