Nuclear Engineering Major

Nuclear Engineering Major

Nuclear Engineering

Major

Nuclear engineering makes practical use of the energy that is released by the atomic nucleus. Applications extend into the fields of electric power, medicine, nuclear weapons, and nuclear weapons effects.

The nuclear engineering major is interdisciplinary: It draws widely upon mathematics, physics, and mechanics, with special emphasis on applied physics and the thermal-hydraulic aspects of mechanical engineering. It is designed to provide depth of knowledge in the application of nuclear energy to include power production, radiation health physics, nuclear weapons, and weapons effects. The major is taught through multiple departments and includes electives from physics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and nuclear engineering. The nuclear engineering student will gain a broad background for further study in graduate school and Army assignments requiring expertise in mechanical engineering, applied radiation physics, nuclear weapons and weapons effects, or any of a variety of related topics.  

The nuclear engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Nuclear engineering majors have a lab requirement component. 

To learn more about this area of study, visit the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering.

Required Courses

MC300 FUND OF ENGR MECH AND DESIGN 

MC311 THERMAL-FLUID SYSTEMS I 

MC364 MECHANICS OF MATERIALS 

NE300 FUNDAMENTALS OF NUCLEAR ENGR 

NE355 NUCLEAR REACTOR ENGINEERING  

NE361 COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN IN NE 

NE400 NUCLEAR ENGINEERING SEMINAR 

NE450 NUCLEAR WEAPONS EFFECTS 

NE452 INSTRUMENTATION AND SHIELDING 

NE461 ADV COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN IN NE 

NE474 RADIOLOGICAL SAFETY 

PH365 MODERN PHYSICS

 

Sample Electives

CH362 MASS & ENERGY BALANCES 

CH485 HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER  

EE377 ELECTRICAL POWER ENGNRNG 

EM384 ANYL METH FOR ENGR MANAGEMENT 

EM411 PROJECT MANAGEMENT 

EV350 ENVIRONMNTL ENGR TECHNOLOGIES  

MC312 THERMAL-FLUID SYSTEMS II 

MC380 ENGINEERING MATERIALS3 

ME202 COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN 

ME403 MANUFACTURING/MACHINE COMP DSN

ME472 ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS 

MG382 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 

PL394 ANTHROPOMETRICS & BIOMECHANICS 

PL479 LEADING ORGNZS THRU CHANGE

XE442 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ENGINEERING

 

This major offers an honors track. 

 

To learn more, view the full Nuclear Engineering Major Curriculum.

Cadets who major in nuclear engineering have the opportunity to work with the West Point Nuclear Science and Engineering Research Center; to apply for a summer Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD) program, USMA-run academic enrichment experience; to join the Nuclear Engineering Club; and to apply for membership in the American Nuclear Society’s Alpha Nu Sigma National Honor Society. 

Other Honor Societies:
Golden Key - International Honour Society
Phi Kappa Phi - Oldest and Largest Collegiate Honor Society

To learn more about enrichment for this area of study, visit the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering or the Photonics Research Center.