Dec 11, 2024  
Rensselaer Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Rensselaer Catalog 2024-2025

Nuclear Engineering Curriculum (B.S)


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Freshmen or sophomores who have identified nuclear engineering as their major may follow the baccalaureate program below in lieu of the general core program.  Dual major programs which lead to a single baccalaureate degree embracing two fields are also available and are described in more detail in the MANE Handbook (emailed to you when you declare a major in MANE, available from the MANE Student Services office, JEC 2012, and https://mane.rpi.edu/undergraduate).

First Year


Fall (17 credits)


Spring (17 credits)



 

Second Year


Third Year


Please note: The third year of the program varies depending upon which semester the student chooses to take away following The Arch Summer Semester classes. Please note the following differences in curriculum:

  • If students are going to be away during the Fall semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Fall Away Track for year three of their program.
     
  • If students are going to be away during the Spring semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Spring Away Track for year three of their program.

The Arch Summer Semester* (15 credits)


*For more information on the ARCH process, please click here: The Arch 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Fall Only (17 credits)


*If following the B.S. in Nuclear Engineering curriculum, students must select the Fall term as their “on-campus” semester.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Fall or Spring


Fourth Year


Fall (17 credits)


Spring (15 credits)


  • Credit Hours: 2   11
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 3  14
  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4  3
  • MANE 4…. Nuclear Engineering Laboratory II Credit Hours: 3  12
  • MANE 4…. NE Technical Elective II Credit Hours: 3  1, 13

Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Electives


The HASS Core for students (described under “Schools/School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences”, elsewhere in this catalog) is based on Institute and School of Engineering requirements.  Be certain that you understand these graduation requirements.

Beyond meeting these requirements, MANE students are encouraged (but not required) to:

  • Choose at least one HASS course that further develops their ability to make informed judgements that consider the impacts of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and/or societal contexts; and
  • take HASS courses that will improve their communication skills beyond the one required HASS Communication Intensive course.

Students desiring minors in Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences must consult the school or department in which the courses are offered to obtain further information and specific requirements.

Footnotes


1. These required courses may be taken in any order in the academic year shown (or in a previous year) given the pre-requisites are met.

2. Choice of ENGR 1200 , ENGR 1400 , or CIVL 1200 .

3. The HASS Core for engineering majors includes 20 credits of electives with distribution requirements (“HASS”) plus 4 credits of Professional Development (“PD”) courses discussed further in the following three notes (4, 5, and 6).  It is recommended to schedule one HASS elective in each of the first two semesters and one in the Arch Summer.
•Students are required to schedule a HASS Inquiry course during their first year; for a listing of HASS Inquiry courses go to HASS Inquiry Course (INQR) | The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (rpi.edu)
•Students should complete a HASS Communication Intensive course during their first three semesters; refer to the link “Communication Intensive (CI) Requirement” on the Registrar’s  ”Academic Planning” web page at Academic Planning | RPI INFO
•Students are recommended to complete their Pathway by the end of their fifth semester; for a listing of HASS Pathways go to HASS Integrative Pathway | The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (rpi.edu)
The HASS Core for engineering students (described under link “Core Curriculum/The HASS Core” in the catalog, http://catalog.rpi.edu/) is based on Institute and School of Engineering requirements.  Students must be certain that they understand these graduation requirements. 

Beyond meeting these requirements, MANE students are encouraged (but not required) to:     

​choose at least one HASS course that further develops their ability to make informed judgements that consider the impacts of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and/or societal contexts; and                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

​take HASS courses that will improve their communication skills beyond the one required HASS communication-intensive course.  Some PD courses may be embedded in other courses as described in the following three notes.  None of these three PD courses has a prerequisite and they may be taken in any order.                                                           

4. Engineering Design Elective is a choice of ENGR 2050  or MANE 2220 ; both have ENGR 1010  (“PD1”)embedded in them.

5. STSO 4100  (“PD2”) is recommended.  For a list of alternate courses that satisfy the PD2 requirement refer to the link “Professional Development 2 courses” on the Registrar’s “Academic Planning” web page (https://info.rpi.edu/registrar/academic-planning).  Note that certain ROTC courses waive the requirement to specifically take a PD2 course, but do not satisfy the 24 credits of the HASS Core.  Students using ROTC course credits to satisfy PD2 must still take two (or more) credits of HASS to satisfy the HASS Core.

6. ENGR 4010  (“PD3”) is a required course that may be taken any semester.

7. These courses may be taken in the Arch Summer (if offered that summer and it fits your summer schedule).

8. ADMN 1030  is a zero-credit course you should be auto-registrered for in a second-year spring or summer term (or possibly first year if you intend to graduate in less than eight semesters); satisfactory completion is a graduation requirement.  Another graduation requirement is satisfactory completion of an ILEA-4400 Arch Away experience, usually in fall or spring third year.

9. Any 1 credit engineering exploration elective (e.g., “Introduction to [major]” or ENGR 1300  or ENGR 1700 ) may be substituted.

10. Choose from ENGR 1600  (fall, spring, and usually summer) or MANE 4460  (spring only).  Students may take both courses, in which case MANE 4460  can count as an NE Technical Elective.  Some students choosing MANE 4460  may prefer to delay until Fourth Year spring by substituting courses such as Heat Transfer, a HASS Core Elective, or a Free Elective in the second year.

11. NE Senior Design Project I & II are a required fall-spring sequence of Capstone Design courses.

12. Choose from MANE 4430  or MANE 4440  (if available)

13. NE Technical Electives
NE Technical Electives are MANE 4000-level or higher courses related to Nuclear Engineering that are taken for 3 credits or more.
•The NE Technical Electives allow you to focus on your technical interest or area of specialization within the Nuclear Engineering field.
•If you have questions regarding whether a specific course satisfies your NE Technical Elective requirements, please consult with your academic adviser.
•An independent study course, such as a design project or an undergraduate research project with a Nuclear Engineering instructor, may be used to satisfy one of the NE Technical Electives.
•NE Technical Electives may not be taken on a Pass/No Credit basis.

14. Free Elective credits may be scheduled anytime.  Watch for special topics courses, particularly in the Arch Summer.  To accommodate moving free electives (and/or HASS courses) earlier, you might move a junior year major-defining course to senior year.  Choose carefully, as some senior year NE Technical Electives and NE Senior Design project team positions have major-defining courses as prerequisites.  Taking specific courses as free electives may earn MANE certificates; in the catalog (http://catalog.rpi.edu/) from links “Departments/Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering| Go to information for this department”, see under “Focus Areas” and below.

 

Dual Major Programs


 A Dual major in Nuclear Engineering and Mechanical Engineering is available to students who follow a prescribed program that can be completed in eight semesters. General requirements and procedures for dual degrees are described in more detail in the  MANE Handbook (emailed to you when you declare a major in MANE, available from the MANE Students Services office, JEC 2012, and https://mane.rpi.edu/undergraduate).

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