Nuclear Engineering

major

Nuclear Engineering includes the design, development, and operation of nuclear power systems; numeric simulation of nuclear systems; health physics and radiation protection; radiation imaging; radiation measurements; national security and non-proliferation; nondestructive examination of materials and structures using radiation techniques; use of radiation in medicine for treatment and diagnostics; and using radiation in food processing, industrial processing, and manufacturing control.

About this Program

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Department Information

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering strives to serve the scientific and engineering community of the state and nation by providing quality education in the field, conducting basic and applied research to enhance science in the field, and supplying short courses, technology transfer, industrial consulting, and distance learning to promote engineering in the field.
Website

CONTACT

Email | 352.846.3300 (tel) | 352.392.7219 (fax)

P.O. Box 116400
549 Gale Lemerand Drive
RHINES HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-6400
Map

 Curriculum

A full complement of experimental facilities is available, including a 100 KW research and training reactor, a neutron activation analysis laboratory and a D-D neutron source for radiation studies. The department also has specialized nuclear instrumentation in the radiation detection laboratories located in the Nuclear Science Building and the Nuclear Field Building.

Students should concentrate electives in one discipline to achieve solid familiarity in a minor field of study. These electives, chosen with an advisor, allow option area specialization in reactor engineering, reactor operations, radioisotopes and nuclear radiation technology, and radiation and biological systems.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

It is the department’s policy to admit the best-qualified transfer applicants as demonstrated by academic achievement.

Successful applicants must have earned:

  • An overall 2.5 grade point average, based on the first two attempts, in the eight preprofessional (critical-tracking) courses

A minimum grade of C in the following:

MAC 2311Analytic Geometry and Calculus 14
MAC 2312Analytic Geometry and Calculus 24
MAC 2313Analytic Geometry and Calculus 34
MAP 2302Elementary Differential Equations3
CHM 2045/2095General Chemistry 13
CHM 2045LGeneral Chemistry 1 Laboratory1
CHM 2046/2096General Chemistry 23
CHM 2046LGeneral Chemistry 2 Laboratory1
PHY 2048
2048L
Physics with Calculus 1
and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 1
4
PHY 2049
2049L
Physics with Calculus 2
and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 2
4
  • Only the first two attempts in each course, including withdrawals, will be considered for admission to or retention in the department
  • A cumulative minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for all courses

Department Requirements

Minimum grades of C are required in the following:

ENC 3246Professional Communication for Engineers3
ENU 4001Nuclear Engineering Analysis 14
ENU 4191Elements of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Design1
ENU 4192Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Design3
ENU 4XXXNuclear Engineering Analysis 24
ENU 4605Radiation Interactions and Sources 14
  • The department encourages students to accept internships and opportunities to study abroad. It is highly recommended that students seek academic advising for appropriate registration planning.
  • All nuclear engineering and nuclear radiological sciences majors must pass all required undergraduate department courses with an overall C average.
  • All technical electives must be approved by a department advisor. At least nine credits of technical electives must be ENU courses. No more than three credits (combined) may come from ENU 4949 and ENU 4905.

Educational Objectives

The Department of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering has established the following educational objectives for its undergraduate program.

Graduates will:

  • Have successful careers in nuclear engineering or related disciplines
  • Pursue continuing education or advanced degrees

Mission

The department will provide quality education and conduct nationally recognized research in nuclear and radiological engineering to serve the needs of Florida and the nation.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

Semester 2

  • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course with a minimum grade of C within two attempts
  • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

  • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C within two attempts
  • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

  • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C within two attempts
  • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

  • Complete all 8 critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C in each course within two attempts
  • Complete ENU 4001 with a minimum grade of C
  • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 6

Semester 7

  • Complete 2 additional 4000 level ENU courses

Semester 8

  • Complete all remaining 4000 level ENU required courses

Students are expected to complete the General Education International (GE-N) and Diversity (GE-D) requirements. This is often done concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities); Writing Requirement: 2,000 words; with International or Diversity 3
Select one: 3
General Chemistry 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences)
Chemistry for Engineers 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences)
CHM 2045L General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (Gen Ed Physical Sciences) 1
ENU 1000 Introduction to Nuclear Engineering 1
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) 4
State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement: 6,000 words 1 3
 Credits15
Semester Two
Quest 2 (Gen Ed Social/Behavioral Science); Writing Requirement 2,000 words; with International or Diversity 3
CHM 2046
General Chemistry 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences)
or Chemistry for Engineers 2
3
ENC 3246 Professional Communication for Engineers (Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement: 6,000 words) 3
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) 4
PHY 2048 Physics with Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences) 3
PHY 2048L Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 1 (Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences) 1
 Credits17
Semester Three
EGM 2511 Engineering Mechanics: Statics 3
ENU 2002 Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering 2
MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) 4
PHY 2049
2049L
Physics with Calculus 2
and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences)
4
State Core Gen Ed Humanities; Writing Requirement: 4,000 words or more 3
 Credits16
Semester Four
EGM 3520 Mechanics of Materials 3
ENU 4001 Nuclear Engineering Analysis 1 (Critical Tracking) 4
MAP 2302 Elementary Differential Equations (Critical Tracking) 3
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Technical elective 3
 Credits16
Semester Five
EEL 3003 Elements of Electrical Engineering 3
EGS 4034 Engineering Ethics and Professionalism 1
ENU 3132 Reactor Thermal Engineering 1 4
ENU 4003 Nuclear Engineering Analysis 2 4
ENU 4605 Radiation Interactions and Sources 1 4
 Credits16
Semester Six
ENU 4103 Reactor Analysis and Computation 1: Statics 4
ENU 4133 Reactor Thermal Engineering 2 4
ENU 4800 Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Materials 3
Technical electives 6
 Credits17
Semester Seven
ENU 4134 Reactor Thermal Hydraulics 4
ENU 4191 Elements of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Design 1
ENU 4612 Nuclear Radiation Detection and Instrumentation 3
ENU 4612L Nuclear Radiation Detection and Instrumentation Laboratory 1
ENU 4630 Fundamental Aspects of Radiation Shielding 3
ENU 4104 Reactor Analysis and Computation 2 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
ENU 4180 Introduction to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle 3
ENU 4145 Risk Assessment for Radiation Systems 3
ENU 4192 Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Design 3
ENU 4505L Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Laboratory 1 3
Technical elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits127
1

ACT/SAT Placement scores do not exempt this requirement. 


Technical Electives

The choice of engineering science and technical electives allows emphasis in nuclear power engineering, nuclear instrumentation, criticality safety safeguards, radiation imaging, plasmas/fusion, advanced nuclear reactor concepts and non-proliferation.

 Of the 12 credits of technical electives required, 9 credits must be ENU courses 3000-level or above. A maximum of three credits, combined, may come from ENU 4905 or ENU 4949. The final 3 credits may be any engineering (including ENU), mathematics or science course 3000-level or above.


The major in Nuclear Engineering educates students to work professionally in areas related to the control and safe utilization of nuclear energy, radiation, and radioactivity.

The Nuclear Engineering BS Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Nuclear and Radiological Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Before Graduating Students Must

  • Pass an assessment by two or more faculty and/or industry practitioners of performance on a major design experience.
  • Pass assessment in two or more courses of individual assignments targeted to each learning outcome. Assessment will be provided by the instructor of the course according to department standards.
  • Complete an exit interview in your final semester.
  • Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

  1. Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering for problem solving in engineering.
  2. Design and conduct experiments and analyze and interpret experimental data.

Critical Thinking

  1. Develop an engineering design to meet specific technical requirements within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, health and safety, and reliability.
  2. Foster the need for lifelong learning and the ability to adapt this to engineering practice.

Communication

  1. Function effectively on multidisciplinary skills teams.
  2. Communicate effectively, using both oral and written presentations, in engineering practice.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Courses SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3 SLO 4 SLO 5 SLO 6
ENU 4001 I
ENU 4103 R I I
ENU 4133
ENU 4134 R R R
ENU 4192 A A A A A
ENU 4505L A R R
ENU 4612C I I I

Assessment Types

  • Instructor's outcome scorecards
  • Senior exit survey