Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering + Data Science, BS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering + Data Science
This major is sponsored by the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering within the Grainger College of Engineering, in collaboration with the Siebel School of Computer and Data Science, the iSchool, and the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics.
Nuclear, plasma, and radiological engineering encompasses a broad and diverse but complementary set of engineering disciplines with a wide variety of applications – in energy production, plasma processing of materials, fusion technology development, biomedical research and healthcare, and nuclear safeguards and radiation detection.
A digital transformation is impacting all fields of science and engineering. The areas of study and research in nuclear, plasma, and radiological engineering increasingly involve modeling, simulation, numerical analysis, and computational methods. The subsequent massive quantity of data produced creates a demand for students with a mastery of data collection, management, analysis, machine learning, and other data science topics. The Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering + Data Science major is designed for students wanting a specialized foundation in the NPRE disciplines supplemented with a strong background in data science.
The first two years of the NPRE + DS curriculum provides a strong foundation in general areas of science and engineering and data science as well as in nuclear energy systems. Most of the core technical NPRE and more advanced data methods coursework takes place in the third and fourth years. Students demonstrate proficiency in the engineering design process in a design capstone course which involves data science. The program prepares graduates for positions in industry, research laboratories, federal and regulatory agencies, as well as for further graduate study. The supplemental distinction of a data science background increases graduates’ competitiveness and widens their opportunities as they enter a data-driven economy.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering + Data Science
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 128 hours.
Minimum Overall GPA: 2.0
Minimum Technical GPA: 2.0
TGPA is required for NPRE 200 and NPRE 247. See Technical GPA to clarify requirements.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering Orientation and Professional Development
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 100 | Grainger Engineering Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| NPRE 100 | Orientation to NPRE | 1 |
| Total Hours | 2 | |
Introductory Economics Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 102 | Microeconomic Principles | 3 |
| or ECON 103 | Macroeconomic Principles | |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering Mathematics and Science Foundations
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| MATH 241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 285 | Intro Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 211 | University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | University Physics: Elec & Mag | 4 |
| Total Hours | 22 | |
Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ME 200 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| ME 310 | Fundamentals of Fluid Dynamics | 4 |
| or TAM 335 | Introductory Fluid Mechanics | |
| NPRE 200 | Mathematics for Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering | 2 |
| NPRE 247 | Modeling Nuclear Energy System | 3 |
| NPRE 321 | Introduction to Plasmas and Applications | 3 |
| NPRE 330 | Materials in Nuclear Engineering | 3 |
| NPRE 349 | Introduction to NPRE Heat Transfer | 2 |
| NPRE 441 | Radiation Protection | 4 |
| NPRE 445 | Interaction of Radiation with Matter | 4 |
| NPRE 449 | Nuclear Systems Engineering and Design | 3 |
| NPRE 451 | NPRE Laboratory | 3 |
| NPRE 455 | Neutron Diffusion & Transport | 4 |
| TAM 210 | Introduction to Statics | 2 |
| TAM 212 | Introductory Dynamics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 46 | |
Data Science Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Foundations | 7 | |
| MATH 221 | Calculus I (MATH 220 may be substituted. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus. 4 of 5 credit hours count towards degree.) | 4 |
| MATH 227 | Linear Algebra for Data Science | 3 |
| or MATH 257 | Linear Algebra with Computational Applications | |
| Data Science Fundamentals | 12 | |
| STAT/CS/IS 107 | Data Science Discovery | 4 |
| STAT 207 | Data Science Exploration | 4 |
| CS 307 | Modeling and Learning in Data Science | 4 |
| Computational Fundamentals | 4 | |
| CS 277 | Algorithms and Data Structures for Data Science | 4 |
| Social Impact in Data Science | 6 | |
| IS 467 | Ethics and Policy for Data Science | 3 |
| IS 477 | Data Management, Curation & Reproducibility | 3 |
| Research or Discovery Experience | 4 | |
| NPRE 458 | Design in NPRE | 4 |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Free Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional course work, subject to the Grainger College of Engineering restrictions to Free Electives, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree. | 12 | |
| Total Hours of Curriculum to Graduate | 128 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering + Data Science
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements. One of the SBS courses must be an introductory economics course (ECON 102 or ECON 103). NPRE 481 will satisfy the Campus General Education Advanced Composition requirement. If NPRE 481 is not selected, a separate Advanced Composition course must be taken.
Free Electives: Additional course work, subject to the Grainger College of Engineering restrictions to Free Electives, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| NPRE 100 | 1 | MATH 231 | 3 |
| MATH 221 (MATH 220 may be substituted) | 4 | PHYS 211 | 4 |
| ENG 100 | 1 | Composition I or Language other than English (3rd level) course | 4 |
| Composition I or Language other than English (3rd level) course | 4 | STAT 107 | 4 |
| CHEM 102 | 3 | ||
| CHEM 103 | 1 | ||
| ECON 102 or 103 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| NPRE 200 | 2 | NPRE 247 | 3 |
| MATH 241 | 4 | MATH 285 | 3 |
| PHYS 212 | 4 | ME 200 | 3 |
| TAM 210 | 2 | TAM 212 | 3 |
| STAT 207 | 4 | MATH 227 or 257 | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| NPRE 330 | 3 | NPRE 349 | 2 |
| NPRE 445 | 4 | NPRE 451 | 3 |
| TAM 335 (ME 310 may be substituted) | 4 | NPRE 455 | 4 |
| CS 277 | 4 | CS 307 | 4 |
| Free Elective Course | 2 | General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course with Cultural Studies designation) | 3 |
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| NPRE 321 | 3 | NPRE 441 | 4 |
| NPRE 449 | 3 | NPRE 458 | 4 |
| IS 467 | 3 | IS 477 | 3 |
| General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course with Cultural Studies designation) | 3 | General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course with Cultural Studies designation) | 3 |
| General Education course (Advanced Composition) | 3 | Free Elective Course | 3 |
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Total Hours 128 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering + Data Science
Student learning outcomes are based on learning outcomes in line with the ABET accreditation process for Nuclear Engineering.
Nuclear, Plasma, & Radiological Engineering + Data Science graduates will have:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Further, the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering has undergraduate curriculum program education objectives (PEOs) that prepare our graduates to succeed in early career (two to five years post-graduation) professional activities in paths related to the NPRE discipline. Student learning outcomes represent process-orientated activities that either directly or in combination prepare students to satisfy all program educational objectives upon completion of the BS NPRE + Data Science degree program. These PEOs are:
- To succeed as engineers in the 21st Century in a globally-connected technological environment in which best practices are shared internationally free of borders.
- To advance in career paths associated with the NPRE disciplines, including commercial nuclear power, plasma sciences and technology, and radiological sciences related opportunities.
- To pursue further academic growth, obtaining advanced degrees in disciplines related, but not limited, to the disciplines associated with NPRE technical areas.
- To provide leadership to professional and societal communities in a general way and in ways specific to the NPRE disciplines.
- To engage in life-long learning and professional development, staying abreast of the ever-evolving technological landscape related to the NPRE disciplines.
- To contribute to society in a professional, responsible and ethical manner.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering + Data Science
Nuclear, Plasma, & Radiological Website
Nuclear, Plasma, & Radiological Engineering Faculty
The Grainger College of Engineering Admissions
The Grainger College of Engineering