Tony Said:

Nuclear engineering...?

We Answered:

There are so few nuclear engineering graduates because for almost 20 years, there was no interest in nuclear engineering in the U.S. After the Three Mile Island incident in 1979 and the Chernobyl accident in 1986, the environmental activists convinced everybody that nuclear power was a bad idea. They were so effective at this convincing effort that the plants that were being built at the time were delayed by specious arguments about made up risks. These delays cost the companies hundreds of millions of dollars. As a result, nuclear power in the U.S. is still considered too risky for any banks to finance it without the federal government co-signing the loan.

The side effect of this effort was that fewer young people were interested in entering the nuclear field. As a result, applications and tuition to colleges that offer nuclear engineering decreased until many departments (like at University of Cincinnati and Ohio State) were phased out. (OSU still maintains a graduate program in Nuclear.) It also may have to do with the fact that colleges tend to be politically liberal and liberals are usually anti-nuclear.

However, the demand for nuclear engineers is huge according to the American Nuclear Society and the Nuclear Energy Institute. Roughly 2 to 3 times as many engineers are needed each year, compared to the rates of graduation. In the last 10 years, this has started to turn around with schools like Texas A&M graduating 50 to 60 engineers each year.

A nuclear engineering career is not dangerous. Nuclear facilities are incredibly safe places to work at. In fact, there is no safer place to work, in my opinion.

Nuclear engineering pays very well with entry level jobs as much as $70K per year with experienced engineers making well over $100K.

Now, I will say that the nuclear engineering curriculum is not easy. Six terms of calculus, multiple physics courses, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, radiations shielding, reactor physics and design, etc. ... it definitely draws a certain level of geek.

Jordan Said:

Careers in the fields of Nuclear Engineering or N. Physics?

We Answered:

The main difference between nuclear engineering and nuclear physics is that engineering focuses on the practical applications of the nuclear physics while the nuclear physics tends to stay more in the theoretical area. That is not to say that a nuclear physicist and a nuclear engineer cannot perform the same jobs, it is just a reflection of their academic curriculum.

For example, a nuclear engineer will learn specifically about nuclear reactors, how they are designed, and the physics principles that support their operation. A nuclear physicist will learn about neutron transport theory and how neutrons interact with matter, but probably won't get into the detailed operation of a nuclear reactor.

Continuing in this theme, nuclear engineers take courses in materials, thermodynamics, radiation detection and shielding, reactor design, reactor operation, etc. Nuclear physicists don't necessarily take all these courses.

With either major, I think you have the opportunity to make a lot of money. Right out of school, I would guess that the engineer would make about $10K to $20K more per year than the physicist, but that is shear speculation based on my opinion that a physicist will be working as a lab person doing grunt work while an engineer will be out in the field solving problems and being creative.

Careers in the nuclear field range from health physics, to environmental remediation, to astro-physics, to deep space exploration, to archeology, to lab technician, to criticality safety specialist, to senior reactor operator, to weapons designer, to nuclear medicine specialist, to commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In either case, it is the personality and drive that you bring to a job that dictates where you go and how much you get paid. I know nuclear engineers who have become TV repair guys, stay-at-home dads, and caterers. (I kid you not!) These are obviously guys who couldn't cut it in a real job that demands real results.

Decide what you want to do, then chart the best path for getting there based on where you are and what your resources are. I wanted to make a ton of money so I became a nuclear engineer, so I went to the only school in my state that offered that degree and I stuck it out and got the degree. Here I am 20 years later and I make decent money, but a wife, two kids (one in college), and a mortgage will put a real crimp in the plan to make a ton of money. :)

Greg Said:

Question on nuclear engineering?

We Answered:

First, let me say that I think you are choosing a wonderful career path. I have a few questions for you though.

What part of nuclear engineering interests you?
- Fusion
- Reactors
- Or something else

The reason I bring this up is because nuclear engineering is so diverse, I would encourage you to read up on your specific interests.

That being said, there are some basics that you might want to cover if your H.S. courses haven't already:

1) E=mc^2. From a nuclear engineering standpoint, this means that during either fission or fusion of nuclei, some of the mass is converted to energy. The mass of the end products will be slightly less than the mass of the starting nuclei.

2) What does it mean for something to decay? Why does something decay? Why do we care?

3) How does a reactor work? Why can't you run a 1 GW power plant at 5 GW? Is it because of nuclear physics or is there another reason (hint: there is another reason)?

4) Which types of radiation are dangerous when I hold a source in my hand? How about if I ingest a radioactive source, which type is most dangerous?

5) How does fusion work? Why don't two positively charged particles repel each other instead of fusing together?

6) How do we control the rate of fissions in a reactor?

7) What does radiation do to materials, specifically fuel rods? Do they change in shape, size?

These are all pretty good questions that will lead you in the right direction.

Alicia Said:

Can I pursue a career in Nuclear Engineering with a degree in Chemical Engineering?

We Answered:

I'm currently a junior in Nuclear Engineering (where do you go by the way?). From what I can guess you probably wouldn't be hired before a Nuclear Engineer, but you are probably qualified for some nuclear engineering jobs. If you haven't done much coursework on radiation, then the chances are lower. Maybe take a nuclear course your senior year, and see if you like it.

Edwin Said:

Nuclear Engineering?

We Answered:

Biology then medical school.

Nuclear engineering is for when you want to work with radiative devices and applciations such as nuclear reactors, and such. It does cover some radio-isotope stuff that is used in cardiology, but its over kill yeah.

Jaime Said:

How long would it take for me to get a degree in Nuclear Engineering?

We Answered:

4 years

Aram said:

can i pursue a career in nuclear engineering with a degree in INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING?IF NOT THEN WHAT IN WHAT DEGREE I CAN..?