What to Expect

Nuclear engineering students learn to design and maintain nuclear plants and nuclear power systems.

Shana Browde began her bachelor of science in nuclear engineering at the University of Illinois not knowing what to expect, but thinking nuclear engineering was going to be extremely difficult.

"After being through the program, I've realized that it's not much more difficult than other engineering majors. There are just different things to learn," she says.

As with any engineering program, there is a lot of homework. "The lab classes especially required a lot of work and critical thinking. But much of the homework I've done throughout school has been with a study group," she says.

Browde especially enjoys the student-instructor ratio in her program. "The size of the department is extremely small, which allows for excellent interaction with the faculty and allows for opportunities you don't get in a larger department," she says.

Browde says her program -- which included minors in math and biomolecular engineering -- focused on many aspects of engineering, not just nuclear. "Although the core of my classes [were] nuclear, this program intensively covers mathematics, physics and chemistry," she says.

Don't expect to have much free time. Daniel Caputo has a master's degree in nuclear engineering and took a PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He says just one of his courses demanded a laboratory report of eight to 10 pages each week.

He found that balancing his time between classwork and research was the most difficult aspect of the program.

How to Prepare

Concentrate on math and physics. "Advanced math [calculus and linear algebra] is a plus. Some type of modern physics [quantum principles] is desirable," says Caputo.

Former student Adam McLean says physics is the most important subject for high school students interested in this field.

"Physics -- definitely physics. The processes [nuclear and basic physics] are fascinating and can be so interesting to study. The amount of energy confined in basic atomic structure is unfathomable, and discovery unimaginable," he says.

And you'll want to do as much research on the nuclear industry as possible. "If you're a Boy or Girl Scout, get the atomic energy merit badge or get a local chapter of a nuclear society to come and speak to a high school class," says Browde.