Graduate Program in Nuclear Engineering
Graduate certificates
Overview
Ph.D. students in the Nuclear Engineering Program gain a deep understanding of the core subjects of nuclear fuel cycle, radiation detection and shielding, reactor analysis, reactor safety, and particle transport. Each PhD student completes a comprehensive research project, culminating in a dissertation. Along the way, students develop critical skills in research design and deployment, oral presentations, and scientific writing.
Degree Requirements
PhD students must earn a minimum of 90 credits: 30 credits of technical coursework which includes the core courses, 30 credits of research, and 30 credits of enhancement courses and/or research. Students may transfer up to 50% of the graded coursework required for the degree, as outlined in the Graduate Catalog. All students must pass the qualifying exam, preliminary exam, and final exam.
30 credit hours of technical coursework, consisting of the following:
Core courses for the qualifying exam:
- NSEG 5124 Nuclear Reactor Analysis (3 cr)
- NSEG 5204 Nuclear Fuel Cycle (3 cr)
- NSEG 5604 Radiation Detection and Shielding (3 cr)
- Mathematics course from NE Program Handbook (3 cr)
- Choose one additional course:
- NSEG 5424 Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (3 cr)
- MSE 5384G Advanced Nuclear Materials (3 cr)
Additional core courses for the PhD:
- NSEG 5134 Monte Carlo Methods (3 cr)
- NSEG 6124 Particle Transport (3 cr)
- NSEG 6334 Nuclear Reactor Safety Analysis (3 cr)
Technical electives (6 cr)
- 30 credit hours of NSEG 7994 or a combination of NSEG 5994 and 7994.
- 30 credit hours of graduate level courses or research
- Up to 6 credits of NSEG 5944 NE Seminar
The nuclear engineering program follows the Ph.D. residency requirement as set forth by the University. The purpose of the residency requirement is to ensure immersion in scholarship, research, and professional development. Residency is established through participation in the weekly seminar series and full-time enrollment.
Overview
M.S. students in the Nuclear Engineering Program gain a deep understanding of the core subjects of nuclear fuel cycle, radiation detection and shielding, and reactor analysis. Each M.S. student completes a comprehensive research project, culminating in a thesis. Along the way, students develop critical skills in research design and deployment, oral presentations, and scientific writing. The M.S. is available as a hybrid or in-person degree.
Degree Requirements:
MS students must earn a minimum of 30 credits: 21 credits of technical coursework which includes the core courses, and 9 credits of research. Students may transfer up to 50% of the graded coursework required for the degree, as outlined in the Graduate Catalog. All students must pass the final exam.
21 credit hours of technical coursework, consisting of the following:
Core courses:
NSEG 5124 Nuclear Reactor Analysis (3 cr)
NSEG 5204 Nuclear Fuel Cycle (3 cr)
NSEG 5604 Radiation Detection and Shielding (3 cr)
Mathematics course from NE Program Handbook (3 cr)
Choose one additional course:
NSEG 5424 Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (3 cr)
MSE 5384G Advanced Nuclear Materials (3 cr)
Technical electives (6 cr)
9 credit hours of NSEG 5994
Up to 6 credits of NSEG 5944 NE Seminar
Overview
M.Eng. students in the Nuclear Engineering Program gain a deep understanding of the core subjects of nuclear fuel cycle, radiation detection and shielding, and reactor analysis. Each M.Eng. student completes a culminating project comprised of a written report and oral presentation. There is no publication requirement for the M.Eng. but students are encouraged to publish their project when appropriate. The M.Eng is available online and in-person.
Degree Requirements:
MEng students must earn a minimum of 30 credits: 24 credits of technical coursework which includes the core courses, and 6 credits of project and report. Students may transfer up to 50% of the graded coursework required for the degree, as outlined in the Graduate Catalog. All students must pass the final evaluation.
24 credit hours of technical coursework, consisting of the following:
Core courses:
NSEG 5124 Nuclear Reactor Analysis (3 cr)
NSEG 5204 Nuclear Fuel Cycle (3 cr)
NSEG 5604 Radiation Detection and Shielding (3 cr)
Mathematics course from NE Program Handbook (3 cr)
Choose one additional course
NSEG 5424 Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (3 cr)
MSE 5384G Advanced Nuclear Materials (3 cr)
Technical electives (9 cr)
- 6 credit hours of NSEG 5904
- Up to 6 credits of NSEG 5944 NE Seminar
Students at Virginia Tech or the US Naval Academy may be admitted to an accelerated version of the MEng or MS programs. This allows students to earn graduate credits during their final semesters of undergraduate study.
VT UG/G Accelerated Program
Students must be admitted to the accelerated program prior to earning graduate credits. Most students will begin double-counting up to 12 credit hours of graduate coursework in the fall semester of their final year. Some students will only double-count courses in the spring semester of their final year. The intent of this degree path is to allow the student to earn graduate credit and begin research to shorten the time to degree to one additional year of study. Students interested in pursuing a PhD may opt to transfer into the direct PhD program after the undergraduate degree is completed.
US Naval Academy Accelerated Program
Cadets will be admitted to the USNA-VT accelerated program during their final year of study. Students will begin taking online graduate courses in the spring semester of the senior year and complete program requirements in the fall semester. Cadets in the accelerated program will take classes in the summer between undergraduate and graduate study.
USNA MEng Plan of Study
Spring: 10 credit hours
- NSEG 5124 Reactor Analysis
- NSEG 5604 Radiation Detection and Shielding
- NSEG 5944 Seminar
- Choose one:
- NSEG 4204* Nuclear Fuel Cycle
- Elective
Summer: 6-9 credit hours
- NSEG 5134 Monte Carlo Methods (math)
- NSEG 5904 Project and Report
- Optional: independent study or elective
Fall: 13-16 credit hours
- NSEG 5424 Thermal Hydraulics
- NSEG 5944 Seminar
- NSEG 5904 Project and Report
- 1-2 Electives
- Choose one:
- NSEG 5204* Fuel Cycle
- Elective
*Students must take either NSEG 4204 or 5204.
Overview
Graduate certificates are microcredentials that can be earned in as little as two semesters of part-time study. Credits earned from graduate certificates may be applied toward one additional graduate degree at VT. Current VT students may add a certificate on to any existing degree. Both certificates are available in-person, hybrid, or online.
The nuclear engineering graduate certificate is a three course exploration of the field of nuclear engineering. The certificate provides a solid foundation in nuclear reactor physics, with additional specialization in nuclear fuel cycle, radiation measurements, reactor thermal hydraulics, nuclear materials, or nuclear power plant operations. The credit hours earned in this certificate may be applied to a graduate degree in mechanical or nuclear engineering.
Plan of Study:
Students in the NE graduate certificate will take three courses: NSEG 5114 Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering and two additional electives from the nuclear engineering catalog. NSEG 5114 is offered in the summer term. Students may opt to take two courses in the fall or one course each in the fall and spring semesters following the summer.
The NSTP Graduate Certificate integrates policy and management with nuclear science and technology to prepare students from diverse educational backgrounds for careers managing and leading nuclear policy organizations across a spectrum of activity in safety, security, safeguards, and non-proliferation. The Certificate courses offer fundamental knowledge of concepts in nuclear science and technology that are relevant to policy issues, and also provide an introduction to topics in safety, security, and nonproliferation, which occupy the bulk of government concerns with nuclear issues. Finally, the Certificate will allow students to interact with policymakers in the field through briefings, simulations, and exercises at the Certificate’s Northern Virginia locations and institutions, agencies, and other partners in Washington, DC.
Plan of Study: Students will take two required courses: NSEG 5284 Nuclear Nonproliferation, Safeguards, and Security and GRAD 5134 NSTP Capstone along with two electives, one from each menu of technical and social science courses.
Technical Electives: Any course from the graduate NSEG catalog will fulfill this requirement.
- NSEG 5114, 5124, 5134, 5204, 5424, 5604
- MSE 5384G
Social Science Electives
- GIA 5514, 5664
- PAPA 5254, 5354, 6254, 6264, 6663
- PSCI 5464, 5474, 5514, 5524
- STS 6554, 6564
Graduate Certificate Admissions
Applicants that are not currently enrolled at VT may apply on the Graduate School website. Please use this form to create your proposed plan of study, and visit the "how to apply" page on the Graduate School website for instructions on how to complete the online application. ME online programs follow the Graduate School deadlines for applications: complete applications must be received by May 1 for Summer, August 1 for Fall, and January 1 for Spring.
Current VT students may submit this application for the certificate to negrad@vt.edu.
Requirements:
- Undergraduate degree with a minimum 2.8 GPA (4.0 scale)
- TOEFL or IELTS for applicants that need to demonstrate English language proficiency (see https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/testing-requirements.html for details)
Recommended:
- B.S. degree in an engineering or science-related discipline
- 3.2 or higher GPA on the most recent 60 course credit hours
- Understanding of the following mathematical concepts: trigonometry, exponentials, natural logarithms, derivatives, the chain rule for derivatives, integrals, vector operations, and some ordinary differential equations
No GRE test scores or recommendation letters are required for the certificate application.