|
|
Options: BS, MS, PhD Certificate Programs Descriptions |
|
|
|
Favorites: |
Site Map Search UW COE CAE Timetable eCOW Learn@UW My UW |
|
What does a Nuclear Engineer do? Nuclear engineers design systems and processes in which radiation plays a prominent role. The traditional nuclear engineering degree focuses on power production from fission reactors. Nuclear engineers in the nuclear power industry design fuel, operate and maintain power plants, and design procedures to minimize occupational exposure. The excellent employment prospects in this field are shown by a 1999 survey of nuclear engineering employers. It revealed that 63% are finding a shortage of qualified nuclear engineers. Nuclear engineering also provides an excellent background for students interested in nuclear medicine or medical physics; in these fields, radiation is used to treat patients with inoperable tumors or vessel malformations. Still other nuclear engineers design equipment or processes related to plasmas — partially or fully ionized gases. Low energy plasmas are used in manufactuing materials, while high energy plasmas will eventually offer a new source of energy through nuclear fusion. A recent curricular innovation that reflects growth in broader career opportunities is the track on radiation sciences. Two other innovations that set Nuclear Engineering apart are the Distinguished Scholars Honors Program and the 5-year combined BS/MS program. Curriculum Overview Since the discovery of fission, a major industry has evolved in nuclear power generation. Today, 20 percent of electricity in the U.S. comes from nuclear power plants. Nuclear technology is also important in medicine for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Applications of nuclear technology have been made to medicine, science and industry; and nuclear propulsion plants drive submarines and surface ships. However, the importance of nuclear energy lies in the future. Development of fast breeder reactors will lead to low thermal pollution and to the conservation of fissionable fuels. Nuclear engineers will play an increasingly important role in solving worldwide energy shortages. Plasma research is on the verge of breakthroughs in controlled thermonuclear fusion. Soon, it may be possible to generate useful power from energy released by fusion, with environmental improvements over both fossil fuel and fission reactors. Nuclear engineering may someday support the widespread use of electric automobiles. Lower-cost, nuclear-generated electricity could be used to alleviate problems of ghettos and cities; to desalt ocean waters for arid nations; and to increase industrial growth of poverty stricken societies. In addition, the development of nuclear engines will permit more extensive exploration of space than is now possible with conventional rocket engines. Students receiving the BS degree in nuclear engineering may work for electric utility companies, federal or state regulatory agencies, for major contractors designing and testing improved reactors for central-station power generation, or for propulsion of icebreakers or other oceangoing vessels. Nuclear engineering is also good undergraduate preparation for students interested in careers dealing with the protection of people from radiation, or in medical applications of nuclear technology. These fields generally require advanced study in either health physics or medical physics. For More Information
|
| Home About Student Services |
|
|
|