Nuclear Engineering and Electrical Engineering; Career Choices

[aliaze1]

Hi,

I am an undergrad student, currently studying Electrical Engineering. However I have recently developed an interest in Nuclear Engineering upon reading some nuclear physics material in my Modern Physics class. Does anyone have any insight regarding Nuclear Engineering? I don't dislike Electrical Engineering per say, but I found radiation phenomena and similar things quite fascinating.

Also, the school I plan to attend has a concentration within Nuclear Engineering with various Electrical Engineering power courses (the same ones that the Electrical Engineering majors take) so I am looking into it. I have also heard that many Nuclear Engineers work as either Mechanical or Electrical Engineers at times, depending on the work availability.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Fearless]

I think you should do it, doesn't seem you have anything to lose. Go for the concentration.

 

[Monocles]

Make sure you know what nuclear engineering is actually about before you switch to it. I switched my major to nuclear engineering last fall for a similar reason - I thought nuclear physics was pretty cool. However, nuclear engineering (at least at the undergraduate level) doesn't really go very deep into the field of nuclear physics. You'll learn a lot about the applications of radiation, and radiation protection, but if you want a lot of theory you'll have to look elsewhere. If applications and radiation protection are what you are interested in - great! If you are more interested in theory, then look into just taking a class on nuclear physics (if your college offers it).

Also look into the kind of jobs that nuclear engineers have. Running/supervising a reactor or the building of a reactor, testing radiation levels, doing safety inspections, writing up nuclear policy, etc. It's a very politically charged field, too (at least currently). This was another turn-off for me, since I am rather apathetic about politics, and having to learn about nuclear policy bored me to tears.

 

[aliaze1]

well i took modern physics, but that had only one chapter on nuclear physics. the rest was about the electron/introductory quantum physics, or special relativity. If I were to go for it, I would not just stop at a BS, I would likely pursue an MS, or perhaps go further depending on my interest at that point. I guess I will talk to some coworkers who went into Nuclear or some academic advisors to see what NEs actually do for work. So what did you end up going into?

 

[Monocles]

I'm a physics (and possibly applied math) major now. It's what I wanted to do before college (though I came in as some weird liberal arts/comp sci hybrid because I wanted to go into video games, but that was a red herring left over from when I was younger), but I didn't like the career prospects for someone with just a BS and didn't want to go to grad school*. My attitude pretty much took a 180 this spring though, once I realized how great my passion for physics was. I don't dread the idea of grad school anymore; I'd say that I look forward to it but all of the grad students I know are worked very hard.

*This was primarily due to my sister, who is working on her PhD in Public Health right now and is always very stressed. It's a bit frightening.

 

[aliaze1]

But I have heard that Physics jobs aren't that great at the BS level

I personally don't have a problem with grad school, but it depends if my situation changes

 

[aliaze1]

Anyways, since this discussion, I have decided to stay with EE for undergrad, concentrating in power. I am planning on going into Nuclear Engineering for grad school, either concentrating in fission/reactor physics or radiation detection/protection. The medical applications are interesting, but it is a far jump from EE power...lol

Also, I can get a second BS in engineering physics along with the BS in EE...but it will delay my graduation one semester, any opinion on this? (either way I am going to go to grad school for NE)

 

[Fearless]

why not take the extra BSc? I would do it. It's a huge asset when trying to get somekind of job.

And good for you having reached a decision and actually telling us back what you choose. :D It's always nice with feedback, people should do that more recurringly, because it makes for interesting bumps of threads.

 

[aliaze1]

why not take the extra BSc? I would do it. It's a huge asset when trying to get somekind of job.

And good for you having reached a decision and actually telling us back what you choose. :D It's always nice with feedback, people should do that more recurringly, because it makes for interesting bumps of threads.

well the extra BSc in Nuclear would delay me 1-1.5 years, so I might as well get the MSc

As for the second BSc in Physics, I am still somewhat weighing the options. It would delay me one semester, which I guess is not much, especially since (I hear at least) graduate school starts in the spring. I am actually thinking of the medical physics side of nuclear engineering (since it is related to radiation protection), so I might need to squeeze in some biology courses, so if I have to stay for that, might as well get the second BSc. I'll keep you all posted after I talk to a few people in the departments

 

[Monocles]

I don't know about masters, but PhD programs very rarely start in the spring.