Physics undergrad to Nuclear Eng grad?

[Dauden]

So I'm in my late sophomore year at a community college and transferring VERY soon. I have to choose a major and am leaning close to Physics. I have a yearning for learning it and I'm pretty set on doing that for undergrad... Now the problem is what to do with that once I've graduated.

I'm not fond of what I have read on the uncertainty of where you will be as a Physics graduate and post-doc (It should be worth noting that I plan to get a PhD in whatever my graduate subject is). Right now, I'm looking at Nuclear Engineering.

How would that transition be? from Physics to Nuclear Engineering.

The prerequisites to apply for NE are "Prerequisites for admission include a course in ordinary differential equations plus one other mathematics course beyond calculus; an intermediate course in atomic and nuclear physics or interaction of radiation with matter; a course in electrical circuit theory; a course in thermodynamics; a course in fluid mechanics or continuum mechanics; and a course introducing nuclear engineering. A student may be admitted before completion of these prerequisites, but he or she must allow additional time to make up for these deficiencies;.."

This tells me that I really only need to take 3 course to prepare for it: electrical circuit theory, fluid mechanics or continuum mechanics and a course introducing nuclear engineering. This is assuming that Statistical Mechanics counts for the thermodynamics part.

But aside from prerequisites and the transition ease, how are job prospects in the R&D for a PhD in Nuclear Engineering? The areas I would like to do research in are fission engineering and plasma engineering s if anyone has any info on that subject, please share it. Is an NE too specialized to get a job easily?

Thanks for reading this. Thanks for the responses.

 

[ekrim]

Not sure about job prospects, but physics is your best option as an undergrad degree to pursue this field. ( I assume that nuclear engineering is not offered) . You'll have no problem making the transition. I actually think those requirements are a little steep and a lot of programs would be more flexible.