What minor/major to combine with NucE?

[username1989]

I'm transferring into a NucE program next fall and because of the way the prereqs work, I have 3 more years left but maybe 10-13 credits a semester. I need at least 12, so my advisor recommended I find a minor or dual major. I'm interested in energy production (and grad school, if someone will pay for it). My major is Nuclear Engineering, and I really have no intentions of moving out of that field because I love it.

My ideas were:
-Physics minor
-Electrical Engineering minor
-Energy Engineering minor
-Business minor (to branch out, maybe make myself more broadly available?)
-MatSci

Obviously, I'm only 2 years into college, which has largely been spent at community college, so I'm not quite sure what would even be useful in the field. At the end of my degree, goal #1 is a job that pays, and goal #2 is a job in energy. I particularly like the Department of Energy and have been watching their job listings/internships and those with the Navy... It feels like I need to make decisions on things I barely understand!

Any and all advice would be absolutely appreciated. Thank you in advance for anything you have to offer :)

 

[gmax137]

If you are interested in working in commercial nuclear power (at one of the operating plants, or for one of the reactor vendors) I suggest either some mechanical engineering (heat transfer/fluid flow/thermo stuff) or electrical engineering (instrumentation and controls stuff). In my opinion a specific "minor" doesn't mean much, and taking a few diverse classes might be better in the long run.

 

[Dr. Courtney]

I agree with gmax. Focus on useful classes. Putting together requirements for a minor or second major often leads to too heavy a course load and/or awkward scheduling.

When applying to grad school, the courses you took matter and the grades you earned. Your research accomplishments and recommendations also matter. What you learned matters. Whether the sum total of courses qualifies you for a minor or second major is rarely or never relevant.