Nuclear Engineering Program
The Bachelor of Science (BS) program in Nuclear Engineering (NE) is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
Mission
The mission of the Nuclear Engineering program at Idaho State is to produce nuclear engineers who will make significant contributions to the world nuclear enterprise. The specific focus of our mission is to prepare graduates to excel in a wide range of careers in nuclear engineering associated with nuclear reactors, the nuclear fuel cycle, and other applications of nuclear technology.
Educational Objectives - Nuclear Engineering
In fulfilling our mission our graduates will apply and expand the knowledge and skills that they acquired at Idaho State University in the following areas:
- Application of Core Knowledge and Technical Competency: Our graduates will make significant contributions in the nuclear enterprise, either in industry, research, or educational careers as measured by peer recognition, visible leadership roles, and other evidence of professional accomplishments. Graduates working in a non-nuclear field, or doing non-nuclear work in the nuclear industry, will make contributions judged no less significant because of the technical field. Our graduates will broaden and deepen their knowledge and technical competency as they advance in their careers. In addition to on-the-job learning and training, our graduates will take initiative in acquiring further knowledge on their own and continue to pursue lifelong learning, including formal academic or continuing education courses as well as informal means such as reading journals in the field, participating in technical organizations, and attending technical conferences to keep current with developments in their chosen field.
- Professional Collaboration and Communication: As their careers develop, our graduates will become increasingly involved in collaborative work with teams composed of colleagues from other science and technology fields. To that end, they will communicate effectively with others to perform tasks, to make decisions, and to assume leadership roles.
- Professionalism: Our graduates will develop and uphold the highest standards of professionalism in their careers. They will recognize ethical issues when they arise and respond in an ethical manner. Our graduates will also take into consideration the economic, environmental, and societal consequences of their actions as they engage in their work. Our graduates will increase their awareness and involvement with issues in the nuclear enterprise, including the nuclear power industry and the many non-power applications of nuclear science and technology, particularly as these fields evolve years after their leaving ISU.
Within two to three years of graduation, the majority of our B.S. graduates in Nuclear Engineering will be working in industry, government agencies, or national laboratories and in many cases will be pursuing advanced degrees. After five to ten years many of our graduates will have established strong records of achievement at various technical and managerial levels in academia, industry and government, and will become leaders in the field.
Student Outcomes
Upon graduation, students of Nuclear Engineering will have demonstrated:
- An ability to apply knowledge of advanced mathematics, science and engineering, including atomic and nuclear physics, and the transport and interaction of radiation with matter, to nuclear and radiological systems and processes.
- An ability to design and conduct experiments, to measure nuclear and radiation processes, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
- An ability to perform nuclear engineering design of systems, components, or processes to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
- An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
- An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
- An ability to communicate effectively.
- The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
- A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
- A knowledge of contemporary issues.
- An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.