What major is best for nuclear engineering?

<p>Nuclear engineering major
mechanical engineer major
chemical engineer major
civil engineer major
or electrical engineer major</p>

<p>Is this a real question?</p>

<p>What makes you think that the major with “nuclear engineering” as its name has nothing to do with the career of nuclear engineering? Do you really think another major would be better for that career with the same name…?</p>

<p>Well, nuclear would be best, so the real question is: what is the problem with majoring on nuclear when you want to work in nuclear?</p>

<p>Not all bulbs are bright.</p>

<p>I think Collegeboy’s question is actually a very good one. And the answer really depends on what part of the nuclear industry collegeboy wants to work in when he graduates. If you want to go into the commercial nuclear power industry (working with electrical utility nuclear power plants) you have several options. You can major in any of the more traditional engineering majors, and then work for the utility design organizations or a consulting/AE company in that discipline. The upside of that is your non-nuclear degree gives you more flexibility should the nuclear career not work out. I would say that electrical or civil are currently the best, with Mechanical third. A Chem Engineer would be a specialty person at a plant and not so much in demand.</p>

<p>You can also major in NE if you can find a program, or major in another discipline (like Mech E) and get a minor in NE. That would probably be good if you wanted to work as a Reactor Engineer at a power plant, or if you wanted to be involved in a different aspect of nuclear such as reactor design for space, etc.</p>

<p>I can tell you (as a BSNE from GT who has been working in the industry for a number of years) that the nuclear commercial power industry is currently looking for young engineers at present.</p>

<p>I’d say a major in Psychological Development with a minor in either Latin or French would almost guarantee you a job in nuclear engineering upon graduation </p>

<p>:|</p>

<p>@dramadad: All of that was informative and insightful, but mostly served to highlight the problem that all the rest of us saw with the original post - the OP gave no indication of what concerns or aspirations he has, nor what criteria he is using to select his major, he only asked for the “best” major for nuclear engineering. You provided several different options, but which one is “best” for this thoroughly nonspecific goal of being a nuclear engineer? And if it ISN’T NucE, why not?</p>

<p>Thank you very much Dramadad. Because i am wondering if i should try and go to the best school i can and get a degree in like mechanical or electrical engineering (schools like UCLA and UCSD i can get into and get that degree), or go to a school like NCSU North Carolina State university and get a undergrad degree in nuclear engineering. Nuclear engineering just really seems to interest me, working in reactors and nuclear physics and all that stuff interests me alot. the only problem is that like idk if nuclear engineering for both degrees is the best route to go you know? I do not know exactly what i want to do specifically in Nuclear Engineering, however i can say that i have read up on what they do, and it highly interests me and i can say that that is what i want to do.</p>

<p>So any insight on which route you would choose and why???</p>

<p>Its hard to say without knowing all the particulars involved in your situation. But to me, the most flexible is a BSME with a nuclear minor. That puts you in good position to go several different ways. You can work in Nuclear out of school, pursue a Masters in nuclear, or just go a more traditional route of ME if your goals change.</p>

<p>You might want to look at this website [ANS</a> / Constituencies / Student Sections](<a href=“American Nuclear Society -- ANS”>American Nuclear Society -- ANS) if you haven’t already.</p>

<p>It lists the Student Sections for the ANS, and you can see which schools have involvement in that area.</p>