Graduate Programs
University Resources: Calendars | NE Course Schedule | NE Course Catalog/Class Search |
Department Resources: Graduate Manual
Graduate Inquiries: Dr. Steven Shannon & Mr. Mario Milev
Master’s Degrees in Nuclear Engineering
| Degrees and Requirements | The Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering (MSNE) requires 15 credit hours of graduate courses in nuclear engineering, 9 credit hours in an interdisciplinary breadth area, and 6 credit hours of research, for a total requirement of 30 credit hours. Submission of an acceptable thesis is required based on original research followed by an oral examination completes the MS degree program. Students generally take 21 months to complete this degree.
A minimum of 30 credits hours (CH) is required with a GPA of 3.0 or greater with the following breakdown:
The Master of Nuclear Engineering (MNE) requires 18 credit hours of graduate courses taken in nuclear engineering, 9 credit hours in an associated interdisciplinary breadth area and 3 credit hours of research. Completion of a project dealing with a current topic of interest to the nuclear industry is required. A well-prepared student can complete all of the requirements for the MNE degree, on-campus option, in 15 months. An online MNE degree is also available through Engineering Online. The MNE online option can take up to 6 years to complete, depending on course load per semester. A minimum of 30 credits hours (CH) is required with a GPA of 3.0 or greater with the following breakdown:
The Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) Program (BS-MSNE and BS-MNE) is open to nuclear engineering undergraduates with a 3.5 overall GPA average and a 3.25 average in science, math and engineering courses. It allows students to complete two degrees in a shorter time. Students are advised on what graduate-level courses to take in their undergraduate senior year; these courses will count for undergraduate and graduate-level graduation requirements. Once enrolled in NE 301, contact Ms. Lisa Marshall for paperwork completion. |
| Distance Education | Available for the Master of Nuclear Engineering (MNE) non-thesis degree only. Learn more. |
| Total Credit Hours to Graduate | 30 |
| International Applicants | International applicants are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores, the requirements can be seen here.
Applicants with a transcript that is not in English and does not display the US grading system are encouraged to use a credential evaluation service to translate their transcripts.
If one is not used, then their transcript will be translated by the department (As applicable). |
| How to Apply | |
| When to Apply |
Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering
| About the Doctoral Program | The Ph.D. degree in Nuclear Engineering is primarily a research degree that represents attainment of a high degree of scholarship in a special field. The course program for the Ph.D. is designed to give every student a general background in fundamental areas of nuclear engineering and advanced knowledge in a selected area of research and in other subjects as dictated by the student’s interests and career needs. A doctoral degree is generally sought by those who are motivated towards careers in industrial, academia or national laboratories. |
| Qualifying Exam | The qualifying exam has two components, Proficiency in course-work “NE courses” and Competency and Aptitude in research “NE research”.
|
| Total Credit Hours to Graduate | The Ph.D. program typically contains 72 credits of which a minimum of 21 credits is needed in NE graduate courses, a minimum of 21 credits in NE research and the rest can be in additional NE courses, NE research or other STEM courses such as engineering, sciences, math or other courses related to the students plan of work. |
| Residency Requirements | 1 year. See also Visa and Immigration Information and English Proficiency Requirements. |
| International Applicants | International applicants are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores, the requirements can be seen here.
Applicants with a transcript that is not in English and does not display the US grading system are encouraged to use a credential evaluation service to translate their transcripts.
If one is not used, then their transcript will be translated by the department (As applicable). |
| How to Apply | |
| When to Apply |
Certificates in Nuclear Engineering
| About the Certificate Program | The Nuclear Nonproliferation Science and Policy Graduate Certificate Program is designed to educate students and post-graduate professionals about nuclear nonproliferation from both the social science and the engineering perspectives. The program is jointly administered by the NCSU Department of Nuclear Engineering and Department of Political Science.
Students will develop an in-depth understanding of the technical and policy challenges to developing and implementing robust international nuclear nonproliferation regimes. Their education will be supported by assignments designed to reinforce understanding of that subject matter, class projects which cover key areas such as proliferation case studies and physical security simulations, as well as interactions with subject matter experts in nuclear nonproliferation technology and policy. This certificate program is open to degree-seeking students at NCSU, students at other institutions of higher education, and post-graduate professionals seeking to expand their educational credentials. |
| Total Credit Hours to Graduate | To earn the certificate, students must complete an interdisciplinary mix of four semester-long courses (12 total credit hours) in Nuclear Engineering and Political Science. Eligible courses are listed in this program information packet.
Note that many of the courses are offered online to enable off-campus students and post-graduate professionals to earn the certificate via distance education. Furthermore, degree-seeking students may count up to two of the certificate courses toward their graduate degree. Certificate applicants will compose a study plan identifying the four courses they will take to earn the certificate. Nominally, you will take two courses in Nuclear Engineering and two in Political Science; the study plan will be reviewed and approved by the certificate program director. All certificate courses must be completed within four years of enrollment. |
| How to Apply | Degree-seeking students at NCSU should apply to the program by completing the Certificate Plan Form at https://grad.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/grad-cert-plan-data-entry.pdf: send the application with your study plan to the certificate program director (Dr. John Mattingly, jkmattin@ncsu.edu)
Students at other institutions and post-graduate professionals should apply to the program by going to https://applygrad.ncsu.edu/apply/ and clicking “Apply”. Detailed instructions describing the required application documents are provided in this program information packet. |
| When to Apply | Applications are accepted year-round. Course registration and delivery follow NCSU’s academic calendar. |
| Cost | Graduate tuition and fees are listed at https://studentservices.ncsu.edu/your-money/tuition-and-fees/graduate-students/. |
| About the Certificate Program | The Graduate Certificate in Health Physics (GCHP) is intended to support industry, government, military and the national laboratories with expertise in radiation safety for workers who have not had formal education in the same. Many engineers and specialists work in the nuclear field who might be mechanical, electrical or civil engineers, etc. and may seek to supplement this education with radiation safety science and technology. Even graduate nuclear engineering students often have interest in health physics and obtaining this credential will enable them to demonstrate to future employers a meaningful commitment and basic competence in the same. It is further intended that this curriculum will assist students seeking to eventually become certified as health physicists through the American Board of Health Physics. This certificate is intended to help prepare students for the Board exam, and to qualify them to obtain professional experience that is also required for certification. |
| Total Credit Hours to Graduate | To earn the certificate, students must complete a four semester-long courses (12 total credit hours) in Nuclear Engineering.
Required Courses
Additional Courses (Select two courses from the following:)
|
| How to Apply | Degree-seeking students at NCSU should apply to the program by completing the Certificate Plan Form at https://grad.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/grad-cert-plan-data-entry.pdf: send the application with your study plan to the certificate program director (Dr. Robert Hayes, rbhayes@ncsu.edu)
Students at other institutions and post-graduate professionals should apply to the program by going to https://applygrad.ncsu.edu/apply/ and clicking “Apply”. |
| When to Apply | Applications are accepted year-round. Course registration and delivery follow NCSU’s academic calendar. |
| Cost | Graduate tuition and fees are listed at https://studentservices.ncsu.edu/your-money/tuition-and-fees/graduate-students/. |
What else adds value to our degrees?
- Participate in the Nuclear Engineering Graduate Student Association (NEGSA) or a student organization where graduate students are actively involved.
- Take advantage of our college’s Engineering Career Fair for exploring job possibilities and finding your future employer.
- Office of International Services (OIS) programs are designed to foster cross-cultural exchange within the campus and Triangle communities. International and American students, scholars, family members, NC State faculty and staff, and community members participate and benefit from these programs.
- Participate in department Research Seminars.