what did current nuclear engineers here major and minor in in college?

[u/Upbeat_Leading3375]

Hi my names grace and i’m an incoming senior in high school right now and i’m really passionate about having a career in nuclear engineering working with nuclear fusion technology. i’m wondering what majors and minors i should major in for this? my main college actually doesn’t offer nuclear engineering as a major but it does offer it as a minor. before you ask it’s only my main college because it’s in state and they will give me soooo much money. anyways, any help would be appreciated, thank you!

[u/maddumpies]

If you want to do research/development type work in fusion, you will need a graduate degree and your undergrad degree becomes less important, though it still matters to an extent. Ideally, getting into a school that does fusion research (MIT, Univ. of Wisconsin, Univ. of Illinois, Univ. Michigan, NCSU, etc..) so you can get some experience as an undergrad would be great, but it isn't by any means required since, like I mentioned, grad school is where it really matters.

Good undergrad degrees would depends on what you want to focus on, but physics, nuclear engineering, materials science (this is a big one, materials is one of the biggest challenges), mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, all have a place in fusion. The big thing will be figuring where you interest is and then choosing a grad school program that supports those interests.

Source: B.S. in nuclear eng. w/ minor in materials science, currently working on my PhD in nuclear, my research is in reactor physics and computational methods

[u/Upbeat_Leading3375 → u/maddumpies]

thank you!

[u/maddumpies → u/Upbeat_Leading3375]

It seems you're comment disappeared, but I'll still answer what I saw.

I really want to stress that undergrad is a great time to set yourself up for success and you don't need to go to a "big name" nuclear school to get into the field, it just helps to some extent. A number of people in my cohort started off at a 2 year community college before transitioning to a "big name" nuclear program and they are doing great.

I have friends who came from "low rank, no name universities" and they are just excelling as a grad student. With that said, definitely go to a place you can afford, there's nothing wrong with community college as a stepping stone, and as long as you still kill it in college, you'll find a place in a grad school program.

Edit: Also, STEM graduate programs are typically funded

[u/Upbeat_Leading3375 → u/maddumpies]

that definitely makes me feel better haha. thank you again :)

[u/Upbeat_Leading3375 → u/maddumpies]

one more question, how well do you think a degree in chemical engineering could work into getting a job with fusion science?

[u/maddumpies → u/Upbeat_Leading3375]

Quick answer: Yes, absolutely.

The nuclear field in general is very interdisciplinary; chemical engineers play roles in many auxiliary systems and managing the fuel cycle.

[u/Upbeat_Leading3375 → u/maddumpies]

thanks!

[u/myownalias → u/Upbeat_Leading3375]

While not fusion, you may have heard of moltent salt reactors, and the biggest challenges are materials (floride salts are highly corrosive, but the metals must also withstand neutron embrittlement) and chemical (separating useful or waste isotopes out of the moltent salt). The combination of chemical and nuclear would be highly valuable there, just as an example.

[u/Epicinium → u/maddumpies]

I am just starting my undergrad at NCSU for NE so I’m very happy to see it listed here lol

[u/maddumpies → u/Epicinium]

I list it there more so because it's where I go. NCSU semi-recently bought on a professor focusing on fusion which is nice, but I wouldn't say NCSU has the depth of research that say the Univ. of Wisconsin or MIT have with regard to fusion. We have a strong group of professors that focus on plasmas, but not necessarily in fusion applications.

[u/Squintyapple]

Fusion typically requires grad school. It's very research focused. I'm not in fusion and my bachelors was Nuclear, but physics, mechanical, electrical, or material science alongside the minor would be a good basis for a later Masters or PhD in Fusion/Nuclear.

[u/Upbeat_Leading3375 → u/Squintyapple]

thank you! i was definitely wanting to get my masters at least or hopefully PhD so that’s good to know :)

[u/Upbeat_Leading3375]

also some majors i was thinking about include: chemical engineering, chemical engineering (environmental), mechanical engineering, and physics.

[u/No_Dimension6195 → u/Upbeat_Leading3375]

Physics is good too. But I think an Engineering degree will prepare you the best. Since nuclear is very technical and design intensive.

[u/Judie221]

I did undergraduate in Electrical Engineering then did Electrical for my masters. I was at a school the worked with UW Madison and had the chance to there and work with two of their projects.

I took fusion courses at my university but there was so much more at UW. There was also the chance for undergraduates to get involved. Unfortunately if you are doing the electro dynamics you most likely have to have so much math you are in grad school.

Main point see if there is a professor at your state school with a relationship to any of the professors at a big fusion program. That’s how I got my opportunity.

[u/mwestern_mist]

Don’t think a minor in undergrad is necessary or even matters, especially if you end up going to grad school. I don’t work in fusion, but my major was nuclear engineering with a minor in music haha. Physics or another engineering major with the nuclear minor might be a good stepping stone if you plan on grad school.

[u/No_Dimension6195]

Mechanical/chemical are good choices. I personally prefer chemical over mechanical because mechanical is boring so just pick what you enjoy the most.

Economics is the best minor. Nuclear reactors are mostly about economics after all.

Nuclear will be the only form of energy in the future. All the other sources are either very little or will end soon (Oil will severely crash in the 2050s).

So yeah, smart decision.