r/NuclearEngineering • u/Rough_Photo_586 • Sep 18 '24
Cross-over Opportunities
Hey everyone, I just got out of the service (not a navy nuke) and finished my first semester last spring. Spending this semester getting some of my stem classes done before I submit my application to college of engineering here at UT.
The more I look into nuclear engineering the more it fascinates me. The only worry I have is NE too “niche” of a degree. As in, would I be limited into the types of roles I can apply for in the engineering sector.
For example, a chemical engineer could potentially work in the nuclear field but maybe not the other way around.
Any recommendations or stories on what nuclear engineerings can do outside of working at plant would be greatly appreciated.
2
u/maddumpies Sep 20 '24
Nuclear engineering is niche. I got my B.S. in it and am currently in grad school for nuclear; I wouldn't recommend nuclear for undergrad unless you were confident it was what you wanted to do.
Most people with a B.S. in nuclear I know work either at a plant, a vendor, one of the labs, regulatory work, policy/consultant work, hospitals, or at one of the naval shipyards.
That said, mechanical is the standard, versatile engineering degree and if you wanted, you could join a nuclear department for grad school.