Nuclear Engineering:
Course Schedule

Fall Offerings

• Introduction to Nuclear and Radiation Engineering Concepts (UT)
• Elements of Nuclear Engineering (K-State)
• Materials Requirements and Selection for Nuclear Engineering Applications (KU)
• Energy Systems and Resources (MU)
• Radiation Protection and Shielding (K-State)
• Nuclear Reactor Theory (K-State)
• Reactor Operations Virtual Laboratory (K-State, TAMU, UT)
• Reactor Applications Virtual Laboratory (K-State, TAMU, UT)

Spring Offerings

• Introduction to Nuclear and Radiation Engineering Concepts (UT)
• Elements of Nuclear Engineering (K-State)
• Probabilistic Risk Assessment (ISU)
• Materials Requirements and Selection for Nuclear Engineering Applications (KU)
• Nuclear Reactor Engineering (UT)
• Reactor Operations Virtual Laboratory (K-State, TAMU, UT)
• Reactor Applications Virtual Laboratory (K-State, TAMU, UT)

Summer Offerings

• Elements of Nuclear Engineering (ISU)

Course Descriptions

Introduction to Nuclear and Radiation Engineering Concepts (UT)

This online 1-credit course is intended to introduce students at all levels and from all disciplines to the many different aspects and applications of nuclear and radiation engineering/physics. Topics covered include: history of nuclear development, basic concepts of radiation and radioactivity, radioactive waste management, global warming and the impact of nuclear power plants, industrial applications, health physics, nuclear medicine, job opportunities at power plants, graduate school, and national laboratories. (Available for undergraduate credit only.)

Elements of Nuclear Engineering (K-State in fall/spring, ISU in summer)

This online 3-credit survey course covers the following: nuclear engineering concepts and applications, including nuclear reactions, radioactivity, radiation interaction with matter, reactor physics, risk and dose assessment, applications in medicine, industry, agriculture, and research. (Available for undergraduate credit only.)

Probabilistic Risk Assessment (ISU)

This online 3-credit course covers the following: methods for analysis of nuclear power systems; fault tree and event tree analysis methods; mathematical basics for dealing with reliability data, theory, and analysis; case studies of accidents in nuclear power systems. (Available for undergraduate credit only.)

Materials Requirements and Selection for Nuclear Engineering Applications (KU)

This online 3-credit course covers selection and use of proper materials in nuclear environments for safe and long-term economical operation, including: available materials and their properties; critical properties required in materials for nuclear applications; materials typically selected for nuclear applications by usage area; selection criteria by application area with consideration for cost, safety, and maintenance; selection trade-offs; new and alternative materials for current and new generation reactors; and using NDT and other methods to monitor ongoing materials performance, degradation, and maintenance needs. (Available for undergraduate or graduate credit.)

Energy Systems and Resources (MU)

This online 3-credit course is a general overview of energy systems, renewable and non-renewable energy sources, and advances in energy applications. (Available for undergraduate credit only.)

Radiation Protection and Shielding (K-State)

This online 3-credit course covers the basic concepts of radiation protection, doses, associated risks, and exposure limits; properties of natural and other radiation sources, and evaluation of internal and external doses; and techniques for shield design including ray, point kernel, and transport theories for both neutrons and gamma rays. (Available for undergraduate or graduate credit.)

Nuclear Reactor Engineering (UT)

This online 3-credit course reviews the physics governing nuclear reactors and the design principles for commercial nuclear power plants. The course focus is on reactor designs currently operating in the power industry. However, Generation III and Generation IV reactor designs are also discussed. (Available for undergraduate or graduate credit.)

Nuclear Reactor Theory (K-State)

This online 3-credit course is a detailed introduction to neutron diffusion theory, neutron moderation, neutron thermalization, and criticality conditions of nuclear reactors. (Available for undergraduate or graduate credit.)

Reactor Operations Virtual Laboratory (K-State, TAMU, UT)

This online 1-credit course will include a review of reactivity and criticality and an overview of reactor dynamics including development of the Inhour equation and temperature coefficients. The course will include reactor virtual experiments on approach to criticality, control rod calibration, and temperature coefficient of reactivity. (Available for undergraduate credit only.)

Reactor Applications Virtual Laboratory (K-State, TAMU, UT)

This online 1-credit course will cover neutron activation analysis concepts and derivation of equations; overview of radiography principles, diffraction principles; reactor virtual experiments on neutron activation analysis, neutron radiography, and neutron diffraction. (Available for undergraduate credit only.)