Nuclear Engineering:
Program Details

Course Offerings

The Big 12 Engineering Consortium offers the following nuclear engineering courses:

  • Introduction to Nuclear and Radiation Engineering Concepts
  • Principles of Nuclear Engineering
  • Fulfilling Madame Curie’s Dream
  • Elements of Nuclear Engineering
  • Energy Systems and Resources
  • Radiation Protection and Shielding
  • Nuclear Reactor Engineering
  • Nuclear Reactor Theory
  • Nuclear Reactor Analysis

Careers

Ever wonder...

  • How nuclear science and engineering affects daily life for you and others?
  • How nuclear power can help solve global warming?
  • What percentage of electricity is nuclear generated?
  • What food is the most radioactive in the world?
  • What advances have been done in nuclear medicine?
  • What a nuclear research reactor is like?
  • What job opportunities in nuclear engineering exist?

Professionals with nuclear engineering training:

  • Establish electrical energy systems such as advanced nuclear reactors, needed by the U.S. and developing nations, for economic security and growth.
  • Design power systems, nuclear propulsion systems, and radiation detectors for deep space missions.
  • Extend radiation applications to food preparation and sterilization of medical instruments and food processing equipment.
  • Develop advanced radiation sources and detectors for use in scientific research as well as in precision manufacturing.
  • Design radiation techniques to diagnose and combat cancer and other diseases.
  • Contribute to national security through the stewardship of nuclear weapons and establishment of engineering safeguards for nuclear systems.

Nuclear Energy will Save the Planet

Check out this video about nuclear engineering careers:

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Enrollment

If you are already at a Big 12 university, you can enroll through your school. Go to your institution’s web site for more information.

If you are not degree seeking at a Big 12 school, you will need to enroll through the teaching universities to take their courses. More information about how to enroll through K-State, MU, UT, or TAMU can be found on their web sites.

Cost

Please email info@big12engg.org for information about the tuition and fees.

Grade Translation

Big 12 Grade Translation Screenshot

Computer System Recommendations

Requirements are similar among the institutions. Since different platforms are used for course delivery, compatibility with the web browser is most important, although if you are using an older computer with limited memory, or a slow dial-up modem, you may wish to upgrade your equipment. Courses do require the use of the computer, the Internet and e-mail. Most systems will have a web browser tune-up. Two of these are linked below for students to run a diagnostic on their computer system. Free downloads of necessary software are available from these sites.

Buying a New Computer?

If you are going to purchase a new computer in preparation for taking Big 12 Engineering Consortium courses, the following features are recommended:

  • Pentium® 4 at 2.0 GHz or higher, or laptop with Dual-core processor
  • 512 Megabytes of RAM or higher (1 Gig recommended)
  • 40 GB hard drive or larger
  • Video card with 800x600 resolution at minimum (LCD 1024x768 resolution or higher, with 128 MB video RAM or more is recommended)
  • Windows® XP or higher
  • Broadband internet connection (DSL or cable modem), 56k modem at a minimum
  • Sound card and speakers
  • CD-RW, Zip, DVD-RW or USB mass-storage device

FAQ

How does an inter-institutional program work?
Students enroll in all courses through their ‘home’ university, though the courses may be taught at another participating ‘teaching’ university. Students log into the course at the teaching institution. At the end of the semester, grades are reported on the transcript at the home institution. There is no need to request a transcript from the teaching institution.
Do I have to be admitted to all of the participating universities?
You only need to be admitted to the university you select as your ‘home’ university, which is the university from which you will receive your degree or certificate. Admission requirements vary by institution. You will register for the appropriate classes at your ‘home’ university. The admission fee will be waived at all schools but the ‘home’ university.
Who do I contact for information at each of the universities?
Each university has a Great Plains IDEA campus coordinator who coordinates the admission and enrollment process, and student services on their campus. Follow the links on the left under Alliance Universities to the particular university you are interested in, then click on the link to the campus coordinator.
Are all universities accredited?
Yes, all of the Big 12 schools are accredited universities. Accreditation is granted through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) or the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), depending on where the university is located.
What are the credentials of your faculty?
All of the instructors are certified faculty members at their respective universities. The faculty members were chosen because of their expertise in the topic area.
Is financial aid available?
It depends. Please contact the financial aid office at your ‘home’ institution for availability, deadlines and specific regulations at your university. Students need to apply through their home school by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to determine their eligibility for federal financial aid. This form is located online on the FAFSA web site. Most scholarships and assistantships require full-time study.
Do I have to be online with the courses during a particular time of day or week?
No, these degree programs are asynchronous. Most instructors will have specific due dates during the week for assignments and class discussion, but work can be completed and submitted any time prior to the deadline. Students do not have to be online at a particular time. Some instructors will hold online chats, and while attendance is recommended if possible, it is not required for a grade.
Can I get credit for previous coursework or professional experience?
Credit for previous course work or experience will depend on the requirements at your home university. Students will need to discuss this possibility with their advisor at their home institution.