Study at one of the premier nuclear science and engineering departments.
The Bachelor of Science program in Nuclear Engineering in the College of Engineering trains the next generation of nuclear engineers for the scientific and industrial workforce. The undergraduate major features basic knowledge in nuclear science and technology as well as further elective in-depth topics. Our program is ABET certified, preparing our students for further degrees or a successful career in industry.
We believe that students majoring in our field have a unique opportunity to benefit from the advantages of a small, congenial department with a low student-to-faculty ratio and exciting prospects for research and future employment. Most of our undergraduates have the opportunity to work alongside graduate students in our research laboratories on topics ranging from fusion energy experiments to modeling cancer therapy, and many pursue double majors.
Highlights
- Get involved with the American Nuclear Society.
- Join a Nuclear Science and Security Consortium summer school or lab internship.
- Intern at Berkeley Lab in the NNSA Impact Internship Program.
Curriculum
Students in the Nuclear Engineering undergraduate program begin with lower division coursework in math, chemistry, computer programming, materials science, physics, and humanities/social sciences, as well as a nuclear engineering seminar. The program then shifts to upper division coursework in nuclear engineering, electronic circuits, statistics and data analysis, and humanities/social sciences, as well as an ethics course and technical electives. Students are encouraged to use technical electives to focus their choices on specific professional goals.
Learn more at nuc.berkeley.edu/bs-in-nuclear-engineering/
Study Options
The Department of Nuclear Engineering offers major and minor programs in Nuclear Engineering, as well as joint majors in:
Admission to the Major
First-year and transfer students accepted to UC Berkeley and who selected Nuclear Engineering on their undergraduate admissions application will be admitted directly to the College of Engineering and the NE major.
It is rare but possible for students within the College of Engineering to transfer into the Nuclear Engineering program from another Engineering major, or add Nuclear Engineering as a second major. For more information on admission to the major, visit engineering.berkeley.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/.
Students majoring in Nuclear Engineering will find diverse career opportunities in advanced research and studies, in the medical field, and in the energy industry. The nuclear energy and environmental field will continue to provide excellent employment opportunities for nuclear engineers. Over the past decade, 38% of our graduates have pursued advanced degrees, 28% of them have gone into working in the industry, and the remaining 34% have gone into various research and post-doctoral positions in universities, government agencies, and national laboratories.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying Nuclear Engineering. Engineering Student Services in the College of Engineering assists students with career and job-search planning and advises students interested in applying to graduate school. ESS also connects students with employers as well as graduate and professional schools. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career counseling, professional and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:
- Accelerator Systems Operator
- Air Force Physicist
- Hardware Reliability Engineer
- Materials Engineer
- Nuclear Engineer
- Product Engineer
- Research and Development Engineering
- Software Engineer
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Electrical Engineering
- Energy
- Environment
- Law
- Materials Science Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medicine
- Nuclear Engineering
- Physics
- Radiation Oncology Physics
- Security
Andrew, class of 2019 and 2023
Dr. Andrew Dong graduated UC Berkeley with a BS joint major in Materials Science Engineering and Nuclear Engineering, and later a PhD in Nuclear Engineering. As an undergraduate, Andrew was involved with CalSol, the American Nuclear Society, and Engineering Student Council. He is currently a Lead Materials Engineer at Kairos Power, an advanced nuclear reactor company founded by NE graduates.
“The Nuclear Engineering department provided me a tremendous degree of both depth and breadth of knowledge to be impactful in my career….The education I obtained here led me to be the curious, confident, and responsible lifetime learner that I am now.”
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Familiarize yourself with the Undergraduate Guide and NE requirements and flowchart.
- Meet with your ESS Advisor to discuss your academic plans; enroll in NUCENG 10 as well as lower division math, chemistry, physics, programming, and humanities/social sciences.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar, Berkeley Changemaker, or DeCal course.
- Sign up for the ESS podcast and newsletter, and ENGIN 98 The Insider’s Guide to Berkeley Engineering.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Grimes Engineering Center.
- Sign up for the Engineering Mentorship Program.
- Join an Engineering student group like the American Nuclear Society or Nuclear is Clean Energy Club.
- Find academic support at the CAEE and Student Learning Center.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Check out design programs and resources at the Jacobs Institute.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the Engineering and NE websites.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Start using Handshake to connect with career events and opportunities.
- Look into UC LEADS and the Goldwater Scholarship.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Continue with lower division requirements in math, physics, materials science, and electronic circuits.
- Continue exploring with a Sophomore Seminar or Big Ideas course.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as CalTeach or Energy and Resources.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend Engineering and NE events like the weekly department colloquia.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Explore research opportunities from Engineering and OURS; apply to URAP or Bakar Ignite Scholars to work on a faculty project.
- Introduce youth to STEM through the Lawrence Hall of Science or student groups BEAM and PiE.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division and BCE.
- Sign up for an ESS workshop on grad school preparation, resume review, or other career topics.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Make sure all of your lower division courses are complete including thermodynamics.
- Enroll in upper division requirements in nuclear engineering (including NUCENG 104 and 150), statistics/data analysis, and humanities/social sciences; begin technical electives.
- Review your degree progress with your ESS advisor.
- Consider NUCENG 194H if pursuing original research; look into Haas Scholars.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Share your voice in an Engineering college committee.
- Help other students as an ESS Peer Advisor or EMP Mentor.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Address real-world problems in the Fung Fellowship or Big Ideas Contest.
- Interested in entrepreneurship? Check out the Sutardja Center, Accel Scholars, and Berkeley SkyDeck.
- Connect with peers at the American Nuclear Society Student Conference.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Join a professional association such as the American Nuclear Society.
- Interested in public service careers? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, and Truman Scholarship.
- Connect with alumni groups such as Berkeley Engineering.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Lighten your course load as much as possible to allow time for job and graduate school applications.
- Finish upper division requirements, including NUCENG 170A and all technical electives.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by teaching ENGIN 98 or your own DeCal course.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs; consider the Hertz Fellowship or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services; check out info for Engineering alumni.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a technical course in Summer Sessions.
- Learn the art of STEM communication in ENGIN 185 Science Writing.
- Join an NSSC Summer School or Lab Internship, NNSA-IMPACT internship, or Nuclear Innovation Bootcamp.
- Participate in an NSF research experience or DOE lab internship.
- Get immersed in design innovation with the Berkeley Engineering Design Scholars Program.
- Consider a summer internship or study abroad; explore scholarships and study trips through the GLOBE Center.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate such as Data Science or Sustainability.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Familiarize yourself with the Undergraduate Guide, and NE requirements and flowchart.
- Meet with your ESS Advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Enroll in NUCENG 10, 100, and 101 as well as lower division requirements in programming and materials science.
- Sign up for the ESS podcast and newsletter.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Grimes Engineering Center and Engineering Transfer Center.
- Sign up for the Engineering Mentorship Program.
- Join an Engineering student group like the American Nuclear Society or Nuclear is Clean Energy Club.
- Find academic support at the CAEE and Student Learning Center.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Check out design programs and resources at the Jacobs Institute.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the Engineering and NE websites.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Look into UC LEADS and the Goldwater Scholarship.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Focus on upper division requirements in nuclear engineering (NUCENG 104 and 150); enroll in a data analysis/statistics elective and humanities/social sciences course.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as CalTeach or Energy and Resources.
- Consider NUC ENG 194H if pursuing original research; look into Haas Scholars.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend Engineering and NE events like the weekly department colloquia.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Explore research opportunities from Engineering and OURS; apply to URAP or Bakar Ignite Scholars to work on a faculty project.
- Interested in entrepreneurship? Check out the Sutardja Center, Accel Scholars, and Berkeley SkyDeck.
- Connect with peers at the American Nuclear Society Student Conference.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division and BCE.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Sign up for an ESS workshop on grad school preparation, resume review, or other career topics.
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Complete requirements in thermodynamics; enroll in an electronic circuits elective, technical elective, and humanities/social science course.
- Review your degree progress with your ESS advisor.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Share your voice in an Engineering college committee.
- Help other students as an ESS Peer Advisor or EMP Mentor.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Address real-world problems in the Fung Fellowship or Big Ideas Contest.
- Introduce youth to STEM through the Lawrence Hall of Science or student groups BEAM and PiE.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Join a professional association such as the American Nuclear Society.
- Interested in public service careers? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, and Truman Scholarship.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs; consider the Hertz Fellowship or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
Fourth + Fifth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Lighten your course load as much as possible to allow time for job and graduate school applications.
- Finish upper division requirements including NUCENG 170A, humanities/social science courses, and all technical electives.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Connect with alumni groups such as Berkeley Engineering.
- Learn about alumni career services; check out info for Engineering alumni.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a technical course in Summer Sessions.
- Learn the art of STEM communication in ENGIN 185 Science Writing.
- Join an NSSC Summer School or Lab Internship, NNSA-IMPACT internship, or Nuclear Innovation Bootcamp.
- Participate in an NSF research experience or DOE lab internship.
- Get immersed in design innovation with the Berkeley Engineering Design Scholars Program.
- Consider a summer internship or study abroad; explore scholarships and study trips through the GLOBE Center.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate such as Data Science or Sustainability.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about Nuclear Engineering or the College of Engineering?
The Department of Nuclear Engineering offers undergraduate advising for students interested in the Nuclear Engineering major or minor. The Department Advisor can answer questions about programs, facilities, research opportunities, and other department-specific subjects. Your Faculty Advisor helps with technical course selection, course planning, research opportunities, and how to prepare for graduate school or your first job. For advising, email Joann Pyon at jpyon1@berkeley.edu.
Engineering Student Services in the College of Engineering offers extensive programs and support services to help you navigate your academic path. Your ESS Advisor assists with degree requirements, academic policies and procedures, course selection, enrichment opportunities, and campus resources. ESS Peer Advisors are available to discuss life in the college, navigating the University, and other topics. For additional information, visit engineering.berkeley.edu.
Related Programs
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