Nuclear engineering is similar to chemical engineering They both record information about their equipment, and work on similar tasks. However, nuclear engineering has created many different products that benefit our society that chemical engineers have not. Nuclear power plants have been constructed to utilize uranium rods to power houses instead of constantly using fossil fuels, which is not environmentally friendly.
The technology designed by nuclear engineers also helps examine, diagnose, and treat individuals for cancerous cells or tumors without having to perform surgery. “The average salary of a nuclear engineer is $73,254 as of July 31, 2018, but the range typically falls between $68,920 and $84,416”. To pursue the occupation of a nuclear engineer, an individual must receive their degree through a heavily science and engineering oriented college course.
Before entering college, it is suggested that individual understands advanced math, life science, and the fundamentals of engineering. To gain even more practice in the field and develop a knowledge of what the job is like, extracurricular activities such as online courses and internships are encouraged as well. Three distinct diplomas are offered for a chemical engineer: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD.
To earn a Bachelor’s degree, one must complete the four year course and develop a strong understanding of radiation physics, electronics, computation, and nuclear systems. A Master’s is achievable through a five year course, which is fixated more around the study of nuclear fission technology and plasma physics. Finally, a PhD doctorate is earned by taking a seven year curriculum while maintaining at least a 3.0 Grade Point Average.
In addition to this, aspiring students taking this course must also complete their PhD dissertation essay, along with multiple oral assessments. Suggested colleges for pursuing a career as a nuclear engineer include Colorado School of Mines, Cornell University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Air Force Institute of Technology – Graduate School of Engineering and Management. These schools have a tuition range of $15,600 to $46,704 as of 2015.
To excel as a nuclear engineer, individuals must be proficient in a specific set of skills that help them in the workplace, in addition to being well educated in math and science. This includes being able to communicate effectively with one another, solve problems to prevent major catastrophes through reasoning and logic, and have the knowledge and organization skills to design an item in an effective manner. People in the workplace must also be attentive and detail oriented. This ensures that everyone is following protocol and that the possibility of injury or death has drastically decreased.
With the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938, the construction of the first nuclear reactor and the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in 1942, we have been able to harness the power of various radioactive elements. Nuclear engineers have constantly researched and experimented with this extreme source of energy to discover to what extent they can positively utilize the elements. Thanks to their tireless studies, we now have advancements in the medical, industrial, and electrical fields that we would not have had today without it.
