Nuclear Engineering Program Accreditation

The baccalaureate program in nuclear engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Program Criteria.

Education Mission Statement

Cognizant of the unique mission of Penn State in the Commonwealth and the nation, our program endeavors to produce graduates who can become productive citizens in modern society. The education provided encompasses the full breadth of the discipline of nuclear engineering and consists of technical content, interactive and participatory learning and consistent reinforcement of the skills and characteristics consistent with a successful professional.

The most important asset we bring to this mission is our faculty. We will leverage the rich background and research accomplishments of our faculty by making appropriate use of research results in the classroom.

In this endeavor, the primary focus is on the student. Through admission standards, professional advising and consistent and high expectations, we lead the students, through lecture and example, toward our common goal of life as a professional in our society.

Program Educational Objectives

Accordingly, we will endeavor to maintain and provide a curriculum that prepares our graduates such that:

• Within two to three years of graduation, we expect the majority of our B.S. graduates to:
  • be working in industry,
  • be working in government agencies or national laboratories,
  • be pursuing advanced degrees.
• We expect that our students will continue to develop professionally and establish themselves in their careers and in this way may take the opportunity to further their education and training by attending graduate school or by pursuing other professional development.

Student Outcomes

Student outcomes describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. The Nuclear Engineering program is designed to enable students to:

1. Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.