Graduate Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear Engineering

Graduate Advisors
Sang Han, Chemical Engineering
Cassiano de Oliveira, Nuclear Engineering

Application Deadlines

Fall semester: July 15
Spring semester:              
 November 10         
Summer session:  April 29

NOTE: Deadlines for international applicants are given elsewhere in this catalog.


Degrees Offered

M.S. in Nuclear Engineering

Concentrations: Medical Physics, Radiation Protection Engineering

Ph.D. in Engineering

Concentrations: Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering.

The Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering offers programs in chemical engineering and nuclear engineering leading to the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. A grade point average of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate study, and/or in previous engineering graduate study, is normally required for admission. In addition, the GRE is required of all Chemical and Nuclear Engineering applicants.

The master of science degree is offered under both Plan I and Plan II. Under Plan I (thesis), 30 hours are required with 24 hours of course work and 6 hours of thesis. Of the 24 hours of course work, 9 hours are required at the 500 level with a maximum of 3 credit hours in problems courses. Plan II requires 33 hours of course work including a maximum of 6 hours of credit for problems courses and a minimum of 12 hours in 500 level courses.

A program that allows the Plan II to be completed in one calendar year is also offered. This program should be requested at the time of application and should begin in the summer or fall semester. The program will typically include a course load of 14 hours in the fall semester (two core courses, two electives and graduate seminar), 13 hours in the spring semester (two core courses, two electives and graduate seminar) and 6 hours in the summer semester (elective courses and/or individual problems).

All candidates for the M.S. degree must satisfactorily pass a final examination which emphasizes the fundamental principles and applications in either chemical or nuclear engineering. This examination is normally the thesis defense for Plan I students, and is normally based on a short term project for Plan II students, including those in the one year program. The examination is conducted by a committee of at least three faculty members. This committee is formed in consultation with the student’s research advisor or project advisor and is approved by the Department Chairperson.

Specific requirements pertaining to the chemical engineering and nuclear engineering programs are described below.


Nuclear Engineering

The Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering offers an M.S. Nuclear Engineering degree and a Ph.D. in Engineering with a concentration in Nuclear Engineering. The master’s degree is a “traditional” nuclear engineering program. Graduates in engineering or science from any recognized college or university may apply for admission to graduate study in nuclear engineering. Students planning to do graduate work in nuclear engineering should concentrate on physics, mathematics and nuclear engineering in their undergraduate course work in addition to acquiring competence in one of the branches of engineering or science. Undergraduate course work in the following is recommended: atomic and nuclear physics, advanced applied mathematics, computer programming, thermodynamics and heat transfer, fluid mechanics, principles of circuits, materials science, nuclear measurements, reactor physics and instrumentation. Students in this program are required to take CHNE 466–Nuclear Environmental Safety Analysis, CHNE 525–Methods of Analysis in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering and CHNE 501–Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Seminar. A maximum of 3 credit hours of Graduate Seminar can be applied toward the 30 hours degree requirement. Those students who do not have a background in nuclear reactor theory will also be required to take CHNE 410–Nuclear Reactor Theory. Additional course work is chosen with the approval of the Graduate Advisor according to student interest in fusion, fission, waste management or accelerator engineering areas. Students with undergraduate degree fields other than nuclear engineering may be required to take certain undergraduate background courses determined by the graduate advisor.

The nuclear engineering research graduate programs at the University of New Mexico include nuclear criticality safety, radiation transport, reactor theory, single and two-phase flow in microgravity, space nuclear power, thermal-hydraulics, fusion energy, accelerator physics and engineering, occupational and environmental radiation protection, plasma physics, nuclear activation diagnostics, high energy density physics, reactor and shielding design, nuclear fuel irradiation behavior, theoretical and numerical methods in neutral and stochastic transport theory, charged particle transport, model-reference adaptive control of nuclear power plants, heat pipes for space application, computational methods for heat transfer and fluid flows, single phase laminar and combined flows, two-phase flows and probabilistic risk assessment.

In addition to the traditional master’s program, the department also offers a masters-level concentration in Radiation Protection Engineering (RPE). This concentration is intended to train people to work in the area of occupational and environmental health physics and leads to a terminal, professional master’s degree. The admissions requirements for this concentration differ from those of the traditional program. The prerequisites are: a Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program OR a Bachelor’s degree including a minimum of one year of general college chemistry with laboratory, one year of general college physics with laboratory, one year of differential and integral calculus, a semester of differential equations, and 32 total semester hours of mathematics (calculus level or above) and science.

Students concentrating in the RPE program are required to take six core courses in health physics. These are CHNE 466*–Nuclear Environmental Safety Analysis, CHNE 524-Interaction of Radiation with Matter, CHNE 528–External Radiation Dosimetry, MPHY/CHNE 522–Radiation Biology for Engineers and Scientists, CHNE 529–Internal Radiation Dosimetry and CHNE 523L–Environmental Radiation Measurements Laboratory.

Another 12 credit hours of electives are required to complete the RPE course work. These electives are chosen from areas of interest such as waste management, nuclear power or calculational methods. In addition to the 30 credit hours of courses, students must take 6 credit hours of CHNE 591 Practicum. The practicum involves a semester long project in the area of health physics usually under the supervision of a certified health physicist. (The RPE concentration is a Plan II program and does not have a thesis option.) After completing the course work and practicum, the student is awarded a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering with a radiation protection engineering (health physics) option. Graduates of the RPE concentration do not qualify for automatic admission to the Ph.D. program. They must fulfill all prerequisite requirements for the Ph.D. program before they will be admitted.

In addition to the traditional master’s program and the concentration in Radiation Protection Engineering, the department also offers a Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Program (CAMPEP) accredited masters-level concentration in Medical Physics. This concentration is intended to train people to work in the areas of medical imaging, nuclear medicine, and radiation therapy. The prerequisites, in addition to a technical bachelor’s degree, are: One year of general college physics with laboratory (purely descriptive courses are insufficient; calculus based courses are desired), one year of general college chemistry with laboratory, one year of differential and integral calculus, a semester of differential equations, 32 total semester hours of mathematics (calculus level or above) and science, and a survey course in general biology, human biology or mammalian physiology.

There are 40 graduate credit hours required for the Masters in Nuclear Engineering in the Medical Physics concentration. There are no electives in this curriculum. (The Medical Physics concentration is a Plan II program and does not have a thesis option).

The required courses are:  
HSCI 480 Human Cross Sectional Anatomy
CHNE 516/MPHY 516 Medical Imaging I X-ray Physics
MPHY 517L Medical Imaging I Laboratory X-ray Physics
CHNE 519/MPHY 518 Medical Imaging II MR, Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine Physics
CHNE 519L/MPHY 519L Medical Imaging II Laboratory MR, Ultrasound and Nuclear Imaging Physics
CHNE 527/MPHY 527 Radiation Biology for Engineers and Scientists
CHNE 523L Environmental Measurements Lab
CHNE 524 Interaction of Radiation with Matter
CHNE 528 External Radiation Dosimetry
CHNE 540/MPHY 540 Radiation Oncology Physics
CHNE 541L/MPHY 541L Radiation Oncology Physics Laboratory
CS 590 Special Topics in Graduate Mathematical Techniques for Medical Physics

 
In addition to the 34 credit hours of courses, students must take 6 credit hours of CHNE 591 Practicum.

The department’s nuclear engineering Ph.D. program has the research topics as described above.

The nuclear engineering laboratories are equipped with an AGN-201M nuclear training reactor; a hot cell facility with remote manipulators; a graphite pile; several solid state detectors for alpha, beta and gamma radiation; computer based data acquisition, analysis and control systems; and supporting radiation measurements systems. In addition to the well-equipped laboratories on campus, the advanced reactors and radiation equipment of Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, and the Air Force Research Laboratory are utilized for instruction and research. The laboratories provide not only experimental facilities but access to high performance super computers for carrying on advanced computational physics.

The department maintains a computer pod for student use, equipped with PCs with a wide selection of software.

Additional information on programs and facilities may be obtained by contacting either the graduate advisor or the department chairperson.


Ph.D. in Engineering - Nuclear Engineering Concentration

Course Requirements:
In addition to the general University doctoral degree requirements listed in the Graduate Program section of the UNM Catalog, students pursing a Ph.D. in Engineering with a concentration in Nuclear Engineering must meet the following criteria:

  1. The coursework applied to the degree must include a minimum of 18 hours of 500-level or higher courses.
  2. A maximum of 6 hours of problems courses (CHNE 551/552) are allowed beyond the Master’s degree.
  3. All students are required to enroll in CHNE 501 every semester up to a maximum of eight semesters beyond the B.S., or 4 semesters beyond the Master’s degree.
  4. All students should normally take CHNE 502 in their first semester as a graduate student in this department. Up to 3 credits of CHNE 501/502 (not previously applied to the M.S.), or 6 credits total beyond the Bachelors degree, may be applied toward the 48 credit coursework requirement for the Ph.D.
  5. Students are required to complete the nuclear engineering core courses listed below. Otherwise no specific courses are required for doctoral students. Courses are selected by the student in consultation with the research advisor and Committee on Studies.

Nuclear Engineering Core Courses:
The following core courses are required of all nuclear engineering Ph.D. students.

CHNE 466* Nuclear Environmental Safety Analysis
CHNE 525 Methods of Analysis in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering

Equivalent graduate-level courses taken at another institution may be used to satisfy this requirement, but this must be decided on a case-by-case basis by the Graduate Advisor or Graduate Committee in the CHNE department.

Qualifying Examination
A student admitted into the Ph.D. program must pass the qualifying exam.

Comprehensive Examination
Before a student may complete this requirement, he/she must have passed the Qualifying examination. The Comprehensive examination must be administered and passed in the same semester the Candidacy form is approved by the program faculty and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Defense of Dissertation
All candidates must pass a Final examination (Defense of Dissertation). The Dissertation Committee conducts the defense of the dissertation.


Courses

CHNE 101. Introduction to Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering. (1)



CHNE 213. Laboratory Electronics for Chemical and Nuclear Engineers. (3)



CHNE 230. Principles of Radiation Protection. (3)



CHNE 231. Principles of Nuclear Engineering. (3)



CHNE 251. Chemical Process Calculations I. (3)



CHNE 253. Chemical Process Calculations II. (3)



CHNE 302. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. (4)



CHNE 310. Neutron Diffusion Theory. (3)



CHNE 311. Introduction to Transport Phenomena. (4)



CHNE 312. Unit Operations. (3)



CHNE 313L. Introduction to Laboratory Techniques for Nuclear Engineering. (3)



CHNE 314. Thermodynamics and Nuclear Systems. (3)



CHNE 317. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis. (3)



CHNE 318L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory I. (1)



CHNE 319L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory II. (1)



CHNE 321. Mass Transfer. (3)



CHNE **323L. Radiation Detection and Measurement. (3)



CHNE *330. Nuclear Engineering Science. (2)



CHNE 361. Biomolecular Engineering. (3)



CHNE 371. Introduction to Materials Engineering. (3)



CHNE 372. Nuclear Materials Engineering. (2)



CHNE 403 / 503. Heterogeneous Catalysis Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 404 / 504. Nanomaterials Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 405 . High Performance Engines. (3)



CHNE 406 / 506. Bioengineering Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE *410. Nuclear Reactor Theory I. (3)



CHNE *413L. Nuclear Engineering Laboratory. (3)



CHNE 418L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory III. (1)



CHNE 419L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory IV. (2)



CHNE 432. Introduction to Medical Physics. (3)



CHNE 436 / 536. Biomedical Technology. (3)



CHNE 439 / 539. Radioactive Waste Management. (3)



CHNE 449 . Seminar in Hazardous Waste Management. (1, no limit Δ)



CHNE 451 / 452. Senior Seminar. (1, 1)



CHNE 454. Process Dynamics and Control. (3)



CHNE **461. Chemical Reactor Engineering. (3)



CHNE 462. Monte Carlo Techniques for Nuclear Systems. (3)



CHNE 464 / 564. Thermal-Hydraulics of Nuclear Systems. (3)



CHNE *466. Nuclear Environmental Safety Analysis. (3)



CHNE 468 / 568 . Introduction to Space Nuclear Power. (3)



CHNE 470. Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials. (3)



CHNE *475. Polymer Science and Engineering. (3)



CHNE *476. Nuclear Chemical Engineering. (3)



CHNE 477 / 577. Electrochemical Engineering. (3)



CHNE *485. Fusion Technology. (3)



CHNE 486 / 586. Statistical Design of Experiments for Semiconductor Manufacturing. (3)



CHNE 491 – 492. Undergraduate Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



CHNE 493L. Chemical Engineering Design. (3)



CHNE 494L. Advanced Chemical Engineering Design. (3)



CHNE 495 – 496. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Honors Problems I and II. (1-6, 1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



CHNE *497L. Introduction to Nuclear Engineering Design. (3)



CHMS 498L. Nuclear Engineering Design. (4)



CHNE 499. Selected Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



CHNE 501. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Seminar. (1, no limit Δ)



CHNE 502. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Research Methods Seminar. (1)



CHNE 503 - 403. Heterogeneous Catalysis Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 504 / 404. Nanomaterials Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 506 / 406. Bioengineering Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 507 . Surface and Material Engineering. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 508 . Nuclear Engineering Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 511. Nuclear Reactor Theory II. (3)



CHNE 512. Characterization Methods for Nanostructures. (3)



CHNE 513L. Nuclear Engineering Laboratory II. (1 to a maximum of 4 Δ)



CHNE 515. Special Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



NONE 516. Medical Imaging I-X-ray Physics. (3)



CHNE 518. Synthesis of Nanostructures. (3)



CHNE 519. Medical Imaging II - MR, Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine Physics. (3)



CHNE 519L. Medical Imaging Laboratory II - MR, Ultrasound and Nuclear Imaging Physics. (1)



CHNE 520. Radiation Interactions and Transport. (3)



CHNE 521. Advanced Transport Phenomena I. (3)



CHNE 522L. Fundamentals of Nanofluidics. (3)



CHNE 523L. Environmental Measurements Laboratory. (1 to a maximum of 4 Δ)



CHNE 524. Interaction of Radiation with Matter. (3)



CHNE 525. Methods of Analysis in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering. (3)



CHNE 526. Advanced Analysis in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering. (3)



CHNE 527. Radiation Biology for Engineers and Scientists. (3)



CHNE 528. External Radiation Dosimetry. (3)



CHNE 529. Internal Radiation Dosimetry. (3)



CHNE 530. Surface and Interfacial Phenomena. (3)



CHNE 531. Nanoscale Quantum Structure Growth and Device Applications. (3)



CHNE 536 / 436. Biomedical Technology. (3)



CHNE 539 / 439. Radioactive Waste Management . (3)



CHNE 540. Radiation Oncology Physics. (3)



CHNE 541L. Radiation Oncology Physics Laboratory. (3)



CHNE 542. Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. (3)



CHNE 546. Charged Particle Beams and High Power Microwaves [Charged Particle Beams.] . (3 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



CHNE 550. Social and Ethical Issues in Nanotechnology. (1-3, [3])



CHNE 551 – 552. Problems. (1-3, 1-3 each semester Δ)



CHNE 560. Nuclear Reactor Kinetics and Control. (3)



CHNE 561. Kinetics of Chemical Processes. (3)



CHNE 563. Advanced Radiation Shielding. (3)



CHNE 564 / 464. Thermal-Hydraulics of Nuclear Systems. (3)



CHNE 568 / 468. Introduction to Space Nuclear Power. (3)



CHNE 575. Selected Topics in Material Science. (1-3, no limit Δ)



CHNE 576. Selected Topics in Aerosol Science. (3 to a maximum of 6 hours Δ)



CHNE 577 / 477. Electrochemical Engineering. (3)



CHNE 582. Inertial Confinement Fusion. (3)



CHNE 586 / 486. Statistical Design of Experiments for Semiconductor Manufacturing. (3)



CHNE 591. Practicum. (6)



CHNE 599. Master’s Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



CHNE 610. Advanced Nuclear Reactor Theory. (3)



CHNE 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



Course Search:




Keyword Search:

Office of the Registrar

MSC 11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809