Graduate Program

    Graduate Advisor
    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

    • Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering (M.S.)
      • Concentrations: Medical Physics, Radiation Protection Engineering
    • Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (Ph.D.)
      • Concentration: Nuclear Engineering

    The Department of Nuclear Engineering offers programs in nuclear engineering leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. A GPA 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 Nuclear Engineering applicants.

    Information

    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.

    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.


    Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering

    The Master of Science (M.S.) in Nuclear Engineering 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 focus 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 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 credit hours degree requirement. Those students who do not have a background in nuclear reactor theory are also required to take CHNE *410 Nuclear Reactor Theory I.

    Additional course work is chosen with the approval of the Graduate Advisor according to student interest in fusion, fission, or waste management 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 M.S. is offered under both Plan I and Plan II. Under Plan I (thesis), 30 credit hours are required with 24 credit hours of course work and 6 credit hours of thesis. Of the 24 credit hours of course work, a minimum of 9 credit hours are required at the 500-level with a maximum of 3 credit hours in problems courses. Plan II requires 33 credit hours of course work including a maximum of 6 credit hours for problems courses and a minimum of 12 credit 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 typically includes a course load of 14 credit hours in the fall semester (two core courses, two electives and graduate seminar), 13 credit hours in the spring semester (two core courses, two electives and graduate seminar) and 6 credit 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 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.

    Concentration in Medical Physics

    The department 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 credit 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 Master of Science 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.

    Requirements

    Hours
    CS 590 Topics in Computer Science for Non-Majors-Graduate 1-3
    CHNE 523L Environmental Measurements Laboratory 1-4
    CHNE 524 Interaction of Radiation with Matter 3
    CHNE 527 / MPHY 527 Radiation Biology for Engineers and Scientists 3
    CHNE 528 External Radiation Dosimetry 3
    MPHY 516 Medical Imaging I: X-ray Physics 3
    MPHY 517L Medical Imaging Laboratory I: X-ray Physics 1
    MPHY 518 Medical Imaging II: MR, Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine Physics 3
    MPHY 519L Medical Imaging Laboratory II: MR, Ultrasound and Nuclear Imaging Physics 1
    MPHY 540 Radiation Oncology Physics 3
    MPHY 541L Radiation Oncology Physics Laboratory 3
    RADS *480  Human Cross Sectional Anatomy

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

    Concentration in Radiation Protection Engineering

    The department 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 credit hours of mathematics (calculus level or above) and science.

    Students concentrating in the RPE program are required to take five core courses in health physics:

    • CHNE 523L - Environmental Measurements Laboratory
    • CHNE 524 - Interaction of Radiation with Matter
    • CHNE/MPHY 527 - Radiation Biology for Engineers and Scientists
    • CHNE 528 - External Radiation Dosimetry
    • CHNE 529 - Internal Radiation Dosimetry

    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. 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) concentration. 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 may be admitted. The RPE concentration is a Plan II program and does not have a thesis option.


    Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering

    • Concentration in Nuclear Engineering

    Course Requirements

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

    1. The course work applied to the degree must include a minimum of 18 credit hours of 500-level or higher courses.
    2. A maximum of 6 credit 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.N.E., or four semesters beyond the Master’s degree.
    4. Up to 3 credit hours of CHNE 501 (not previously applied to the M.S.), or 6 credit hours total beyond the Bachelor's degree, may be applied toward the 48 credit course work 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.

    Core Courses

    The following core courses are required of all Nuclear Engineering Ph.D. students:

    Hours
    CHNE *410 Nuclear Reactor Theory I 3
    CHNE 525 Methods of Analysis in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering 3

    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 Nuclear Engineering department.

    Comprehensive 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.


    Beginning with the Spring 2015 term, courses offered under the subject code of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering (CHNE) will be offered under one of two new subject codes:  Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE), and Nuclear Engineering (NE).  Refer to the table on Nuclear Engineering Department page to determine the new subject code and course number for courses offered previously under CHNE.


    Courses

    NONE 101. Introduction to Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering. (1)



    NONE 213. Laboratory Electronics for Chemical and Nuclear Engineers. (3)



    NONE 230. Principles of Radiation Protection. (3)



    NONE 231. Principles of Nuclear Engineering. (3)



    NONE 251. Chemical Process Calculations I. (3)



    NONE 253. Chemical Process Calculations II. (3)



    NONE 302. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. (4)



    NONE 310. Neutron Diffusion Theory. (3)



    NONE 311. Introduction to Transport Phenomena. (4)



    NONE 312. Unit Operations. (3)



    NONE 313L. Introduction to Laboratory Techniques for Nuclear Engineering. (3)



    NONE 314. Thermodynamics and Nuclear Systems. (3)



    NONE 317. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis. (3)



    NONE 318L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory I. (1)



    NONE 319L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory II. (1)



    NONE 321. Mass Transfer. (3)



    NONE **323L. Radiation Detection and Measurement. (3)



    NONE *330. Nuclear Engineering Science. (2)



    NONE 361. Biomolecular Engineering. (3)



    NONE 371. Introduction to Materials Engineering. (3)



    NONE 372. Nuclear Materials Engineering. (2)



    NONE 403 / 503. Heterogeneous Catalysis Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



    NONE 404 / 504. Nanomaterials Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



    NONE 406 / 506. Bioengineering Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



    NONE *410. Nuclear Reactor Theory I. (3)



    NONE *413L. Nuclear Engineering Laboratory. (3)



    NONE 418L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory III. (1)



    NONE 419L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory IV. (2)



    NONE 432. Introduction to Medical Physics. (3)



    NONE 439 / 539. Radioactive Waste Management. (3)



    NONE 449. Seminar in Hazardous Waste Management. (1, no limit Δ)



    NONE 451 - 452. Senior Seminar. (1, 1)



    NONE 454. Process Dynamics and Control. (3)



    NONE **461. Chemical Reactor Engineering. (3)



    NONE 462. Monte Carlo Techniques for Nuclear Systems. (3)



    NONE 464 / 564. Thermal-Hydraulics of Nuclear Systems. (3)



    NONE 468 / 568. Introduction to Space Nuclear Power. (3)



    NONE 470. Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials. (3)



    NONE 477 / 577. Electrochemical Engineering. (3)



    NONE *485. Fusion Technology. (3)



    NONE 491 - 492. Undergraduate Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



    NONE 493L. Chemical Engineering Design. (3)



    NONE 494L. Advanced Chemical Engineering Design. (3)



    NONE 495 - 496. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Honors Problems I and II. (1-6, 1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



    NONE *497L. Introduction to Nuclear Engineering Design. (3)



    NONE 498L. Nuclear Engineering Design. (4)



    NONE 499. Selected Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



    NONE 501. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Seminar. (1, no limit Δ)



    NONE 502. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Research Methods Seminar. (1)



    NONE 503 / 403. Heterogeneous Catalysis Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



    NONE 504 / 404. Nanomaterials Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



    NONE 506 / 406. Bioengineering Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



    NONE 507. Surface and Material Engineering. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



    NONE 508. Nuclear Engineering Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



    NONE 511. Nuclear Reactor Theory II. (3)



    NONE 512. Characterization Methods for Nanostructures. (3)



    NONE 513L. Nuclear Engineering Laboratory II. (1 to a maximum of 4 Δ)



    NONE 515. Special Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



    NONE 518. Synthesis of Nanostructures. (3)



    NONE 520. Radiation Interactions and Transport. (3)



    NONE 521. Advanced Transport Phenomena I. (3)



    NONE 523L. Environmental Measurements Laboratory. (1 to a maximum of 4 Δ)



    NONE 524. Interaction of Radiation with Matter. (3)



    NONE 525. Methods of Analysis in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering. (3)



    NONE 527. Radiation Biology for Engineers and Scientists. (3)



    NONE 528. External Radiation Dosimetry. (3)



    NONE 529. Internal Radiation Dosimetry. (3)



    NONE 530. Surface and Interfacial Phenomena. (3)



    NONE 539 / 439. Radioactive Waste Management. (3)



    NONE 542. Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. (3)



    NONE 550. Social and Ethical Issues in Nanotechnology. (3)



    NONE 551 - 552. Problems. (1-3, 1-3 each semester Δ)



    NONE 560. Nuclear Reactor Kinetics and Control. (3)



    NONE 561. Kinetics of Chemical Processes. (3)



    NONE 564 / 464. Thermal-Hydraulics of Nuclear Systems. (3)



    NONE 568 / 468. Introduction to Space Nuclear Power. (3)



    NONE 575. Selected Topics in Material Science. (1-3, no limit Δ)



    NONE 576. Selected Topics in Aerosol Science. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



    NONE 577 / 477. Electrochemical Engineering. (3)



    NONE 582. Inertial Confinement Fusion. (3)



    NONE 586. Statistical Design of Experiments for Semiconductor Manufacturing. (3)



    NONE 591. Practicum. (6)



    NONE 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



    NONE 610. Advanced Nuclear Reactor Theory. (3)



    NONE 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



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