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The Nuclear Engineering program aims to equip graduates for success across diverse career paths in the field. The curriculum's technical focus centers on nuclear power engineering, involving complex electricity generation systems. Our strong emphasis on this area, coupled with industry demand for such expertise, makes our graduates highly valued. We acknowledge nuclear science, including security and non-proliferation, as a significant growth sector. Regular assessment of undergraduate needs and employer feedback informs ongoing curriculum updates to best serve our stakeholders.
Nuclear Engineering spans multiple disciplines beyond electrical power generation. Professionals may apply their skills in areas like medical treatments, food supply protection, operating nuclear facilities, developing safety regulations, or supporting space exploration missions.
The majority of Penn State’s applications come from traditional, first-year students. The following types of students are considered first-year applicants (or freshman applicants, as some refer to them): Current high school student in his or her senior year; Student who has earned a high school diploma or a GED and has no post-secondary coursework; Student who has attempted 17 or fewer credits (semester hours) of college coursework at a regionally accredited college/university before attending Penn State; Current high school student who may have enrolled in another institution(s) before graduating from high school (dual enrollment); Student who may have attended Penn State on a nondegree basis.
English Language Proficiency
The following are ways in which you can satisfy the language proficiency requirement: TOEFL: A minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 550 on the old paper exam and a minimum of 20 in each section of the new paper exam (code #2660); IELTS: A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 on the academic test.