Black Intelligentsia Libraries
The New Way Of Thinking
Nuclear Engineer
Are you a fan of science fiction, gifted in Math and Science, and/or a member of the STEM program? Would you like to develop a power source that may cure all types of cancers or allow people to travel to other planets and galaxies in the near future?  If so, then a future in Nuclear Engineering is awaiting you.

Nuclear Engineers apply the principles and theories of nuclear science to problems concerned with the release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal, in addition to conducting research and developing the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation.  Many find industrial and medical uses for radioactive materials, such as equipment used in medical diagnosis and treatment, while others specialize in the development of nuclear power sources for ships and/or spacecraft.

The duties of Nuclear Engineers at powerplants include:  designing and operating nuclear power plants; designing or developing nuclear equipment; monitoring nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws; examining nuclear accidents and gathering data that can be used to design preventive measures; writing operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation or in handling and disposing of nuclear waste; directing operating or maintenance activities of operational nuclear powerplants to ensure that they meet safety standards; performing experiments to test whether methods of using nuclear material, reclaiming nuclear fuel, or disposing of nuclear waste are acceptable; and taking corrective actions or ordering plant shutdowns in emergencies.

Students interested in studying Nuclear Engineering should take high school courses in Mathematics, such as Algebra, Trigonometry, and Calculus; and Science, such as Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.  Those entering Nuclear Engineering Bachelor's of Science programs from high school with no previous Nuclear Engineering training should expect a period of four to five years to complete said program.  Nuclear Engineers who work for nuclear power plants are not required to be licensed.  But for those who wish to establish their own Nuclear Engineering consulting firms and work directly with the public, licensure is required.  

With the increased use of nuclear power as an alternative energy source and with the advent, advances, and awareness of nuclear medicine in cancer treatment, the demand for Nuclear Engineers steadily increases.  And as Nuclear Engineers find more uses/applications for nuclear energy, no end is in sight for their demand nor growth.
Job Description
Median Salary & Range
​Median Salary:  $101,930

Salary Range:  ~$67,100 - $147,670+
College Majors & Attainment Routes
​The normal routes to becoming a Nuclear Engineer have been to major in Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Science and Engineering, Engineering Physics, Physics (Pre-Engineering), Chemical Engineering,​Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or even Civil Engineering, Engineering Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, Occupational Safety and Health, or Biochemistry.

Those who earn degrees in non-engineering majors must go back to attain a Bachelor's or Master's in Nuclear Engineering in order to be eligible to pursue a license and ultimately establish a Nuclear Engineering consulting firm.
Colleges That Provide Above Majors
​Colleges and universities that have Nuclear Engineering and the majors listed above are:  Tennessee State University (Nashville, Tennessee); Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia); Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, Alabama); North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, North Carolina); Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas); Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Southern University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana); Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi); Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Virginia); Florida Memorial University (Miami Gardens, Florida); Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, Georgia); Benedict College (Columbia, South Carolina); Lincoln University (Lincoln University, Pennsylvania); Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia); South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia); and Oakwood University (Huntsville, Alabama).
Available Scholarships