NERS Minor

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Coming Fall 2025! Dive into the cutting-edge world of nuclear and plasma processes, radiation applications, and their impact on industries, healthcare, government, and the environment. Perfect for non-NERS majors seeking to broaden their horizons!

Eligibility

Good academic standing (GPA ≥ 2.0).
Declared a major other than NERS.

Program Highlights

Students can begin declaring Fall 2025
16 Credit Hours: Flexible and tailored coursework.
Core Course (4 credits): Fundamentals of NERS
Foundation Options (Choose 1+):
- Elements of NERS
- Nuclear Engineering Materials
- Plasmas & Fusion
- Radiological Health Engineering
Electives: Select from 300-level+ NERS courses or specialized topics.

Optional Specializations

Customize your minor with focus areas like:

person in lab tooling with green glowing tank

Fission Systems

man using VR technology in front of a computer screen

Nuclear Materials

a woman positions a test dummy on a piece of medical equipment

Radiation Measurements & Applications

two researchers over a huge box filled with purple and green wires

Plasma Science & Engineering

Get Support Every Step of the Way

Our dedicated advisors and administrative team will guide you through requirements, career opportunities, and academic planning.

Khan Nguyen

Recruiting & Outreach Coordinator
Michelle Sonderman

Student Administration Manager
Kevin Field

Associate Professor and Undergraduate Chair

Requirements

Minimum Program Requirements

A minimum of 16 credits must be completed with a grade of C or higher in all minor courses.

Required Core Course:

NERS 250 Fundamentals of NERS (4 cr)

*NERS 211 may be substituted for NERS 250 on approval by the NERS Undergraduate Chair

Foundation Course (must select 1 or more):

NERS 311 Elements of NERS I (3 cr)
NERS 421 Nuclear Engineering Materials (3 cr)
NERS 471 Introduction to Plasmas and Fusion (3 cr)
NERS 484 Radiological Health Eng Fundamentals (4 cr)

Electives (remaining credits to come from below list to hit 16 cr)

Any 300 level and above NERS course (a maximum of 3 credits of NERS 499 can be used towards the minor)
Physics 405

Course Prerequisite Information

Students can reference the NERS course descriptions, NERS course schedule, and Atlas for a basic introduction to NERS Courses.

Optional Specialization Areas

The recommended specializations provide guidance for creating sensible course structures for NERS students minoring in Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences, particularly for those seeking expertise in fission systems, nuclear materials, radiation protection and measurements, or plasma science and engineering. Bridge courses are listed as key electives to take before selecting more advanced specialization courses, following the completion of the core and foundational courses. Students seeking a broad generalization in Nuclear Engineering are recommended to take all foundation courses in lieu of listed bridge or advanced specialization courses.