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Nuclear Engineering, BS

Nuclear engineers use nuclear science and technology to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges: expanding clean energy, diagnosing and curing diseases, traveling to distant plants, and reducing the risk of nuclear weapons. Our hands-on curriculum will equip you to keep up with rapidly changing technology, and our close-knit learning community will support your success during your academic career and beyond.

Design your academic journey

The major

Your primary field of study, which defines your core technical curriculum and the degree you earn.
All program details

Sample Degree/Major Plan

Fall semester (16 credits)
  • CHEM 109 – Advanced General Chemistry 5
  • MATH 221 – Calculus And Analytic Geometry 1 5
  • Engr Comm 1 3
  • Liberal Studies Elective 3
Spring semester (16 credits)
  • E M A 201 – Statics 3
  • MATH 222 – Calculus And Analytic Geometry 2 4
  • M E 231 – Geometric Modeling For Design And Manufacturing 3
  • M S & E 350 – Introduction To Materials Science 3
  • N E 231 – Introduction To Nuclear Engineering 3
Fall semester (17 credits)
  • MATH 234 – Calculus–functions Of Several Variables 4
  • PHYSICS 202 – General Physics 5
  • E M A 202 – Dynamics 3
  • STAT 324 – Introduction To Statistics For Science And Engineering 3
  • INTEREGR 275 – Technical Presentations 2
Spring semester (16 credits)
  • MATH 320 – Linear Algebra And Differential Equations 3
  • PHYSICS 241 OR 205 3
  • M E 361 – Thermodynamics 3
  • E M A 303 – Mechanics Of Materials 3
  • N E 424 – Nuclear Materials Laboratory 1
  • Liberal Studies Elective 3
Fall semester (15 credits)
  • N E 305 – Fundamentals Of Nuclear Engineering 3
  • MATH 321 – Applied Mathematical Analysis 1: Vector And Complex Calculus 3
  • E P 271 – Engineering Problem Solving I 3
  • Technical Elective 2
  • Liberal Studies Elective 4
Spring semester (15 credits)
  • N E 405 – Nuclear Reactor Theory 3
  • N E 408 – Ionizing Radiation 3
  • CBE 320 OR PHYSICS 322 3
  • E P/​E M A 471 – Intermediate Problem Solving For Engineers 3
  • E C E 376 – Electrical And Electronic Circuits 3
Fall semester (17 credits)
  • N E 411 OR 525 3
  • N E 427 – Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory 2
  • N E/​M S & E 423 – Nuclear Engineering Materials 3
  • Nuclear Engineering ElectiveNS, FP 3
  • Liberal Studies Elective 3
  • INTEREGR 397 – Engineering Communication 3
Spring semester (17 credits)
  • N E 412 – Nuclear Reactor Design 5
  • N E 428 OR 526 3
  • N E 571 – Economic And Environmental Aspects Of Nuclear Energy 3
  • Nuclear Engineering Elective 3
  • Liberal Studies Elective 3

Named options

Dive deeper into your major and earn a formal credential that appears on your transcript.
Radiation sciences

Radiation sciences

Students who select the Radiation Sciences Option will learn about topics like radiation detection, biological effects of radiation, and the safe handling of radioactive materials. This option is ideal for students that are interested in medical applications of nuclear technologies like developing equipment to diagnose and treat cancer.

Focus area

A flexible way to build your technical mastery and customize your education without adding a formal credential to your transcript.

Nuclear systems

Study the design and operation of nuclear power plants through courses in nuclear reactor design, materials science, radiation transport, computational modeling, thermal systems, and regulatory compliance.

Fusion plasma

Fusion energy has the potential to transform the global energy landscape, and UW–Madison is among the largest university plasma and fusion communities in the world. Dive deep into the theory and practical application of plasma physics, electromagnetic fields, and plasma confinement.

An accelerated engineering master’s program is a great choice if you’d like to earn your master’s degree by adding as little as a single year of study at UW-Madison.
View all accelerated programs

Investing in your future

Value and costs

Based on an average of 12-18 credits per semester for the 2025-26 academic year from bursars office tuition rates workbook.
Tuition is one part of the overall cost of attendance at UW-Madison.  For more information on the cost of attendance, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Wisconsin icon

Wisconsin resident

$7,840

Minnesota icon

Minnesota reciprocity

$10,726

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Non-resident

$24,597

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Non-resident international

$25,097

Scholarships

Our scholarships aren’t just about financial support; they’re about investing in your potential and helping you focus on what matters most: your education and your future as a leader in engineering.
Engineering scholarships
4.4M
scholarships awarded
1,200
undergrad recipients
1,550
scholarships awarded, made possible by the generous support of donors

Outcomes

Here’s what life after graduation could look like for you.
$82,000
FIRST-YEAR MEDIAN SALARY

Key employers

  • Argonne National Laboratory
  • Arizona Public Service (APS)
  • Constellation
  • NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes
  • Westinghouse Electric Company

Common job titles

  • Fuels Engineer
  • Nuclear Engineer
  • Safety Engineer
  • Design Engineer
  • Reactor Engineer

Your path to admission

Freshman

Starting college for the first time?

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Transfer student

Coming from another college or university?

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Cross-campus student

Already at UW–Madison?

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Reentry student

Took time off?

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Your built-in network

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As an undergrad, you can help pioneer new knowledge or technologies on your own or as a researcher in a professor’s lab. It’s a great opportunity to apply what you’re learning in class, explore a field or topic that interests you, and gain insight into what it’s like to be a graduate student.

Undergraduate research
undergraduate showing research technique in structures lab.

Explore, get involved, try new things and soak up everything our campus and the surrounding environs have to offer.

Student life

The College of Engineering offers services specifically for engineering students, in addition to the services offered campus-wide.

Student services
Four students pose and smile with Dr. Ebony McGee in the IEDE Student Center
undergraduate showing research technique in structures lab.
Our eight renowned academic departments form the heart and personality of our college.
Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

Life as a Badger engineer

See what it’s actually like to live, learn and grow here through the stories of the people who know us best.
“Nuclear is a very niche field. We have very small classes and you’re going to see a lot of the same people throughout the day, which helps build collaboration when you’re working on projects and studying together. I think that’s very helpful.”
Brienna Johnson, NE ’23 Operator, UW Nuclear Reactor
Brienna Johnson, NE ’23

Why should you choose UW-Madison for engineering? Find out what it’s like to major in biomedical engineering.

Jamie Coble

Focus on new faculty: Jamie Coble harnesses data analytics to improve nuclear power plant operations and maintenance

Jamie Coble joined the UW-Madison Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics as a professor in August 2026. She is…

Read the Full Story
2
undergraduate ranking among public universities in nuclear engineering
Headshot of engineering physics undergraduate student Jay Dregney

Rewarding research experiences shape an undergraduate’s path in fusion energy

Katy Huff

Focus on new faculty: Kathryn Huff is advancing modeling capabilities for nuclear reactors and fuel cycles

A W crest banner flutters in the wind on Bascom Hill at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during autumn on Oct. 18, 2019

Engineering Moonshots brings campus leaders together around six ambitious challenges

ABET accreditation

The B.S. in Nuclear Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Nuclear, Radiological, and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Program Educational Objectives for the Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering

We recognize that our graduates will choose to use the knowledge and skills that they have acquired during their undergraduate years to pursue a wide variety of career and life goals, and we encourage this diversity of paths. We anticipate graduates will begin their careers in fields that utilize their knowledge, education and training in the interaction of radiation with matter as it applies to power generation, health and medical physics, security and safeguards and other engineering fields.

Whatever path our graduates choose to pursue, our educational objectives for the nuclear engineering program are to allow them to:

  1. Exhibit strong performance and continuous development in problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, and communication, initially applied to nuclear engineering, and demonstrating an unwavering commitment to excellence.
  2. Demonstrate continuing commitment to, and interest in, their training and education, as well as those of others.
  3. Transition seamlessly into a professional environment and make continuing, well-informed career choices.
  4. Contribute to their communities.

Nuclear Engineering Undergraduate Program website. (In this Guide, the program’s Student Outcomes are available through the “Learning Outcomes” tab.)

Learning Outcomes

  1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Degrees:

  • Conferred, 2024-2025
    Bachelor of Science, Nuclear Engineering: 14
  • Enrolled, Fall 2025
    Bachelor of Science, Nuclear Engineering: 141

Still exploring?

We have 13 engineering undergrad majors—so you can find the field that’s the best fit for you (even if you decide to switch later).

Compare majors

Select up to three majors to compare.

Questions?

Email questions to our College of Engineering team at FutureEngineers@engr.wisc.edu and someone will get back to you soon.