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Nuclear Engineering

Where Fission Meets Fusion

Develop a broad understanding of the fundamentals of nuclear energy, including nuclear reactor systems, fuel systems, and electromagnetism. Graduates often pursue careers at industrial laboratories, power plants, or teaching institutions.

University of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina

The Nuclear Engineering Program at the University of South Carolina began in 2003 and offers a minor as well as graduate level degrees—Master of Science, Master of Engineering and Ph.D. The program is part of the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Engineering students and others from closely related disciplines with sufficient math and science courses can minor in Nuclear Engineering to gain specialized knowledge and capabilities needed to excel in this challenging field.

The 2012 median pay for nuclear engineers was more than $104,000 according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics and is second only to petroleum engineering. The job outlook for graduate is excellent due to growth in the industry and the retirement of an aging workforce.

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About University of South Carolina

University of South Carolina is a public institution that was founded in 1801. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,556, its setting is city, and the campus size is 444 acres. The student-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina is 18:1. The most popular majors include: Finance and Financial Management Services; Research and Experimental Psychology; Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences; Biology, General; and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.

The University of South Carolina’s college town, Columbia, boasts a variety of entertainment, nightlife, and outdoor options for students to check out after class. Other college towns, including Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina, are both less than two hours away.

Year Founded: 1801

School Type: Public, Coed

Setting: Suburban