NE101: Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering from Udemy

My name is William Roysdon Murray, and welcome to Nuclear Engineering 101.

There's not many online resources available online for getting started with Nuclear Engineering, so I made my own. I first learned about nuclear fission in my high school Chemistry class, and I had hundreds of questions for my teacher after that lesson - Why does both splitting an atom and fusing two atoms both produce energy? Can you make infinite energy from splitting and fusing atoms over and over again? Why are we not using more nuclear power to fight climate change when it makes so much energy without carbon dioxide? How do we have so many nuclear power plants but none of them use fusion technology?

Well, I went to NC State University for about 6 years to study Nuclear Engineering and get my questions answered, and it put me about $86,000 in student debt by the time I was done. Not everyone has the time or the money for that. If you're interested in Nuclear Engineering but its not taught at your school, or you don't want to go through the hassle of enrolling in a university again, this course is for you. I've developed this course based off my first year of nuclear courses at NC State, even using the same textbook - Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering by Shultis and Faw. My lectures will guide you through the physics concepts covered in each chapter, and the textbook will serve as your technical guide for modelling the physics with mathematics. I'll even walk you through number crunching the homework problems in Python to show you how to use the textbook to better understand nuclear science.

My hope for this course is that you will discover the magic behind nuclear technology and find a specialty within nuclear that you will want to continue studying - I'll tell you where to go next at the the end of the course based on what you like too.

Radiation Physics: Classical physics from Newton won't be enough for us to understand how nuclear technology works. We will cover the advances in physics made by the likes of Meitner, Schrodinger, Einstein, and others in the early 20th century in preparation for our deep dive into nuclear reactors and medicine.

This course covers:

Fundamentals of atomic structure, modern physics, and Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity
The various types of particle and electromagnetic radiation, and how radioactive decay processes can be modeled using differential equations
Binary nuclear reactions between bombarding radiation and target nuclei - producing new isotopes and radiation in the process
How radiation interacts with matter - calculating nuclear reaction rates in materials that and the basics of radiation shielding

Nuclear Fission: Nuclear power plants are one of the largest sources of carbon-free electricity in the world. Understanding the nuclear fission process is absolutely necessary to designing the next generation of nuclear power plants to fight climate change. This course covers:

Calculating the energy released from nuclear fission and chain reactions
The anatomy of a nuclear reactor and how its components control the chain reaction
Differences between Traditional and Advanced nuclear reactors, including Small Modular Reactors and Liquid-Metal Reactors
Basics of the nuclear fuel cycle - how we mine uranium, enrich it, use it in power plants, and dispose of it as nuclear waste. Nuclear waste reprocessing and recycling is also discussed.

Nuclear Fusion: Fusion technology aims to harness the power of the stars with the greatest advancements in science and engineering, without the harmful waste that comes with nuclear fission technology. Dozens of companies are pursuing the fusion dream and aiming to be the first to connect a fusion reactor to the electricity grid. This course covers:

Comparing the energy released and waste produced by fusion power compared to fission power
Basics of Plasma Science and Engineering that are necessary for advanced studies in fusion energy
Types of nuclear fusion reactors - Gravitational Confinement (Stars & the Sun), Magnetic Confinement (Tokamaks and Stellarators), and Inertial Confinement Fusion (High-Energy Lasers)

Nuclear Medicine: Nuclear technology has brought incredible advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic medicine over the last century. Over 40 million nuclear medicine procedures are performed each year, with demand constantly increasing. This course covers:

How medical radioisotopes are produced in reactors and particle accelerators
How these isotopes can be used to perform diagnostic imaging and destroy cancer cells
How radiation can be applied externally without invasive surgery to irradiate tumors
How nuclear diagnostic and therapeutic devices are built and the principles of their operation

Course Logistics

This course is roughly equivalent to a one-semester, 4-credit university engineering course taken by STEM students in their sophomore or junior year. It is expected that students have taken two semesters of university-level physics (Mechanics and Electromagnetism) and two semesters of Calculus (Derivatives, Integrals, and basic Differential Equations). It is strongly recommended that students have taken Python for Nuclear Science and Engineering or an equivalent programming course to be able to solve homework problems involving number crunching and plotting graphs.

Course Textbook: Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 3rd Edition by Shultis and Faw

Suggested Pace: 1 Chapter each Week, with selected problems for that chapter as homework

Total Chapters Covered: ~12 of 14 Chapters in Shultis and Faw; approximately 12 weeks of learning

Upon enrolling in the course, students will be invited to join the Nuclear Learning Community to assist each other in solving technical problems and improving their understanding on topics discussed in the course.

Disclaimer: No organizations mentioned in this video series have endorsed the contents of this series, nor does the lecturer claim to speak on official behalf of any organizations mentioned in this series.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the fundamental physics behind atomic structure and isotope stability
Calculate the energy released from radioactive decay, fission, and fusion using e=mc^2
Practice the foundations of nuclear reactor design with the 4-factor formula and the one-speed neutron diffusion equation
Study the high-level principles behind different fusion reactor designs
Learn the history behind medical applications of radiation and how technology has improved over the last century

Discover how medical radioisotopes can be used for diagnostic imaging and cancer therapy
Discover how advanced reactors work, including small modular reactors, microreactors, and liquid-metal cooled reactors
Learn the designs of boiling water reactors, pressurized water reactors, and candu reactors and how they power the us and canada
Follow along with problem solving using python for our number-crunching needs

Understand the fundamental physics behind atomic structure and isotope stability
Calculate the energy released from radioactive decay, fission, and fusion using e=mc^2
Practice the foundations of nuclear reactor design with the 4-factor formula and the one-speed neutron diffusion equation
Study the high-level principles behind different fusion reactor designs
Learn the history behind medical applications of radiation and how technology has improved over the last century
Discover how medical radioisotopes can be used for diagnostic imaging and cancer therapy
Discover how advanced reactors work, including small modular reactors, microreactors, and liquid-metal cooled reactors
Learn the designs of boiling water reactors, pressurized water reactors, and candu reactors and how they power the us and canada
Follow along with problem solving using python for our number-crunching needs

Syllabus

Introduction

Welcome to the course!

The course textbook and solution manual is introduced as a key study aide for this course. How to use the textbook and its Appendixes is discussed.

Students will cover a brief history of Nuclear Science and Engineering since the late 1800's to present. The current and future status of nuclear power will be discussed to inspire students to continue pursuing this field of study.

Students are invited and encouraged to join an online learning community to help them with their studies and professional development.

Textbook readings for Shutis and Faw are provided for grasping the Fundamental Physics of Nuclear Science and Engineering.

The anatomy of atoms and common terminology used throughout nuclear is reviewed.

Students are introduced to the Chart of the Nuclides as a resource for gathering useful information on isotopes and their radioactive decay properties.

Sample homework problems from Chapters 1 and 3 are solved in detail.

Students are introduced to performing energy calculations related to radioactive decay and nuclear reactions.

Sample problems from Chapter 4 are solved in detail.

Students are introduced to fundamental concepts of radioactive decay, different forms of decay, and how to use the Chart of the Nuclides to get information on how isotopes decay.

Students are introduced to Binary Nuclear Reactions. Nuclear Energetics are reviewed, and basic fission properties are discussed.

Students are introduced to radiation attenuation through a medium and the concept of nth-collided (particle) flux. Brachytherapy is introduced as an application of studying Radiation Interaction with Matter.

Readings for Nuclear Fission are provided.

Energetics of Nuclear Fission are reviewed, as well as characteristics of the fission process. Concepts such as fission yield, fissile isotopes, fertile isotopes, and fissionable isotopes are discussed.

Reactor materials and their general characteristics are discussed in terms of nuclear reaction cross sections. Key materials include fuel, moderator, reflector, and shielding.

The neutron life cycle is introduced through the 4-factor formula model. Fast vs thermal neutrons are discussed, as well as the thermalization process. The concept of the neutron multiplication factor "k" is defined.

The one-speed Neutron Diffusion Equation is derived as a more-descriptive model of neutron behavior in a reactor. Comparison with the 4-factor formula is discussed.

Concepts and equations for the study of Reactor Kinetics are introduced, including reactivity, reactor period, and the In-Hour Equation.

Sources of Reactivity Feedback are discussed in detail. Differential Equations are used to track the concentration of Fission Poisons such as Xe-135 in a reactor.

Basic power plant mechanics are discussed - students are introduced to the Rankine (Steam) Cycle, Brayton (Gas) Cycle, and Magnetohydrodynamic Generators.

Characteristics of traditional reactors are described, with operating power plants in the USA, Ukraine, and Canada used as examples. Topics include Boiling Water Reactors, Pressurized Water Reactors, and Heavy Water Reactors.

Characteristics of advanced reactors are described, with commercial examples. Topics include Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), Microreactors, Space Reactors, Liquid-Metal Reactors, High Temperature Gas Reactors, and Research Reactors.

Students are introduced to the nuclear fuel cycle spanning from uranium extraction from the Earth to spent fuel reprocessing and ultimate disposal.

Readings for Nuclear Fusion are provided.

Energetics of Nuclear Fusion Reactions are reviewed, as well as the interest in various isotopes of Hydrogen as a fusion fuel source.

Students are introduced to fundamental concepts in Plasma Science and Engineering that are key to deeper understanding of fusion reactor design.

Different fusion reactor designs are discussed at a conceptual level.

Readings for Nuclear Medicine are provided.

Students are introduced to different options for producing isotopes that can be used for medical and industrial purposes.

Various methods for using medical isotopes to diagnose diseases are discussed. Emphasis is placed on Mo-99 and Tc-99m as a high-demand isotope in the medical world.

Methods for applying radiation non-invasively with external beams to treat diseases are discussed.

Methods for applying radiation internally to treat diseases are discussed, including brachytherapy, radionuclide therapy, and boron neutron capture therapy.

Sample problems from Chapter 14 are solved in detail.

Students interested in deeper studies in Nuclear Science and Engineering are pointed to different study paths to continue their education.

Short list of recommended texts for further study.

You made it to the end! Thank you for sticking through it all!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Uses the textbook from NC State's nuclear engineering program, which may give learners access to similar material as university students

Covers nuclear fission, which is necessary for designing the next generation of nuclear power plants to fight climate change

Explores nuclear medicine, which has brought incredible advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic medicine over the last century

Requires two semesters of university-level physics and calculus, which may pose a barrier to entry for some learners

Strongly recommends a Python programming course, which may require learners to seek out additional learning resources

Uses Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 3rd Edition by Shultis and Faw, which learners will need to acquire

Reviews summary

Fundamentals of nuclear science and engineering overview

According to learners, NE101 offers a solid foundation and comprehensive overview of nuclear science and engineering, suitable for those with a strong STEM background. Students appreciate the instructor's clear explanations and the course's structure, which closely follows the recommended textbook, Shultis and Faw. Many find the inclusion of Python examples for problem-solving particularly helpful. While the course covers a wide range of topics from fission and fusion to nuclear medicine, some reviewers note that the material is demanding and the pace can feel challenging, particularly if prerequisites in physics and calculus are not firmly in place. The reliance on working through the dense textbook is also a key factor mentioned. Overall, it is seen as a valuable, albeit rigorous, introduction.

Textbook is crucial for deep understanding.

"A solid introduction. The reliance on the Shultis and Faw textbook is significant, and while the lectures guide you, you really need to work through the book."

"The reliance on a specific textbook is okay, but the material is dense."

"Following along with the textbook and doing the sample problems is crucial."

Covers fission, fusion, medicine, etc.

"It covers a wide range of topics from fission to medicine, which is great for getting a broad view."

"Good breadth, covering fission, fusion, medicine."

"I appreciated the coverage of both historical context and modern applications like SMRs and nuclear medicine."

Integrated coding examples are very useful.

"The instructor is clear and the Python examples for homework problems are a lifesaver."

"The sample problems and Python integration are helpful."

"Following along with the textbook and doing the sample problems is crucial. The lectures clarify difficult concepts."

Lectures are well-explained and helpful.

"The instructor is clear and the Python examples for homework problems are a lifesaver."

"Fantastic overview of nuclear science and engineering. The instructor explains complex topics well."

"The lectures clarify difficult concepts. The discussion of advanced reactors and nuclear medicine applications was a highlight."

Covers key concepts comprehensively.

"This course is exactly what I needed to brush up on my nuclear engineering fundamentals..."

"A solid introduction. The reliance on the Shultis and Faw textbook is significant, and while the lectures guide you..."

"Fantastic overview of nuclear science and engineering. The instructor explains complex topics well."

"Excellent course for getting a foundation in nuclear engineering. It's demanding but rewarding."

Material is difficult and requires effort.

"I struggled with the homework problems, even with the Python help. The prerequisites are serious..."

"It's definitely university level difficulty."

"Be prepared for challenging material and a significant time commitment. It requires dedication, like a real university course."

"Excellent course for getting a foundation in nuclear engineering. It's demanding but rewarding."

Needs strong physics and calculus background.

"The pace can feel fast if you're not fully up to speed on the calculus/physics prerequisites."

"The prerequisites are serious; make sure you are solid on differential equations and physics. I felt lost at times."

"I found this course very difficult. The instructor assumes a strong background in physics and calculus..."

"This feels more like a review for engineers than a true 'fundamentals' course for someone with weaker math skills."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in NE101: Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering with these activities:

Review Calculus and Differential Equations

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Strengthen your understanding of calculus and differential equations, which are essential for modeling radioactive decay and reactor kinetics.

Browse courses on Differential Equations

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Review key concepts from calculus textbooks.
Practice solving differential equations related to physics.
Work through example problems from past coursework.

Read 'Nuclear Energy: An Introduction to Concepts, Systems, and Applications of Nuclear Processes'

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Gain a broader understanding of nuclear energy concepts and applications to supplement the course textbook.

View Nuclear Energy: An Introduction to the Concepts... on Amazon

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Read the chapters relevant to the course syllabus.
Take notes on key concepts and definitions.
Relate the book's content to the course lectures.

Solve practice problems on radioactive decay

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Reinforce your understanding of radioactive decay by working through a variety of practice problems.

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Find practice problems in textbooks or online resources.
Solve the problems independently, showing all work.
Check your answers against solutions and identify areas for improvement.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Read 'Understanding the Nuclear Fuel Cycle'

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Expand your understanding of the nuclear fuel cycle and its implications.

View Alter Ego: A Novel on Amazon

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Read the chapters on uranium mining, enrichment, and waste disposal.
Take notes on the key processes and technologies involved.
Consider the environmental and economic impacts of the fuel cycle.

Create a presentation on advanced reactor designs

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Deepen your knowledge of advanced reactor designs by researching and presenting on a specific type.

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Choose an advanced reactor design (SMR, liquid metal, etc.).
Research the design's principles, advantages, and disadvantages.
Create a presentation summarizing your findings.
Present your findings to peers or in an online forum.

Compile a list of resources for nuclear medicine

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Create a curated list of websites, articles, and books related to nuclear medicine.

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Search for reputable sources on nuclear medicine.
Categorize the resources by topic (imaging, therapy, etc.).
Write a brief description of each resource.

Model a nuclear reactor using Python

Show steps

Apply your knowledge of reactor physics and Python programming to create a simulation of a nuclear reactor.

Show steps

Define the reactor parameters (geometry, materials, etc.).
Implement the neutron diffusion equation in Python.
Simulate the reactor's behavior under different conditions.
Validate your model against known reactor data.

Career center

Learners who complete NE101: Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Nuclear Engineer

A nuclear engineer researches and develops nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, and associated instrumentation. This course helps build a foundation in the fundamentals of nuclear science and engineering, covering essential topics like atomic structure, radioactive decay, and nuclear fission. The course's use of the textbook "Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering" by Shultis and Faw, will be relevant for those studying to become a nuclear engineer. Moreover, exposure to Python for solving problems will be beneficial because nuclear engineers often use computational tools for reactor design and analysis. Also, studying advanced reactors and the nuclear fuel cycle provides a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nuclear Engineer

Reactor Operator

Reactor operators control and monitor nuclear reactors in power plants or research facilities. This course provides an overview of nuclear fission, reactor components, and control mechanisms. The concepts presented in this course, like the neutron life cycle and reactor kinetics, are directly applicable to understanding how a reactor works and how to safely manage its operation. Reactor operators will find the sections on traditional and advanced reactors particularly useful. This course will be useful for those hoping to become a reactor operator because it covers the material used in introductory nuclear engineering courses.

See salaries and explore the career path for Reactor Operator

Radiation Protection Specialist

A radiation protection specialist, also called a health physicist, works to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation. This course helps build a foundation in understanding radiation types, radioactive decay, and how radiation interacts with matter. The course may be useful to those studying to become radiation protection specialist, because it covers radiation shielding basics and calculating nuclear reaction rates in materials. Also, knowledge of medical radioisotopes, as covered in the course, can be useful in the medical field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Radiation Protection Specialist

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Nuclear medicine technologists use radioactive materials and sophisticated imaging equipment to diagnose and treat diseases. This course may be useful to those studying to become nuclear medicine technologists, because it offers an introduction to medical radioisotopes, diagnostic imaging, and radiation therapy. The course can also assist those hoping to enter this field, because it discusses how medical isotopes are produced in reactors and particle accelerators. It also discusses the principles of nuclear diagnostic and therapeutic device operation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Plasma Physicist

Plasma physicists study the properties and behavior of plasma, which is essential for developing fusion energy. This course introduces the basics of plasma science and engineering that are necessary for advanced studies in fusion energy. The course is also useful to those planning to become plasma physicists, because it provides an overview of different fusion reactor designs, including magnetic confinement and inertial confinement fusion. The coverage of fusion reactor designs is a valuable introduction to the challenges and opportunities in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Plasma Physicist

Nuclear Materials Scientist

A nuclear materials scientist researches and develops materials for use in nuclear reactors and other nuclear applications. This course may be useful to those studying to be nuclear materials scientists, because it covers reactor materials and their characteristics in terms of nuclear reaction cross sections. The course's discussion of the nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear waste disposal can also be helpful for understanding the challenges in managing nuclear materials. It also covers the use of different materials as a fuel, moderator, reflector, and shielding.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nuclear Materials Scientist

Nuclear Waste Management Specialist

Nuclear waste management specialists develop and implement strategies for the safe storage and disposal of radioactive waste. This course may be useful to those studying to become nuclear waste management specialist, because it covers the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining, enrichment, and waste disposal. Also, the nuclear waste reprocessing and recycling is discussed. The short discussion on nuclear waste disposal options is particularly relevant to the challenges faced by specialists in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nuclear Waste Management Specialist

Nuclear Security Specialist

A nuclear security specialist works to protect nuclear facilities and materials from theft or sabotage. This course may be useful to those studying to become nuclear security specialists, because it provides a foundation in understanding nuclear materials, reactors, and the nuclear fuel cycle. This course may also be useful because a nuclear security specialist needs to understand the potential risks associated with nuclear technology. This course offers an introduction to reactor operation and nuclear material handling.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nuclear Security Specialist

Accelerator Physicist

Accelerator physicists design, build, and operate particle accelerators, which are used in research, medicine, and industry. This course may be useful to those studying to become accelerator physicists, because it introduces the production of medical isotopes in particle accelerators. Also, it may be useful in the field of accelerator physics because it provides a foundation in nuclear reactions and radiation physics. This course may also be helpful because of its focus on the underlying physics that drives the technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accelerator Physicist

Energy Policy Advisor

Energy policy advisors analyze energy issues and provide recommendations to policymakers. This course may be useful to those studying to become energy policy advisors, because it provides an overview of nuclear fission and fusion. It also provides a discussion of the nuclear fuel cycle. The material in this course can help an energy policy advisor understand the current and future role of nuclear power in addressing climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Energy Policy Advisor

Research Scientist

A research scientist plans and conducts experiments to expand scientific knowledge. This course may be useful to those studying to become scientists in fields related to the course, because the included textbook and solution manual are a key study aide for this course. Also, this course uses Python for number crunching. This course provides a foundation of knowledge for those who wish to perform research in nuclear science.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

Science Teacher

A science teacher educates students about scientific topics. This course may be useful to those studying to become science teachers, because it provides a wide survey of nuclear phenomena including fission, fusion, and nuclear medicine. This course has a complete syllabus. Because it is titled Nuclear Engineering 101, it is especially likely to be accessible to newcomers. The teacher will be able to answer student questions with the knowledge they learn from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Teacher

Technical Writer

A technical writer creates documentation to explain complex material in an accessible way. This course may be useful to those studying to become technical writers, because the course will familiarize them with multiple concepts, devices, and vocabulary. The technical writer can leverage their familiarity with the subject matter to create accurate and informative documents. The fact that the course uses a textbook with a solutions manual is helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Power Plant Manager

A power plant manager oversees the operations of a power plant. This course may be useful to those studying to become power plant managers who want to understand nuclear power plants in particular. The course may be useful because it covers traditional and advanced nuclear reactors, as well as the nuclear fuel cycle from uranium to disposal. Understanding the technical details of nuclear power will help a power plant manager better understand their facility.

See salaries and explore the career path for Power Plant Manager

Robotics Technician

A robotics technician installs, maintains, and repairs robotic systems. This course may be useful to those studying to become robotics technicians, because this course refers to using radiation on tumors without invasive surgery. Those technicians, in particular, need a strong knowledge of radiation and its properties. This course can offer a cursory introduction to radiation and radiation shielding.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Technician

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in NE101: Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Alter Ego

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of the nuclear fuel cycle, from uranium mining to waste disposal. It valuable resource for understanding the environmental and economic aspects of nuclear power. This book adds breadth to the course by providing a detailed look at the fuel cycle, which is only briefly covered in the main textbook. It is useful as additional reading for students interested in the practical aspects of nuclear energy.

Alter Ego: A Novel

Paperback

Nuclear Energy

Save

Provides a broad overview of nuclear energy, covering fission, fusion, reactor design, and the fuel cycle. It serves as a valuable reference for understanding the concepts discussed in the course. While Shultis and Faw is the primary textbook, this book offers a more accessible introduction to the field. It is particularly helpful for students who want a less mathematically intensive overview of nuclear engineering.

Nuclear Energy: An Introduction to the Concepts,...

Kindle Edition

$$$

NE101

Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Fundamentals of nuclear science and engineering overview

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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