Graduate

Engineering at Illinois Engineering at Illinois

Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering

Graduate

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE
STUDIES IN NPRE

I. Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering Prerequisites for Graduate Admissions

1. All Graduate Students
Prerequisites for entrance into the graduate program in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering are as follows:
a. A course in ordinary differential equations plus one other mathematics course beyond calculus;
b. An intermediate-level course in atomic and nuclear physics;
c. A course in electrical circuit theory;
d. A course in thermodynamics;
e. A course in fluid mechanics or a course in continuum mechanics; and
f. A course in introduction to Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering (e.g. NPRE 247)

Lack of one or more of these prerequisites is not intended to be the basis of exclusion of a student otherwise qualified, but the deficiency or deficiencies must be made up by taking courses which will not count toward the number of units for an advanced degree.

The atomic physics prerequisite does not necessarily demand completion of a course specifically called "Atomic and Nuclear Physics." It does require that the student have taken course work leading to some understanding of atomic structure and spectra; nuclear structure and models, and reactors; and the use of quantum mechanics in understanding the basic principles of the subject. This material is often covered in courses titled "Modern Physics."

2. International Graduate Students
In order to be accepted for admission into the Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering graduate program, international students must have passed the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination with a grade of at least 550 paper based, or 213 computer based, unless exempted by the department admissions committee.
Some international students, such as those who have already attended another U.S. institution of higher education for at least two years full-time, may not be required by the University of Illinois to take the TOEFL examination.
Those students not required to take the TOEFL and those students who score lower than 607 paper based, or 253 computer based, must take the English Placement Test (EPT) once on campus. The EPT results will determine if any ESL (English as a Second Language) courses are required. Any ESL courses required must be begun within the student’s first two semesters. The student will be placed on limited status until any required ESL courses are taken. Students cannot graduate while on limited status.