I am a Bear's Guide newbie with lofty goals

Hi Degree info forum, would you please advise me?

My goal is entrance to Texas A&M University's Nuclear Engineering Graduate program, for the fall term this year.
What schools should I start looking at for a bachelors of science by clep? or other suggestions?


I have been interested in nuclear physics ever since I was given an illustrated dictionary of physics. I grew up pursuing more tangible sciences, mostly computer and electrical. Recently, I've watched most of Kirk Sorensen's videos, and my passion for nuclear science has be rekindled.

Currently, I am 26 with an associate's degree in applied science in electrical and instrumentation technologies from Eastern Arizona College.
I have 2 years work experience as an instrumentation technician at a copper smelter.
I have 88 traditional semester credits, half are technical non-transferable credits. My Unofficial Transcript
I was home schooled, which included a three month field trip to Guatemala.
I have read Bear's Guide.

Thanks in advance
~inst

 

Hi inst. Welcome to Degree Info. Here's some info about the timing of your posts showing up: http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/35100-new-users-ask-where-did-my-posts-go.html

You might look into Excelsior College. It's a good, regionally accredited school and CLEP tests are honored there. They appear to have a program that you might be interested in: Excelsior College | Program Details I doubt that a person could CLEP their way through an entire bachelor's degree in a science at any school, but this is a good place to start.

 

Excelsior has a BSET in nuclear engineering technology
Excelsior College | Program Details

You need to pick up another 32 semester units as a minimum to be awarded a BS degree.

Admission to the Texas A&M nuclear engineering requires a bachelor's degree in engineering, chemistry, mathematics or physics. Some nuclear physics background is highly desirable. Mathematics through differential equations is required.

Check with Texas A&M to determine if they will accept a BSET degree.

 

Ian, Surfdoctor, thank you both!

Yeah, I agree it might be a little much to expect to CLEP through the degree, I will have to take math courses.

I will ask those questions and report back for others.

 

Please do, I'm interested to know.

 

I don't want to discourage you, but the application deadline is two weeks away (Feb 15) for a competitive, technical grad program at a very good school.

Take a look at the undergraduate curriculum for a BS in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M -- http://nuclear.tamu.edu/academics/undergraduate/2010_BS_NUEN_Curriculum.pdf This is the sort of program students you're competing against for admission will have completed.

I think it's going to take at least a couple of years studying math, physics, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering etc. before you're a competitive candidate for a graduate program in engineering at A&M. I absolutely think you should pursue your goal. I just think something like Fall 2014 is a much more realistic target.

 

Balios: thank you for taking the time to read my post, and even look up the program. Ian and Surfdoctor, you guys too.

Okay, so I set a goal that's out of reach, I did say it was lofty. I missed where A&M says the graduate program have a different application deadline. So, even if your post was discouraging, it was also a reality check. A reality check, which I needed. I was still thinking the undergrad application date which is a month later.

Just yesterday I was thinking about A&M being competitive, and although my EAC GPA is 3.84. Would I get in if I was blitzing through classes? I know my grades would really suffer.

I'm not quitting, but I am taking a second closer look at the options I have.

 

inst, it seems like you are a fairly young person, is that correct? Maybe in your twenties or thirties, I'm guessing? If so, it will not hurt you to take a year or two to get your BS, even though that might frustrate your short-term goals, it will improve your long-term goals. Then you can maintain that excellent GPA and improve your chances at A&M and other great schools.

 

I agree with what Balios said. For a program like that, you're going to need to have all of your ducks in a row. On top of conferring an undergrad degree (with a high GPA) in either some type of engineering, chem, physics or math, you will also need to take the GRE (and do well to remain competitive). It'll also be important to do well in your undergrad courses because A&M requires letters of recommendation. You'll get there, just make sure to take every little step sequentially & don't worry about how long it'll take. You're preparation now will ensure your success within the graduate program and beyond.

Remember that the longest distance between two points is a shortcut. At least that's been my experience in education & business.

 

I hesitate to bring this up as I also feel like you might be best served to just matriculate at the best school you can find that will allow you to get the classes you need.

However you could do this in under a year. You have 88 credits with a stellar GPA. By picking the right program your only 32 credits short. A full summer load and a full fall load could mean your ready to apply to this program next February 2013. That's doable. You could clep a few electives or Gen -ed classes, then concentrate on math and physics at the UL to complete. There are likely good state schools near you where this is possible (probably the first choice), There are well known State schools where this could be done via distance (like Colorado State Global or maybe BYU), and there is the possibility of putting it all together at one of the "big 3" Charter oak State, Thomas Edison, or EC. Thomas Edison in particular has a Math and Natural Science track that could be done if your motivated and already math oriented. The big benefit is that you could go through calculus or trig with ALEKS very affordable, than look to a better known school to round out your UL math education. physics you could pick up at a CC, I think this degree only requires 18 credits....6 classes at the 300 level or above. Ryoder on this forum (I think) completed this and probably has a spread sheet on how he did it.

One year is not that long...worth the wait and effort if your really committed. What specific classes would you need to be competitive against the other applicants?

 

Put competitiveness aside for a minute and look just at prerequisite knowledge assumed by A&M's MS program in nuclear engineering. One of the required courses is NUEN 610 Design of Nuclear Reactors. If you trace back through the chain of prereqs, you'll see that it assumes the following undergraduate coursework:

Three semesters of calculus,
One semester of differential equations,
Two semesters of engineering physics,
MEEN 221 Statics and Particle Dynamics,
MEEN 227 Principles of Thermodynamics,
MEEN 344 Fluid Mechanics,
MEEN 461 Heat Transfer,
NUEN 201 Introduction to Nuclear Engineering I,
NUEN 301 Nuclear Reactor Theory,
NUEN 302 Introduction to Nuclear Engineering II,
NUEN 304 Nuclear Reactor Analysis,
NUEN 406 Nuclear Engineering Systems and Design, and
NUEN 410 Nuclear Reactor Design

Of course, not everyone in class will have taken all of those courses, but equivalent knowledge is assumed for the first day's lecture. You can't possibly get that background in one year.

 

That really is significant! I wonder how anyone does it? I suppose the typical background would be nuclear propulsion with the Navy perhaps? What undergrad starts off their freshman year geared towards this sort of goal?

 

Several US universities offer BS degrees in nuclear engineering including:

UML:
http://www.uml.edu/CLASS/docs/Chemical-Engineering-Nuclear.pdf

NCSU:
Nuclear Engineering : What Can I Do With A Major In...

UNM:
Undergraduate Nuclear Engineering :: | The University of New Mexico

I doubt that any nuclear engineering courses (BS or MS) are available via DL.

Nuclear engineering is a well paid job but the industry also hires physics majors. Spin off jobs where these type degree can be used include the nuclear medicine and imaging industries

 

I'm starting to get the idea I'm best off applying as a transfer student to A&M for that BS in nuclear eng. However, even with my 88 semester hours and associate's degree, according to A&M's Transfer Course Equivalency page and curriculum, I will be a 3 credit freshman in regards to said BS in nuclear engineering. *facepalm*

lol, when I said "if I had to do it all over again" I meant 10 years younger to go with it. :/

ALEKS is a good program, I've used it before

I did look in to UNM for the nuclear engineering. I've lived in and liked Albuquerque further a buddy of mine strongly suggests ENM. (my second choice)

 

Keep in mind that many engineering students take about 5 years of full-time study to complete their BS degree.

 

Online/Distance Nuclear Engineering Classes:

University of Tennessee Online Graduate and Undergraduate courses Nuclear Engineering Courses by Distance Education

Bismark State College, some of these are in a 5 week format with four starting in March, Bismarck State College: National Energy Center of Excellence: Course Schedules This program appears to be in conjunction with the Excelsior Bachelor’s degree. They don’t come cheap, but there are a variety of possible discounts BSC: Tuition & Fees : Tuition 2011-12 Look also at their BAS in Energy Tech, all online Bismarck State College: National Energy Center of Excellence: Programs (be sure the grad school you like would accept a BAS)

This is interesting and worth skimming through South Texas Project

I'm not arguing rather or not its doable, and I think you should exhaust local options or at least industry standard choices before going the EC/TESC/COSC route (though the EC choice looks very promising)....I'm just throwing ideas out to see how close you might be to the original goal of quickly gaining entry to your selected program......at any rate you have got some serious studying to do! Good luck!

 

I might point out that many engineers working in the nuclear industry have engineering degrees in EE, ME, Civil E (lot of infrastructure), and Chem E. Probably also computer engineers and programmers.

 

I'm pleased that my book was instrumental in getting you started along this worthy path. You're getting lots of good advice here. The only words of wisdom I can add is the obvious (yet often ignored) notion that doing something is generally much better than doing nothing. Many people seem to get so bogged down in worrying whether that program at School A is better than the comparable one at School B that suddenly they are three or ten or 42 years older and they haven't begun anything yet. Best wishes in your quest.
--John Bear

 

I'm living proof of that one!

 

Inst,

:soapbox:IMHO a career in control systems engineering (I’m one) is broad and flexible enough to work in any industry….including nukes! I’d go for the fastest BSEng, BSTech or BofAS available that would get me into a decent control systems engineering position. You are already a control systems tech with hands-on experience and should be able to complete the bachelors quickly.

Then, and only then, I’d take a look at nuclear engineering again to see if that is really where I'd want to be. Most nuclear engineers I know work as control systems engineers because there is very little demand for nukes, and that’s not changing anytime soon in spite of current background noise.:duh: