| Newly-added nuclear engineering minor has some students buzzing | 
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| Written by Johnathan Silver, The Shorthorn senior staff | ||||
| Tuesday, 01 December 2009 07:26 PM | ||||
| After semester one, the nuclear engineering
program is on a high, with nearly double the expected number of people
enrolled in the introductory class, and with some alumni wanting to return
and obtain minors in the field, said Lynn Peterson, College of Engineering
senior associate dean. The College of Engineering’s nuclear minor began this fall. It’s the latest program added to the college, and was created to address a revamped interest in nuclear energy, said Rasool Kenarangui, an electrical engineering senior lecturer and Introduction to Nuclear Engineering instructor. He said he was excited when the courses and the minor were approved. “At this time, it will help students find a job in the energy sector, if they have an engineering and a renewable energy background,” he said. There’s much interest among students, based on seminar attendance and student feedback, Peterson said. Now, some engineering alumni have contacted the college to pursue nuclear engineering minors, but adding a minor to a degree awarded in the past isn’t allowed, she said. “Right now we’re telling them to take the classes and register as a degreed undergraduate,” she said. But if graduates take the classes, it won’t go toward a degree, she said. An option for graduates that might be in the works is a certificate program on the master’s degree level, she said. This way, graduates will have a certain level of expertise in the nuclear field, broadening their options, Peterson said. “It comes at a time when it’s important for the country,” she said. “We’re trying to do the best thing for our students, but also it’s nice to know that we’re preparing people to contribute to the North Texas area and the country.” Electrical engineering senior Sean Finkbohner said he likes the minor. “I enjoyed getting to see things first hand,” he said. “You usually don’t get to see anything in electrical engineering. This is definitely a break from all-theory.” Mechanical engineering senior Andrew Pynckel, a student in one nuclear engineering class, said he’s glad the program began and that it’s fun. “We got to mess with radioactive material,” he said. “It was enlightening to see material decay near your hands.” Pynckel said he would take another nuclear engineering class next semester, and added that he can’t wait. He said he’s been passionate about the subject for a long time. “You have material decaying to produce energy,” he said. “You have the application of Einstein’s equation, happening in real time to help power our fuel grids. I am in heaven with these classes.” Aerospace engineering junior Sikander Ali said he didn’t know what to expect after enrolling in the introductory class, but was pleasantly surprised. He said he doesn’t plan on pursuing a career in the nuclear field, but thinks the information he’s getting out of the course will supplement his other studies. “I like that you can apply nuclear engineering to other fields of engineering,” he said. “It’s the most fun I had all semester.” Views: 194 | E-mail
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