At the University of California, Berkeley, doctorate coursework is done at: the main campus; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California; and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories in Livermore, California. The formal course of study includes maintaining a 3.5 grade point average in nuclear engineering major courses and a 3.0 GPA in both of two required minor courses. All doctoral candidates must pass a screening exam, oral exam and successfully complete a doctoral dissertation.
The Nuclear Engineering Department at Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Indiana, recommends basing a course program and thesis submission on a nuclear engineering investigation worthy of publication in a scientific or engineering journal. Doctorate courses include a concentration in mathematics, physics or technical subjects. Each program of study is planned in accordance with the student's advisory committee members and major professor. Approximately 48 hours of graduate school coursework are needed to earn a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering.
At Penn State University, in University Park, Pennsylvania, the Ph.D. program emphasizes research. While there are few formal stipulations, candidates do have to pass written and oral examinations before admission. The program of graduate studies in nuclear engineering also includes completing a required residency, a thesis, and passing comprehensive and oral final exams designed by the student's doctoral committee. A Ph.D. student should complete 30 credits above a master's degree before taking final exams.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, began its nuclear engineering program in 1946 by recruiting scientists who had worked on World War II atomic energy projects. Today, Ph.D. candidates are expected to acquire extensive knowledge in nuclear science and engineering and develop advanced research skills in nuclear science and technology. To earn a doctorate in nuclear engineering, students must complete a research project in nuclear science or in another nuclear-related field.