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Home > Students > Undergraduate Guide > Degree requirements > Major programs > Joint majors > Materials Science & Engineering and Nuclear Engineering

Materials Science & Engineering and Nuclear Engineering

Find out more about these majors: Materials Science & Engineering and Nuclear Engineering

Degree worksheet:  2024

Undergraduate programs and degree worksheets from previous years are available through the Undergraduate Guide archive.

2024-2025 Joint Major Program in Materials Science and Engineering and Nuclear Engineering*
Course Fall Spring
Freshman Year
CHEM 1A+1AL – General Chemistry, or CHEM 4A – General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis(1)
5
–
ENGIN 7 – Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers
–
4
MATH 1A – Calculus
4
–
MATH 1B – Calculus
–
4
PHYSICS 7A – Physics for Scientists and Engineers
–
4
Reading & Composition Part A Course(2)
4
–
Reading & Composition Part B Course(2)
–
4
Humanities/Social Science Course(2)
3-4
–
Total
16-17
16
Sophomore Year
MATSCI 45 – Properties of Materials + MATSCI 45L – Properties of Materials Laboratory
4
–
MATH 53 – Multivariable Calculus
4
–
MATH 54 – Linear Algebra and Differential Equations
–
4
MECENG C85 – Introduction to Solid Mechanics
–
3
PHYSICS 7B – Physics for Scientists and Engineers
4
–
PHYSICS 7C – Physics for Scientists and Engineers
–
4
Humanities/Social Science Courses(2)
3-4
3-4
Total
15-16
14-15
Junior Year
ENGIN 40 – Engineering Thermodynamics
4
–
MATSCI 102 – Bonding Crystallography and Crystal Defects
3
–
MATSCI 103 – Phase Transformation and Kinetics
–
3
MATSCI 104 – Materials Characterization + MATSCI 104L – Materials Characterization Laboratory
–
4
NUCENG 100 – Introduction to Nuclear Engineering 3 –
NUCENG 101 – Nuclear Reactions and Radiation
4
–
NUCENG 104 – Radiation Detection and Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory
–
4
NUCENG 150 – Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory
–
4
Technical Elective(3)
3
–
Humanities/Social Science Course from Ethics List(2)(4)
–
3-4
Total
17
18-19
Senior Year
MATSCI 111 – Properties of Electronic Materials
–
4
MATSCI 112 – Corrosion
–
3
MATSCI 113 – Mechanical Behavior of Materials
–
3
MATSCI 131 – Additive Manufacturing Processes and Systems for Advanced Materials
3
–
NUCENG 120 – Nuclear Materials
4
–
NUCENG 170A – Nuclear Design:  Design in Nuclear Power Technology and Instrumentation
–
3
Technical Electives(3)
10
3
Total
17
16

 

Notes

1CHEM 4A is intended for students majoring in chemistry or a closely related field.

2The Humanities/Social Sciences (H/SS) requirement includes two approved Reading & Composition (R&C) courses and four additional approved courses, with which a number of specific conditions must be satisfied. R&C courses must be taken for a letter grade (C- or better required). The first half (R&C Part A) must be completed by the end of the freshman year; the second half (R&C Part B) must be completed by no later than the end of the sophomore year. The remaining courses may be taken at any time during the program. See engineering.berkeley.edu/hss for complete details and a list of approved courses.

3Students must complete 16 units of upper division technical electives which must include at least 9 units of upper division nuclear engineering courses and at least 3 units from the MSE 120 series courses. The additional 4 units of upper division technical electives must be chosen in consultation with a faculty adviser. Technical electives cannot include any course taken on a P/NP basis; any course that counts as H/SS; BIOENG 100, 153; DESINV courses (except DESINV 190E); ENGIN 125, 157AC, 180, 183 series, 185, 187, 195 series; INDENG 172, 185, 186, 190 series, 191, 192, 195; MECENG 191AC, 190K, 191K. Students may receive up to 3 units of technical elective credit for graded research in MATSCI H194 or NUCENG H194.

4Students must take one course with ethics content. This may be fulfilled within the Humanities/Social Science (H/SS) requirement by taking one of the following courses: ANTHRO 156B; BIOENG 100; ENGIN 125, 157AC, 185; ESPM 161, 162; GEOG 31; IAS 157AC; ISF 100E; L&S 160B; PHILOS 2, 104, 107; SOCIOL 116.

* A minimum of 120 units is required for graduation.

If you would like to receive these documents in an alternative, accessible format, please contact eng-ada@berkeley.edu.

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