Student looking at nuclear material sample (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)Mechanical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering
In this section
If you’re interested in designing advanced energy systems and solving complex engineering challenges, the Mechanical Engineering/Nuclear Engineering Joint Major offers the best of both disciplines. It is intended for nuclear engineering students interested in mechanical design and heat transfer as well as mechanical engineering students who wish to further their knowledge of nuclear radiological systems and processes.
Contact
Engineering Student Services
120 Grimes Engineering Center
Berkeley, CA 94720
(510) 642-7594
ess@berkeley.edu
This interdisciplinary program provides you with a strong and competitive background in both majors, preparing you for a career in nuclear and radiation-based industries or graduate study in nuclear engineering, other engineering disciplines or related fields such as medicine and physics.
The joint major programs are designed for students who wish to undertake study in two areas of engineering in order to qualify for employment in either field or for positions in which competence in two fields is required. These curricula include the core courses from each of the major fields. While they require slightly increased course loads, they can be completed in four years. Both majors are shown on the student’s transcript of record.
Want to know more? Check out the individual degree programs for Mechanical engineering and Nuclear Engineering.
Degree worksheets
The easiest, most convenient way to track your progress toward your degree requirements is to use a degree worksheet, with guidelines specific to your year of admission. You should bring your worksheet with you whenever you meet with your Engineering Student Services or faculty adviser. From your ‘My Academics’ page on CalCentral, use the ‘Semesters’ section to help complete your worksheet. When available, you can also use the Academic Progress Report to help update your degree worksheet.
Current degree worksheet: 2026
Past worksheets: 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026
Engineering Student Services
120 Grimes Engineering Center
Berkeley, CA 94720
ess@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-7594
Degree requirements
Undergraduate programs and degree worksheets from previous years are available through the Undergraduate Guide archive.
| Course | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman Year | ||
| CHEM 1A – General Chemistry or CHEM 4A – General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis1 |
3-5
|
–
|
| ENGIN 7 – Introduction to Computer Programming and Numerical Methods |
–
|
4
|
| ENGIN 26 – Three-Dimensional Modeling for Design |
2
|
–
|
| MATH 51 – Calculus I |
4
|
–
|
| MATH 52 – Calculus II |
–
|
4
|
| PHYSICS 7A – Physics for Scientists and Engineers |
–
|
4
|
| Reading & Composition Part A Course2 |
4
|
–
|
| Reading & Composition Part B Course2 |
–
|
4
|
| Humanities/Social Science Course2 |
3-4
|
|
| Total |
16-19
|
16
|
| Sophomore Year | ||
| ENGIN 29 – Manufacturing and Design Communication |
4
|
–
|
| MATH 53 – Multivariable Calculus |
4
|
–
|
| MATH 54 – Linear Algebra and Differential Equations |
–
|
4
|
| MECENG 40 – Thermodynamics |
–
|
3
|
| MECENG C85 – Introduction to Solid Mechanics |
3
|
–
|
| MECENG 100 – Electronics for the Internet of Things |
–
|
4
|
| PHYSICS 7B – Physics for Scientists and Engineers |
4
|
–
|
| PHYSICS 7C – Physics for Scientists and Engineers |
–
|
4
|
| Humanities/Social Science Course2 | – |
3-4
|
| Total |
15
|
18-19
|
| Junior Year | ||
| ENGIN 178 – Statistics and Data Science for Engineers |
–
|
4
|
| MECENG 104 – Engineering Mechanics II (Dynamics) |
3
|
–
|
| MECENG 106 – Fluid Mechanics |
3
|
– |
| MECENG 108 – Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials |
4
|
–
|
| MECENG 109 – Heat Transfer |
–
|
3 |
| NUCENG 100 -Introduction to Nuclear Engineering and Technology | 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
|
| Total |
17
|
15
|
| Senior Year | ||
| MECENG 103 – Experimentation and Measurement |
4
|
–
|
| MECENG 102B – Mechatronics Design |
–
|
4
|
| MECENG 132 – Dynamic Systems and Feedback |
3
|
–
|
| NUCENG 170A – Nuclear Design: Design in Nuclear Power Technology and Instrumentation |
–
|
3
|
| Technical Electives4 | 6 |
6
|
| Humanities/Social Science Courses (one with Ethics Content)2,3 | 3-4 |
3-4
|
| Total |
16-17
|
16-17
|
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 take one course with ethics content. This may be fulfilled within the Humanities/Social Studies 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.
4Technical elective units must include at least 6 units of upper division mechanical engineering courses and 6 units of upper division nuclear engineering courses. Students may receive up to 3 units of technical elective credit for graded research in MECENG H194, MECENG 196 or NUCENG H194. Note: Technical electives cannot include any course taken on a P/NP basis; MECENG 191AC, 190K, 191K.
* 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.