Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering + Data Science
Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering + Data Science (NPRE + DS) is all about using science and technology to solve important problems in energy, medicine, and safety. It includes things like nuclear power, using plasma to make new materials, developing fusion energy, improving medical treatments, and detecting radiation to keep people safe. As technology gets more advanced, engineers in this field use computer models and simulations to test ideas and make discoveries. These tools create huge amounts of data. That’s where data science comes in. Data science helps us collect, organize, and make sense of all this information so we can make better decisions and faster progress.
At Illinois, the NPRE + Data Science will teach you both how to understand the science behind nuclear and plasma technologies and how to work with data the right way. This combination gives students powerful skills that are in high demand and prepares them for exciting careers in a world that relies more and more on data.
Highlights
- Illinois's only Nuclear Engineering program at every degree level.
- High demand for data scientists who can work collaboratively in engineering applications like power generation, plasma processing, semiconductor design, fusion development, and medical imaging.
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What You'll Study
This major is sponsored by the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering within the Grainger College of Engineering, in collaboration with the Siebel School of Computer and Data Science, the School of Information Science, and the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics.
The Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering (NPRE+DS) bachelor's degree combines the principles of nuclear engineering, plasma and fusion science, and radiological and medical applications with training in data science. During the first two years, you will gain a strong foundation in basic science, engineering, and data science, as well as in nuclear energy systems. Most of the core technical NPRE and more advanced data science methods coursework takes place in the third and fourth years. A design course taken during the senior year will allow you to apply your learning to real-world problems in the NPRE areas using data science methods.
Minor in Computer Science
The CS Minor is offered for students seeking significant knowledge of digital computing without the more complete treatment of a major in computer science. This minor may be taken by any student except majors in the Computer Science degree programs and in Computer Engineering.
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July 10, 2025
This fall, Yasmin begins her sophomore year in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Before fully transitioning into ECE, she completed foundational coursework at Parkland College through the Parkland Pathway to Illinois program. Here, Yasmin shares her experience taking a nontraditional route to Grainger Engineering.
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May 14, 2025
From building Lego sets to fixing household appliances with their father, Grant and Landon Lindsay were encouraged to be problem solvers. This foundation inspired them to apply their critical thinking skills to engineering.
Post-Graduation Success
The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected a 36% growth in Data Science occupations during the period from 2023 to 2033, driven by the demand for workers who can handle big data. BLS projects that occupations in Data Science and Mathematical Statistician will far outpace the average growth rate for all occupations.
NPRE + DS graduates are expected to be in demand across an intersection of employment areas in nuclear engineering, plasma-materials processing, fusion research, medical instrumentation advancement, radiation detection development, and that of data science. Employers consist of federal and regulatory agencies, industry, and engineering consulting firms, and research laboratories. A sample of employers includes Constellation, ASML, Entergy, Jensen Hughes, Enercon, Naval Nuclear Laboratory, SHINE Technologies, Bechtel Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and X-energy. NPRE + DS graduates are also prepared for further graduate study.
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