Missouri University of Science and Technology Courses & Fees

Business and management systems is an undergraduate degree based on broad, foundational core courses. Professionals in this field analyze organizational needs to provide technology-enabled management and operations.

Today's business environments have a critical need for professionals who have an understanding of information technologies; are capable of operating in an electronic environment; and are able to synthesize, analyze, and learn from vast amounts of information. These individuals are needed to realize technology's great potential to support business processes, decision making, and communication.

As a business and management systems major, you will take courses that are rigorous and oriented toward building the foundation necessary for lifetime learning. Studying at Missouri S&T, you will benefit from the world-class computer environment and your association with excellent students from around the country and the world. Students in the program are strongly encouraged to participate in summer internships or co-ops with companies before they graduate. There are many opportunities and students benefit greatly in terms of their education and the edge they have seeking full-time employment once they graduate.

The computer engineering program is designed to prepare an engineer to work with software and hardware of computers. In the software world, high level languages and complex programs are often the solution to a problem. In the hardware world, designs also include many aspects of the physical world, like temperature or noise, and often must include compromises between many opposing factors. The ability of a computer engineer to work in both worlds is what distinguishes them from a computer scientist or from an electrical engineer who specializes in computers. Computer scientists typically have little training with hardware. Electrical engineers typically have little training with software. Our students are trained to work with both, since many computer systems cannot be built well without a clear understanding of both.

Computer engineers can be found just about anywhere there are computers. Computer engineers might build the integrated circuits (ICs) that go into your home video game or your cell phone. They might develop the microprocessor that goes into your home computer, deciding what instructions it executes and how it interfaces with memory. Computer engineers also build computer systems that use these integrated circuits – for example, they might put together the ICs to build the motherboard for your home computer or the video card that goes into that computer. Computer engineers also help computers work together, for example developing computer networks or working with parallel processing. Computer engineers also help build embedded computer systems. These are devices with a computer inside them that work directly with their environment. They could be as complicated as a satellite or as everyday as your car, your phone, or even your microwave oven. Computer engineers also build software. They might be found at companies like Microsoft, working strictly with software or helping complex software systems interface better with hardware. They might make computers “smarter” using concepts of computational intelligence. Since computers are such an important part of our lives, the options for computer engineers are wide open.

Our ABET-accredited computer engineering program emphasizes both hands-on experience and training in fundamental concepts and theory. Students participate in many laboratories that include both hardware and software. Many lecture courses include one or more projects that require the student to build something “real” and make it work. All students take a 1-year design course for this reason in their final year in the program. While these projects are challenging, they are also fun and prepare a student to perform immediately on the job when they get out of school. Coursework also concentrates strongly on theory and fundamentals because this background is essential for our students to fully understand the systems they will work on to quickly learn new concepts as their job function changes and to adapt to the rapidly changing world of computers in the future.

Students complete the foundational engineering and computing program, thus obtaining basic science skills and an overview of the various degree programs at Missouri S&T, before entering the main program. This allows students time to consider different career options before they commit to a given degree program.The computer engineering program includes several courses in both electrical engineering and computer science. The program follows the electrical engineering program into the sophomore year, including courses like circuits and electronics, and then branches into computer science courses such as data structures and operating systems.

Students work closely with their advisors to carefully plan each semester class schedule in order to have the correct prerequisites for courses in the following semesters. Working with their advisor, they should also select electives in the program to provide the background in areas they wish to emphasize for their career path.

Double majors – particularly with electrical engineering and computer science – are a possibility. Students working with their advisor should be able to plan a program that allows them to quickly graduate with more than one degree by sharing some electives and carefully planning additional course work. Students considering taking several more classes should also consider the alternative of working towards an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in graduate school.

Information science and technology (IS&T) offers an M.S. degree program. Information technology has transformed every aspect of our economy and society. Rapid spread of technology has generated the need for highly trained professionals to implement and maintain information systems. The M.S. in information science and technology is designed to educate students in the design, development, and successful application of information systems in organizations.

Also offered are a number of graduate certificates:

• AI, machine learning and automation in business
• Business analytics and data science
• Business intelligence
• Business project management
• Cybersecurity and information assurance management
• Digital media and web design
• Digital supply chain management
• Electronic and social commerce
• Enterprise resource planning
• Entrepreneurship and technological innovation
• Finance
• Financial technology
• Human-computer interaction and user experience
• Information systems project management
• Management and leadership
• Mobile business and technology

Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering which deals with changing the composition, energy content and state of aggregation of materials. As a chemical engineering student, you will consider the fundamental properties and nature of matter (chemistry), the forces that act on matter (physics) and the precise expressions of the relationships between them (mathematics). Extensive use is made of computers in the application of these sciences to engineering problems.

As a chemical engineer, you may study ways in which pure water can be obtained from the sea; design processes to produce fertilizers, rubber, fibers, and fuels; or team up with other engineers and scientists to develop specialized polymeric materials for use in artificial arms, legs and other human organs. You may be instrumental in finding supplemental food sources for man, such as protein from petroleum, wood, or the sea. You might help develop new processes for the application of biochemistry, energy conservation, or environmental control, such as reducing undesirable substances in the air. Or, you might have a hand in the creation of strong lightweight materials to be used in aircraft construction. Your opportunities will be unlimited.

At Missouri S&T, you will have laboratories available which offer training in qualitative and quantitative analysis, basic organic and physical chemistry, physics, unit operations, biochemical engineering, design and automatic process control.

Your studies will give you a broad technical basis with an emphasis on material balances, energy balances, separation processes, rate processes, unit operations, process economics, safety, and design.

Among its facilities, the department features digital data acquisition and control equipment for research and instruction which allows simultaneous utilization of the system by several people. A full complement of hardware exists for input and output of signals to and from process equipment and instrumentation. The campus computer network makes available a wide variety of professional software. Also included is equipment to measure thermodynamic and physical properties, study biochemical engineering processes, polymers, surface phenomena, fluid mechanics, membranes, chemical kinetics and diffusion.

The ceramic engineering program is offered under the department of materials science and engineering.

Ceramic engineers produce materials vital to many advanced and traditional technologies: electronic and optical assemblies, aerospace parts, biomedical components, nuclear components, high temperature, corrosion resistant assemblies, fuel cells, and electronic packaging. Ceramic engineers generally work with inorganic, nonmetallic materials processed at high temperatures. In the classroom, ceramic engineering students learn the relationships between engineering properties and the chemistry and structure of ceramic materials and go on to apply these scientific principles to the design of new formulations and manufacturing processes. If you are interested in the “why” behind material properties, ceramic engineering will definitely interest you.

Ceramic engineering usually appeals to those who have a strong interest in finding practical applications of the basic sciences, especially chemistry and physics, and can be described as one of the disciplines where ‘science and engineering intersect’. Design occurs at the atomic or microstructural level of solid materials. The Missouri S&T department of ceramic engineering specializes in glass and optical materials, electronic materials, and high temperature materials, but the same scientific and engineering principles that are learned can be applied to the design of new materials for other applications, including biomaterials, high strength materials, materials for energy generation, etc.

Most ceramic engineering classes and laboratories are held in McNutt Hall, but other research laboratories on campus are available to our students. Equipment exists for X-ray investigation of materials, for detection of thermally induced changes in chemistry and structure, for high temperature processing, and for measuring a wide variety of electronic, optical, magnetic, mechanical and thermal properties. The Graduate Center for Materials Research makes additional research equipment available to ceramic engineers, including electron microscopes, optical, infrared, and X-ray spectrometers, thermal analyzers, and high temperature/controlled atmosphere furnaces. Students may broaden their experience by assisting faculty in research projects, either for academic credit or for pay.

Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise construction of many essential facilities and structures such as bridges, dams, interstate highways, and buildings. Service to the community, its development and improvement are fundamental aspects of a civil engineering career. Civil engineers are problem solvers applying the latest in high-tech equipment and sophisticated procedures to address challenges concerning our environment and infrastructure.

Included in the study of civil engineering are courses in environmental engineering that are directly related to the solution of hazardous waste and pollution problems, to providing potable and economical water supply systems, and to maintaining a safe environment. Water resources engineering is related to hydraulic and hydrologic engineering, flood control, rainfall, and runoff prediction and the transport in flows. Studies in geotechnical engineering address the bearing capacities of soils, settlement of foundations, and the design of both deep and shallow foundations. Courses in structural analysis and design are directed toward providing reliable and economical structures such as bridges, buildings, port facilities, and intricate lock and dam facilities. The principles involved in this sequence of courses are also applicable to the design of automobiles, aircraft, spacecraft, and future space structures. Transportation engineering involves the movement of people and cargo from place to place, the design of airports and highways, and traffic studies to maintain efficient flows. Courses in construction engineering include studies in construction techniques, cost estimating, quality control/quality assurance, and contract administration. Materials engineering involves the production, quality control, use, and property analysis of construction materials such as asphalt, concrete, aggregate, wood, masonry, and steel.

Civil engineering is a broad field of endeavor. Because of this breadth, courses are required in each of the above areas. Although you, as a civil engineer, may specialize within a given area, by the very nature of the profession you will be required to interact with specialists in the other areas. You also may find that you will work with engineers in other disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, or geological engineering in the planning, design, and construction of complex facilities.

Civil engineers also must be effective in communicating with the public. You may be expected to work with property owners, concerned citizens, city officials, attorneys, and even medical doctors for concerns related to public health measures.

The results of your work as a civil engineer will be seen everywhere. Projects in which you will become involved must be economical, provide an adequate factor of safety for the particular use, and provide a reasonable life expectancy. To do this adequately and within a reasonable time frame, you will find that, with the exception of your engineering training, the computer is one of the most important and valuable tools you will use to produce a proper design or to complete a specific project. You may expect that your courses taken in civil engineering will require the use of computer hardware and software related to the different areas of study.

Electrical engineers are involved in channeling natural resources into uses for society such as heating, lighting, home appliances, consumer products, computing, sensing, control, and communication. They contribute to systems and devices for power, instrumentation, measurement, communication, management, manufacturing, transportation, etc. They are primarily concerned with the processes of generation, transmission, transformation, control, and utilization of energy or information.

Students who are interested in electrical engineering begin in the foundational engineering and computing program, thus obtaining fundamental skills and an overview of the various degree programs at Missouri S&T, before entering the main program. They commit to a given degree program after exposure to the different career options. Once in the program, students gain knowledge in the main areas of electrical engineering, learn to use hardware and software tools in numerous laboratories, and apply engineering concepts in both freshman and capstone design experiences. Educational options include dual major programs (such as electrical and computer engineering degrees), minor programs, emphasis areas, and honors activities (such as the Honors Scholar Program in electrical engineering). They may supplement their education with participation in design competitions, professional societies, work internships, research experiences, etc.

The curriculum exposes students to the breadth of electrical engineering and allows them to pursue electives in several areas or to emphasize a specialty. The areas are defined as circuits and electronics, power and energy, communications and signal processing, controls and systems, electromagnetics, optic and devices, and computer engineering.

In circuits and electronics, courses provide study of basic electrical devices – energy sources, resistors, inductors, capacitors, diodes, and transistors – and their interconnection in operational networks. Circuits design and analysis techniques are covered with both analog and digital applications.

In power and energy, courses emphasize the design and applications of motors, generators, transformers, distribution systems, high-voltage devices, and power electronics.

In communications and signal processing, courses include concepts required for the characterization and manipulation of information-bearing signals, modulation systems, wireless networks, image processing, and detection hardware.

In controls and systems, courses emphasize the design and application of circuits and systems to automatically monitor and regulate devices, machines, and processes. Advanced technologies using digital control, intelligent processing, neural networks, and programmable logic controllers are included.

In electromagnetics, courses provide instruction in the interaction, propagation, and transmission of high-frequency waves and signals through space and in conductors. Topics include grounding and shielding, antennas, microwaves, and systems.

In optic and devices, courses provide study of solid-state materials, electronic devices, and optoelectronics. Applications are microfabrication, telecommunications, computing, instrumentation, lasers and fiber optics, nanotechnologies, sensing, and smart technologies.

In computer engineering, courses are offered in computers and architecture, integrated circuits and logic design, embedded computer systems, computational intelligence, networks and software engineering, and software security and reliability.

The electrical engineering program and the related computer engineering program are administered in the same department. Degree programs for B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. are offered. The classrooms and laboratories are located in Emerson Electric Company Hall. Additional research activities are being conducted in various research centers on campus. The department supports chapters for the following student groups: the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers; IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Honor Society; and the Amateur Radio Club. Various faculty and students participate in other campus organizations and are active in professional societies, design competitions, and technical conferences.

The engineering management degree programs prepare students for leadership roles in today’s complex environment as engineers, managers and educators. Graduates are capable of designing, implementing, operating and optimizing sophisticated high technology enterprises in manufacturing, government or service sectors of our global economy.

In today’s economy there is a need to see the business unit as a complete, technology driven enterprise and to integrate system components thus ensuring that the company thrives in global competition. In such an environment engineers need both excellent technical and managerial skills to cope effectively with the continuous change that will take place during their careers.

The engineering management discipline prepares individuals to successfully integrate engineering and management knowledge while optimizing the use of people, equipment, money and information. The discipline also seeks to develop students into individuals with leadership potential who achieve results in an ethical and sustainable manner.

Missouri S&T’s engineering management program has served the needs of students at the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. level, enabling graduates to pursue career opportunities in the private sector, government, and academia. Furthermore, many alumni now occupy top executive positions in a variety of enterprises.

The aerospace engineering program is offered in the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering. In aerospace engineering, you will apply the laws of physics and mathematics to problems of aircraft flight and space vehicles in planetary atmospheres and adjoining regions of space. Maybe you will design space shuttles, rockets, or missiles. Possibly you might design military, transport, and general aviation aircraft, a V/TOL (vertical/ take-off and landing) aircraft, or a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). You could design a spacecraft to travel to Mars or to a more distant planet.

You’ll be able to tackle problems in the environmental pollution of air and water, or work on wind effects on buildings and structures, or wind energy harnessing. Designing all types of transportation systems, including high speed vehicles, urban rapid transit systems, and undersea craft might be some of the challenges you will undertake.

Your professional training in aerospace engineering will be directed generally toward the analysis and design of aerospace vehicles, including aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft with special emphasis on the fundamental treatment of aerospace science.

You will accomplish your goals through your basic training in aerodynamics, dynamics, stability and control, structures, and propulsion including cross-linkage among these areas. You will use this knowledge to design, build, and flight test aerospace systems.

Your studies at Missouri S&T will include both basic science and engineering science, mathematics, and liberal arts courses as well as advanced aerospace engineering courses. Within aerospace engineering, you can choose nine hours of technical electives in a special interest area such as aerodynamics, structures, composites, flight dynamics, controls, propulsion, and aeroelasticity.

Your design courses will be integrated with Missouri S&T’s computer graphics system to unify the graphical capabilities of the computer into your design experience. Undergraduate research opportunities are also available through the NASA Space Grant Consortium and the OURE program.

Classes and laboratories are held in Toomey Hall. Laboratory facilities include a Mach 1.5 to 4 supersonic blow down wind tunnel with a five-inch diameter jet with instrumentation for Schlieren photography, pressure, temperature, and turbulence measurements. A large subsonic wind tunnel, capable of speeds up to 300 miles per hour, has a test section 48 inches wide, 32 inches high, and 11 feet long. Other facilities include a flight simulation laboratory, space systems engineering laboratory, aerospace structural test equipment, propulsion component analysis systems, and shock tubes.

Architectural engineers plan, design, and supervise construction of many essential facilities and structures for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. These building systems include electrical, communications and control, lighting, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, fire protection, plumbing, and structural systems. Architectural engineers are problem solvers applying the latest in high-tech equipment and sophisticated procedures to address challenges concerning our environment and infrastructure. The diversity of architectural engineers complements the use of multiple systems to the intent and purpose of the project’s design.

The bachelor of science in architectural engineering (BSAE) degree requires satisfactory completion of 129 credit hours. In your first two years, you will complete mathematics, physics, English, architectural design and other prerequisite courses. In your third and fourth years, most of your course work will be in engineering sciences. Also in your fourth year you will complete engineering design courses in general and specific areas.

Courses in structural, electrical, mechanical and lighting design are directed toward providing reliable and efficient structures such as stadiums, retail complexes, office buildings and airports. Courses in construction engineering include studies in construction techniques, cost estimating, quality control/quality assurance, and contract administration. History, architectural design and humanities provide the necessary tools to appreciably coexist in the fabric of society.

Architectural engineering is a broad field of endeavor. Because of this breadth, courses are required in each of the above areas. Although you, as an architectural engineer, may specialize within a given area, by the very nature of the profession you will be required to interact with specialists in the other areas. You will find that you will be working with architects and engineers in the other disciplines in the planning, design, and construction of complex facilities.

Architectural engineers also must be effective in communicating with the public. You may be expected to work with property owners, concerned citizens, city officials, attorneys, and even medical doctors for concerns related to public health measures. The results of your work as a architectural engineer will be seen everywhere. Projects in which you will become involved must be economical, appreciable to self and community, and provide a reasonable life expectancy. Use of computer hardware and software is a key component of the BSAE program of study.

Environmental engineers uphold the dual goals of minimizing our impact on the local, regional, and global environment and concurrently improving our standard of living. In this role of preserving environmental and public well-being, environmental engineers face unique issues and must have a strong background in the earth sciences to understand complex environmental problems and then pose and design appropriate engineering solutions. As problem solvers for something as diverse as “the environment,” environmental engineers also need to understand the most current technologies used in practice and have a desire to maintain a high level of learning in this rapidly evolving field.

Drinking water and wastewater treatment are cornerstones of the environmental engineering field, and students' education in these areas is thorough. Turning river, lake, or even sea water into drinking water requires a unique expertise because each water source offers distinctive challenges. Air pollution is a growing concern on scales ranging from the global atmosphere to the indoor environment. From a fundamental understanding of the chemistry and dynamics of air pollution, students learn how human activities degrade air quality and also how to evaluate and design control technology to reduce emissions from industry and other sources. The geology of a location greatly impacts its water resources, and comprehension of hydrogeology is important to an environmental engineer. The amount and quality of water a geologic formation can produce can influence and limit development of a region. Subsurface hydrology can be the most critical aspect in remediation of contaminated groundwater. Sustainable infrastructure, in themes of energy and environment, is yet another challenge that environmental engineers will have the opportunity to address in their careers and our faculty are engaged in the S&T sustainability minor and teach the core coursework in sustainability at S&T.

The environmental engineering work place is diverse. Consulting firms represent a large portion of the work force and many specialize in areas of drinking water and wastewater treatment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state departments of natural resources, departments of health, and the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense all have positions that require a wide array of skills and expertise.

The courses and skills learned as an undergraduate student also provide preparation for graduate studies and advanced leadership roles. Many specialized positions require a graduate education. Within the Missouri S&T environmental engineering program, elective courses include topics such as water and wastewater; geo-environmental; air pollution and control; environmental chemistry and processes; and environmental microbiology and processes. Some courses are required in each of these areas to provide breadth, which allows graduates to interact with the wide range of professionals in this particularly interdisciplinary field. Project teams may include health care professionals, city planners, developers, and all types of engineers. Additionally, the ever-developing field of environmental engineering is saturated with legal issues, many of which are yet to have precedents or legal statutes established.

Geological engineers apply their skills in geology and engineering to projects that protect and preserve the earth and the environment in which we live.  Do you like working outdoors?  Do you enjoy solving problems using your skills and creativity?  Do you like helping people and the environment?  Then you may be a good candidate for geological engineering!

Geological engineers work on a variety of projects that involve the earth and its resources.  For example, a geological engineer may work on protecting infrastructure like bridges, buildings and utilities from earthquake or landslide damage, designing tunnels through soil and rock, and evaluating natural hazards from slope failure, flooding, failure of dams or levees, and sea level rise.  Geological engineers may also be involved in the design of a project to protect wetlands, clean up contaminated soil and groundwater, or develop and maintain safe drinking water supplies.  Geological engineers use a wide variety of tools, including soil and rock samples, near-surface geophysics, and remote sensing methods such as unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites, to assess natural hazards and protect the environment.  Geological engineers also help develop renewable energy resources – even in space – to conserve traditional sources of energy. Geological engineers work with the environment to improve conditions for everyone and the world around us.

The curriculum for geological engineers includes familiar engineering subjects like math, chemistry, physics, and mechanics. In addition, geological engineers learn about the earth, how its soils, rocks and fluids interact with life, and how to engage natural processes sustainably.  Our courses often include field work.  When they are seniors, geological engineering students bring all their knowledge together to design real-world solutions that help people and society.

Because responsible use of the Earth's resources is an ever-growing task, geological engineers are needed more and more in a wide variety of areas, including industry, government, and research. Scholarships are available, as well as a wide range of experiential learning opportunities such as summer internships, cooperative work projects, student design teams, and international experiences.  Especially in challenging times, many paths to rewarding permanent employment start with a Missouri S&T geological engineering BS degree.

The mechanical engineering program is offered in the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Mechanical engineering has broad applications and is one of the most basic of all branches of engineering.

As a mechanical engineer you will be concerned with the conversion and transfer of energy from one form to another; with the design, construction, and operation of all types of machines; and with the selection and design of instrumentation and systems for the control of all types of physical and environmental systems.

You may design products and manufacturing processes, supervise production methods and operations, design and supervise fabrication and testing of individual machines and complete plants, or be involved in applied or basic research.

In your first few semesters as a mechanical engineering student, you will develop a sound background in the fundamental sciences of mathematics, physics, and chemistry, and you will take a broad selection of liberal arts courses. You will also learn to work with computers. Onto this foundation you will add the basic required courses of engineering sciences and technology including stress analysis, machine design, machine dynamics, electricity, electronics, control theory, thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy conversion, fluid mechanics, computer-aided engineering (CAE), and computer-aided design (CAD).

To provide some degree of specialization for those students who are interested in a particular area of mechanical engineering, there are nine hours of technical electives that you can select to concentrate in an emphasis area (such as robotics, manufacturing automation, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, dynamics and controls, solid mechanics, vibrations, and design). If you are interested in getting some background in a closely allied field such as aerospace, petroleum, or nuclear engineering, you can, with the aid of your advisor, select some of your desired technical electives in those fields.

The mining and explosives engineering programs are offered under the department of mining engineering. The overall objectives of the mining engineering program are to provide a broad engineering education with strong expertise in mining engineering, a cultural foundation for the mining industry and a strong basis for future growth and development. These objectives are achieved at the B.S. level by providing education in basic sciences, engineering sciences and design, core mining engineering, humanities and social sciences.

Metallurgical engineering is one of two B.S. degrees offered by the materials science and engineering department. Metallurgical engineering is a broad discipline that studies metals production and recycling, the manufacturing of components from metals and alloys, the processing and treatment of metals to achieve improved properties, and the design of metallic materials for specific applications. Missouri S&T has one of the largest and most comprehensive metallurgical engineering programs in the United States. It is the only such program in Missouri or in any of the surrounding states.

The field of metallurgical engineering starts with the production and recycling of metals such as aluminum, steel, copper, magnesium and titanium. Once these metals are made, metallurgical engineers design forming and processing techniques to transform these metals into useful shapes with the properties required for their application. For example, light-weight magnesium is cast to make cell phones, zinc-coated steel is stamped to make corrosion resistant auto bodies, aluminum is formed to make the strong but lightweight wings of jet aircraft, tungsten powder is consolidated and drawn into filaments for incandescent light bulbs, and steel I-beams are hot-rolled for the construction of skyscrapers. Metallurgical engineers control the properties of metallic materials by altering the microscopic structure with alloying additions and special treatments. This approach leads to products such as corrosion-resistant stainless steels, ultra-lightweight alloys for aircraft, wear-resistant alloys for engines, and shape-memory alloys for space structures. In addition, investigating material failures and monitoring service life are tasks that are performed by metallurgists.

Although all metallurgical engineering students take the same basic required courses in metallurgical engineering, students can select several technical electives to emphasize their particular area of interest. Students are also encouraged to undertake summer and cooperative training employment to supplement both their academic studies and incomes.

The nuclear engineering program is offered under the department of nuclear engineering and radiation science.

The nuclear engineering program has a primary mission to provide an outstanding and comprehensive undergraduate and graduate education to tomorrow's leaders in nuclear engineering. The department provides well-educated nuclear engineering professionals and leaders to Missouri and the nation, in the commercial nuclear industry, national laboratories, graduate schools, and the nation's defense and federal agencies. The objectives of the bachelor of science program are to provide each student with fundamental knowledge of nuclear engineering and related technologies, analytical and problem solving ability, ability for technical communications, professional ethics, leadership and interpersonal skills, capability to conduct research, and the ability to recognize the value of life-long learning.

The program is committed to a strong engineering program administered by highly motivated and active nuclear engineering faculty; it is the only B.S. nuclear engineering degree program accredited in the state of Missouri. The nuclear engineering program at Missouri S&T, one of the earliest ABET accredited undergraduate programs in the nation, interacts with professional societies, national laboratories, and the nuclear industry to promote continuing education, research opportunities, and public dissemination of information about issues and advances in the field.

Nuclear engineers develop and promote the utilization of energy released from nuclear fission, fusion, and the decay of radioisotopes. Currently, there are more than 100 nuclear power plants operating in the United States producing about 20 percent of our nation's electricity. These plants use nuclear fission to produce energy and are cooled by ordinary (light) water, hence the name, Light Water Reactors. This technology reduces the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide significantly, thus contributing to a better environment. In addition, nuclear reactors are used for the propulsion of submarines and aircraft carriers.

In fusion power plants, under development, strong magnetic fields contain a plasma fuel of hydrogen isotopes, such as deuterium, at temperatures hotter than the sun. The deuterium extracted from one gallon of water could produce as much energy as burning several hundred gallons of gasoline.

Radioisotopes are used in industry and research, and in medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The medical use of radioisotopes and X-rays saves hundreds of thousands of lives every year throughout the world. Radioisotopes are also used in small power generators for space flights.

If you choose nuclear engineering, you could work in the areas of nuclear reactor design, plant licensing, plant operation, fuel management and development, radioactive waste disposal, health physics, instrumentation and control, fusion research, space nuclear power, and applications of radioisotopes in industry, medicine, and research. As a nuclear engineer, you might be employed by utilities, reactor vendors, architect-engineering firms, consulting firms, industrial research centers, national laboratories, government agencies or universities.

The nuclear engineering curriculum consists of three components: general education, mathematics and basic sciences, and engineering topics. The students apply the principles of physics, chemistry and mathematics to the study of engineering topics which include statics, mechanics of materials, electronic circuits and machines, thermodynamics, and metallurgy. The knowledge gained in these areas is applied to the understanding of nuclear engineering topics including reactor fluid mechanics and heat transfer, reactor physics, nuclear radiation measurements, radioactive waste management, reactor laboratory and operation, nuclear materials, and nuclear systems design (a capstone design course).

Engineering design is an integral part of a significant number of required courses in the nuclear engineering program. Design topics include but are not limited to reactor cooling systems, radiation protection, structural components, waste disposal and transportation systems, nuclear reactor cores and the design of experiments for radiation detection and measurement. While obtaining experience in these areas the students are prepared for designing a complete nuclear system such as a nuclear plant for electric power generation, space propulsion, desalination, district heating or radioisotope production for industrial, medical or research applications.

Anyone with an interest in subsurface energy, including fossil fuels, CO2 sequestration, and geothermal energy, should consider the possibility of a career as a petroleum engineer. Petroleum engineers seek out oil and natural gas reservoirs beneath the earth's surface, design subsurface carbon capture projects, and are frequently involved in deep geothermal energy projects. They develop the safest and most environmentally friendly methods of bringing these energy resources to the market.

Many petroleum engineers travel the world or live in foreign countries - wherever their explorations take them to find and recover valuable petroleum reserves. These travels can lead to the deserts, high seas, mountains, and arctic regions of the world in order to find untapped sources of energy for the world's population. Petroleum engineers also tend to quickly assume leadership roles, handling large projects with high levels of responsibility.

Because of the increasing demand for types of energy and carbon management beyond fossil fuels, there has been an accompanying increase in the demand for petroleum engineers in areas such as CO2 sequestration and geothermal energy.

As a petroleum engineering student, you will study the technology of oil and gas drilling, production, reserves estimation, and the prediction of future production. You will also study various techniques for evaluating the characteristics of subsurface formations and their fluid contents, which is crucial for all subsurface energy operations.

Petroleum Engineering is an independent degree program offered under the department of geological sciences and engineering

The aerospace engineering program in the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering offers comprehensive graduate education in a number of areas. Aerodynamics, gas dynamics, hypersonics, aerospace system design, aerospace propulsion, aerospace structures, plasma aerospace applications, multidisciplinary optimization, and flight dynamics and control are the major areas of emphasis. A wide variety of interdisciplinary programs meeting specific objectives are available. The aerospace engineering program offers the master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees. The department also offers several graduate certificate programs in both aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering. Details of certificate programs can be found under the mechanical engineering program listing.

Typical examples of research activities are: analysis and design of composite structures, structural acoustics, aeroacoustics, smart structures, active and passive vibration control, optimization of systems based on structural dynamics or structural performance, astrodynamics, guidance and control of aircraft and missiles, robust multivariable control, microsatellite design, fabrication, and test, neural network architecture for control, estimation theory, real-time flight simulation, non-equilibrium shock wave structure, propulsion research with emphasis on how fuel variables influence combustion, atomization of liquid fuels in supersonic flow, flame stability in combustion systems, scramjet and supersonic combustion scramjet studies, computational fluid dynamics, laser interaction problems, free turbulent mixing, unsteady high angle of attack flow configurations, computer simulation of separated flows, low-speed and high-speed aerodynamics, aerodynamics of high-lift devices, aerospace system design, and viscous effects in transonic flows.

The ceramic engineering program in the department of materials science and engineering offers comprehensive graduate education in a number of areas including structural ceramics, electronic materials, high temperature materials, and glass. Further information on these opportunities and facilities available to carry out research in ceramic engineering may be found under materials science and engineering.

Engineering management is the art and science of planning, organizing, allocating resources, and directing and controlling engineering activities. The field of engineering management has become recognized as a professional discipline with a critical role in the modern society. Graduates develop innovative and integrated solutions to problems that arise at the convergence of engineering and business.

Graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are offered in engineering management. The discipline involves designing, operating and continuously improving systems by integrating engineering and management knowledge. This integration starts with an awareness of customer needs and market conditions. It then seeks to optimize the use of people, equipment, money and information to achieve desired objectives. The discipline also seeks to develop students into individuals with leadership potential who can achieve high quality results in an ethical manner and with respect for the environment. The major goal of entering students is to enhance the usefulness of their previously acquired technical background. This is accomplished through coursework and research designed to expand knowledge of the management and operation of organizations in today's competitive environment. This broader understanding is further enhanced with the opportunity to acquire specialized knowledge in many areas that exist at the interface between the classical engineering and management disciplines.