NE 400:  Senior Seminar

Learning Outcomes for NE 400 (Senior Seminar)

1. Reflect and share feelings about the undergraduate nuclear engineering education experience.
2. Learn the "do's and don'ts" job interviewing.  Become familiar with Career Services.
3. Understand professional ethics from the point of view of a working professional.
4. Learn more about ethics via an in class discussion including examples (e.g., playing solitaire daily on university computers).
5. Become familiar with the pros and cons of professional society involvement, graduate school, continuing education, and professional registration.
6. Develop a desire to mentor freshman and sophomore nuclear engineering students.
7. Improve oral communication skills by giving oral presentations to the entire class.
8. Develop an awareness and understanding of contemporary nuclear issues.
9. Appreciate the fact that the UTK Nuclear Engineering faculty desires to continuously improve its programs by receiving constructive criticism from seniors through exit surveys and exit interviews.

The objective of this seminar for soon-to-be B.S. graduates in nuclear engineering is to address closure issues regarding their undergraduate education; to promote lifelong learning including graduate school, continuing education, and professional society involvement; and to fine tune the presentation skills of the students. Other topics that will be addressed include job hunting and interviewing, professional ethics, contemporary nuclear issues, and conducting exit surveys and exit interviews. Most of the 50 minute lecture topics will be prepared by the students themselves (one or two students per topic), and then presented by the students to the entire class including the instructor. Each lecture will last 20 - 25 minutes followed by 20 - 25 minutes of class discussion.

The following are the 11 ABET-specified outcomes for the UTNE academic program as defined by the ABET 2000 criteria:

1. Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering
2. Ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
3. Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs
4. Ability to function in multi-disciplinary teams
5. Ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems
6. Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
7. Ability to communicate effectively
8. Broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering  solutions in a global/societal context
9. Recognition of the need for and ability to engage in lifelong learning
10. Knowledge of contemporary issues
11. Ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Explanation of the Mapping Presented in Table 1 (NE 400)

ABET Outcome 1:  Basic knowledge will be gained via specific NE 400 Outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 including job interviewing, ethics, continuing education, and contemporary nuclear issues.

ABET Outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 11 are not addressed in NE 400.

ABET Outcome 6:  Professional ethics will be addressed in two classes one of which will be devoted to an outside speaker with expertise in the area.

ABET Outcome 7:  Communication skills are addressed in several of the NE 400 specific learning Outcomes including 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 9.

ABET Outcome 8:  Global/societal aspects of nuclear issues will be addressed in the presentation and discussion on ethics (NE 400 Outcomes 3 and 4).

ABET Outcome 9:  Lifelong learning is addressed by the discussion about professional society involvement, graduate school and continuing education.  (NE 400 Outcomes 5 and 9).

ABET Outcome 10:  Several classes will be devoted to contemporary nuclear issues such as the politics of waste disposal (NE 400 Outcome 8).

Revised 1/18/05

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