MASTER STUDENT PROGRAM
The Nuclear Engineering Department now offers a special program that will enable outstanding students to obtain a Master of Science Degree in approximately one year after the Bachelor of Science (~five years after enrolling as a freshman). Normally, students spend one and one-half to two years working on the M.S. degree. This time is required in part to complete the required courses; but, more significantly, to complete the research requirement associated with the M.S. degree.
The Master student program permits accelerated progress towards a M.S. degree by allowing the student to begin satisfying M.S. course and research requirements while still an undergraduate. Students earn six to twelve credit hours of graduate credit in their senior year. These courses will satisfy one fourth to one half of the M.S. course requirements. This is made possible when the normal senior year requirements are completed early by attending summer school, by attending mini-terms or by taking UT Distance Education courses.
Students in the Master student program usually begin work on their research in the summer after their junior year. They are hired by the department to work full time on a project, which will eventually be the student's thesis research project. During the senior year, students continue working part-time on the project (typically ten hours per week). Consequently, when the student completes his/her B.S., a significant amount of work associated with the initial phase of a research project will have been completed. Incidentally, the students will earn money to help finance their undergraduate education (up to $5,000).
The Master student program is restricted to students with outstanding academic performance. Students may apply for the Master Student Program when they first enroll at UT as freshmen. Students must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 to be considered for the program. The Master Student Program Committee will also take into account other factors such as ACT or SAT score, the student’s interest in and commitment to nuclear engineering, and extra-curricular activities that demonstrate responsibility and leadership. Students will be admitted as Master Student Program Candidates and will be assigned to the Department’s Master Student Program Advisor, who will advise the student and monitor his/her progress. The student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 in courses at UT to remain in the Master Student Program. Students who have completed the candidate program may apply to become a scholar at the end of the junior year. Other students, including transfer students, may apply if they have at least a 3.5 grade point average at UT and have obtained extra credits as needed to permit taking at least two graduate courses in the senior year. Selection of scholars will be based on academic performance, interest in and commitment to nuclear engineering, extra-curricular activities that demonstrate responsibility and leadership, and availability of funds. Scholars will begin their appointment in the summer after the junior year. Failure to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 will result in automatic suspension from the Master student program. Students with the required outstanding academic record are encouraged to apply.