Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences/Nuclear Engineering Joint Major

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

Bachelor of Science (BS)

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 in each of the major fields. While they require slightly increased course loads, they can be completed in four years. 

The Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS)/Nuclear Engineering (NE) joint major combines the traditional electrical engineering program with one in the nuclear sciences. Nuclear engineering shares with electrical engineering a concern for electrical power generation, automatic control, computer science, and plasmas.

Admission to the Joint Major

Admission directly to a joint major is closed to freshmen and junior transfer applicants. Students interested in a joint program may apply to change majors during specific times during their academic programs. Please see the College of Engineering joint majors website for complete details.

Visit Program Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, students must fulfill the requirements below, specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

  1. All technical courses taken in satisfaction of major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.

  2. No more than one upper division course may be used simultaneously to fulfill requirements for a student’s major and minor programs.

  3. A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for all work undertaken at UC Berkeley.

  4. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for all technical courses taken in satisfaction of major requirements.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

For a detailed plan of study by year and semester, please see the Plan of Study tab.

Lower Division Requirements

MATH 1ACalculus4
MATH 1BCalculus4
MATH 53Multivariable Calculus4
MATH 54Linear Algebra and Differential Equations4
CHEM 1A
1AL
General Chemistry
and General Chemistry Laboratory 1
5
or CHEM 4A General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
PHYSICS 7A
PHYSICS 7B
PHYSICS 7C
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
and Physics for Scientists and Engineers
and Physics for Scientists and Engineers
12-13
or PHYSICS 5A
PHYSICS 5B
PHYSICS 5BL
PHYSICS 5C
PHYSICS 5CL
Introductory Mechanics and Relativity
and Introductory Electromagnetism, Waves, and Optics
and Introduction to Experimental Physics I
and Introductory Thermodynamics and Quantum Mechanics
and Introduction to Experimental Physics II
ENGIN 40Engineering Thermodynamics4
MAT SCI 45Properties of Materials3
MAT SCI 45LProperties of Materials Laboratory1
EECS 16ADesigning Information Devices and Systems I4
EECS 16BDesigning Information Devices and Systems II4
COMPSCI 61AThe Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs4
or ENGIN 7 Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers
COMPSCI 61BData Structures4
or COMPSCI 61BL Data Structures and Programming Methodology
1

 CHEM 4A is intended for students majoring in chemistry or a closely-related field.

Upper Division Requirements

NUC ENG 100Introduction to Nuclear Energy and Technology3
NUC ENG 101Nuclear Reactions and Radiation4
NUC ENG 104Radiation Detection and Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory4
NUC ENG 150Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory4
NUC ENG 170ANuclear Design: Design in Nuclear Power Technology and Instrumentation3
EL ENG 105Microelectronic Devices and Circuits4
EL ENG 117Electromagnetic Fields and Waves4
EL ENG 120Signals and Systems4
STAT 134Concepts of Probability4
or EECS 126 Probability and Random Processes
Ethics Requirement 13-4
NUC ENG upper division Technical Electives: Select 9 units in consultation with faculty advisor (see below).9
EECS upper division Technical Electives: Select 8 units in consultation with faculty advisor (see below).8
1

Students must take one course with ethics content. This may be fulfilled within the Humanities/Social Sciences requirement by taking one of the following courses: ANTHRO 156B, BIO ENG 100, ENGIN 125, ENGIN 157AC, ENGIN 185, ESPM 161, ESPM 162GEOG 31, IAS 157AC, ISF 100E, L&S 160B, PHILOS 2, PHILOS 104, PHILOS 107, and SOCIOL 116.

Nuclear Engineering Technical Electives

Students must complete at least 9 units of upper division nuclear engineering courses from the following groups. The groups are presented to aid undergraduate students in focusing their choices on specific professional goals; however, the electives selected need not be from any single group. Courses listed from other departments in these groups may be taken to provide further depth but may not be used toward the 9 units.

Beam and Accelerator Applications
NUC ENG 155Introduction to Numerical Simulations in Radiation Transport3
NUC ENG 180Introduction to Controlled Fusion3
PHYSICS 110AElectromagnetism and Optics4
PHYSICS 110BElectromagnetism and Optics4
PHYSICS 129Particle Physics4
PHYSICS 139Special Relativity and General Relativity3
PHYSICS 142Introduction to Plasma Physics4
Bionuclear Engineering
BIO ENG C165Medical Imaging Signals and Systems4
EL ENG 120Signals and Systems4
NUC ENG 107Introduction to Imaging3
NUC ENG 162Radiation Biophysics and Dosimetry3
Fission Power Engineering
MEC ENG 106Fluid Mechanics3-4
or CHM ENG 150A Transport Processes
MEC ENG 109Heat Transfer3-4
or CHM ENG 150A Transport Processes
NUC ENG 120Nuclear Materials4
NUC ENG 124Radioactive Waste Management3
NUC ENG 155Introduction to Numerical Simulations in Radiation Transport3
NUC ENG 161Nuclear Power Engineering4
NUC ENG 167Risk-Informed Design for Advanced Nuclear Systems3
NUC ENG 175Methods of Risk Analysis3
Fusion Power Engineering
NUC ENG 120Nuclear Materials4
NUC ENG 155Introduction to Numerical Simulations in Radiation Transport3
NUC ENG 180Introduction to Controlled Fusion3
PHYSICS 110AElectromagnetism and Optics4
PHYSICS 110BElectromagnetism and Optics4
PHYSICS 142Introduction to Plasma Physics4
Homeland Security and Nonproliferation
CHEM 143Nuclear Chemistry2
NUC ENG 107Introduction to Imaging3
NUC ENG 130Analytical Methods for Non-proliferation3
NUC ENG 155Introduction to Numerical Simulations in Radiation Transport3
NUC ENG 175Methods of Risk Analysis3
PHYSICS 110AElectromagnetism and Optics4
PHYSICS 110BElectromagnetism and Optics4
PHYSICS 111AInstrumentation Laboratory4
PHYSICS 111BAdvanced Experimentation Laboratory1-3
Materials in Nuclear Technology
MAT SCI 102Bonding, Crystallography, and Crystal Defects3
MAT SCI 104Materials Characterization3
MAT SCI 112Corrosion (Chemical Properties)3
MAT SCI 113Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials3
NUC ENG 120Nuclear Materials4
NUC ENG 124Radioactive Waste Management3
NUC ENG 155Introduction to Numerical Simulations in Radiation Transport3
NUC ENG 161Nuclear Power Engineering4
Nuclear Fuel Cycles and Waste Management
CHM ENG 150ATransport Processes4
CHM ENG 150BTransport and Separation Processes4
IND ENG 120Principles of Engineering Economics3
MAT SCI 112Corrosion (Chemical Properties)3
NUC ENG 120Nuclear Materials4
NUC ENG 124Radioactive Waste Management3
NUC ENG 155Introduction to Numerical Simulations in Radiation Transport3
NUC ENG 161Nuclear Power Engineering4
NUC ENG 175Methods of Risk Analysis3
Radiation and Health Physics
NUC ENG 120Nuclear Materials4
NUC ENG 155Introduction to Numerical Simulations in Radiation Transport3
NUC ENG 162Radiation Biophysics and Dosimetry3
NUC ENG 180Introduction to Controlled Fusion3
Risk, Safety and Systems Analysis
CIV ENG 193Engineering Risk Analysis3
CHM ENG 150ATransport Processes4
IND ENG 120Principles of Engineering Economics3
IND ENG 166Decision Analytics3
NUC ENG 120Nuclear Materials4
NUC ENG 124Radioactive Waste Management3
NUC ENG 155Introduction to Numerical Simulations in Radiation Transport3
NUC ENG 161Nuclear Power Engineering4
NUC ENG 167Risk-Informed Design for Advanced Nuclear Systems3
NUC ENG 175Methods of Risk Analysis3

Electrical Engineering Technical Electives

Students must complete at least 8 units of upper division electrical engineering courses from the following lists:

Electromagnetics and Plasmas
EL ENG 118Introduction to Optical Engineering4
EL ENG C239Partially Ionized Plasmas3
Electronics
EL ENG 130Integrated-Circuit Devices4
EL ENG 140Linear Integrated Circuits4
EL ENG 143Microfabrication Technology4
EECS 151
151LA
Introduction to Digital Design and Integrated Circuits
and Application Specific Integrated Circuits Laboratory
5
or EECS 151
151LB
Introduction to Digital Design and Integrated Circuits
and Field-Programmable Gate Array Laboratory
Power Systems and Control
EL ENG 113Power Electronics4
EL ENG C128Feedback Control Systems4
EL ENG 134Fundamentals of Photovoltaic Devices4
EL ENG 137AIntroduction to Electric Power Systems4
EL ENG 137BIntroduction to Electric Power Systems4

EECS Five-Year BS/MS

This program is geared toward students who would like to pursue an education beyond the BS/BA, allowing them to achieve greater breadth and/or depth of knowledge, and who would like to try their hand at research as well. It is not intended for students who have definitely decided to pursue a PhD immediately following graduation. Those students are advised to apply for a PhD program at Berkeley or elsewhere during their senior year. Students who have been accepted into the five-year BA/MS or BS/MS are free to change their minds later and apply to enter the PhD program or apply to a PhD program at another university. Note that admission for Fifth Year MS applicants to the Berkeley PhD program is competitive with our other PhD applicants.

The program is focused on interdisciplinary training at a graduate level, with at least 8 units of course work outside EECS required. Students will emerge as leaders in their technical and professional fields.

  • Focus on interdisciplinary study and more experience in aligned technical fields such as physics, materials science, statistics, biology, etc., and/or professional disciplines such as management of technology, business, law and public policy.
  • With admission to the Fifth Year MS program, students must begin their graduate degree in the semester immediately following the conferral of the bachelor's degree.
  • One additional year (two semesters) only is permitted beyond the bachelor's degree.
  • Available only to Berkeley EECS and L&S CS undergraduates.
  • Participants in program may serve as graduate student instructors with approval from their faculty research adviser and the 5th Year MS Committee.
  • Participants in program are self-funded.

For further information regarding this program, please see the EECS department's website

College Requirements

Students in the College of Engineering must complete no fewer than 120 semester units with the following provisions: 

  1. Completion of the requirements of one engineering major program of study. 
  2. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.00 (C average) and a minimum 2.00 grade point average in upper division technical coursework required of the major.
  3. The final 30 units and two semesters must be completed in residence in the College of Engineering on the Berkeley campus.
  4. All technical courses (math, science, and engineering) that can fulfill requirements for the student's major must be taken on a letter graded basis (unless they are only offered P/NP). 
  5. Entering freshmen are allowed a maximum of eight semesters to complete their degree requirements. Entering junior transfers are allowed five semesters to complete their degree requirements. Summer terms are optional and do not count toward the maximum. Students are responsible for planning and satisfactorily completing all graduation requirements within the maximum allowable semesters. 
  6. Adhere to all college policies and procedures as they complete degree requirements.
  7. Complete lower division technical courses before enrolling in upper division technical courses. 

Humanities and Social Sciences (H/SS) Requirement

To promote a rich and varied educational experience outside of the technical requirements for each major, the College of Engineering has a six-course Humanities and Social Sciences breadth requirement, which must be completed to graduate. This requirement, built into all the engineering programs of study, includes two Reading and Composition courses (R&C), and four additional courses within which a number of specific conditions must be satisfied. See the humanities and social sciences section of our website for details.

Class Schedule Requirements

  • Minimum units per semester: 12.0
  • Maximum units per semester:  20.5
  • Minimum technical courses: College of Engineering undergraduates must include at least two letter graded technical courses (of at least 3 units each) in their semester program. Every semester students are expected to make satisfactory progress in their declared major. Satisfactory progress is determined by the student's Engineering Student Services Advisor. (Note: For most majors, normal progress will require enrolling in 3-4 technical courses required of your current major each semester.) Students who are not in compliance with this policy by the end of the fifth week of the semester are subject to a registration block that will delay enrollment for the following semester. 
  • All technical courses (math, science, engineering) that satisfy requirements for the major must be taken on a letter-graded basis (unless only offered as P/NP).

Minimum Academic Requirements

  • Students must have a minimum overall and semester grade point average of 2.00 (C average). Students will be subject to dismissal from the University if during any fall or spring semester their overall UC GPA falls below a 2.00, or their semester GPA is less than 2.00. 
  • Students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.00 (C average) in upper division technical courses required for the major curriculum each semester.
  • A minimum overall grade point average of 2.00 and a minimum 2.00 grade point average in upper division technical course work required for the major are required to earn a Bachelor of Science in the College of Engineering.
  • Students must make normal degree progress toward the Bachelor of Science degree and their officially declared major.

Unit Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, students must complete at least 120 semester units of courses subject to certain guidelines:

  • Completion of the requirements of one engineering major program of study. 
  • A maximum of 16 units of special studies coursework (courses numbered 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, or 199) is allowed to count towards the B.S. degree, and no more than 4 units in any single term can be counted.
  • A maximum of 4 units of physical education from any school attended will count towards the 120 units.
  • Passed (P) grades may account for no more than one third of the total units completed at UC Berkeley, Fall Program for Freshmen (FPF), UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP), or UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) toward the 120 overall minimum unit requirement. Transfer credit is not factored into the limit. This includes transfer units from outside of the UC system, other UC campuses, credit-bearing exams, as well as UC Berkeley Extension XB units.

Normal Progress

Students in the College of Engineering must enroll in a full-time program and make normal progress each semester toward their declared major.  Students who fail to achieve normal academic progress shall be subject to dismissal. (Note: Students with official accommodations established by the Disabled Students' Program, with health or family issues, or with other reasons deemed appropriate by the dean may petition for an exception to normal progress rules.)

UC and Campus Requirements

University of California Requirements

Entry Level Writing

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by satisfying the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR). The UC Entry Level Writing Requirement website provides information on how to satisfy the requirement.

American History and American Institutions

The American History and Institutions (AH&I) requirements are based on the principle that a US resident graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

Campus Requirement

American Cultures

The American Cultures requirement is a Berkeley campus requirement, one that all undergraduate students at Berkeley need to pass in order to graduate. You satisfy the requirement by passing, with a grade not lower than C- or P, an American Cultures course. You may take an American Cultures course any time during your undergraduate career at Berkeley. The requirement was instituted in 1991 to introduce students to the diverse cultures of the United States through a comparative framework. Courses are offered in more than fifty departments in many different disciplines at both the lower and upper division level.

 

Plan of Study

For more detailed information regarding the courses listed below (e.g., elective information, GPA requirements, etc.), please see the Major Requirements tab.

Freshman
FallUnitsSpringUnits
CHEM 4A or 1A and 1AL5MATH 1B4
MATH 1A4COMPSCI 61B or 61BL4
COMPSCI 61A or ENGIN 74PHYSICS 7A or 5A13-4
Reading & Composition Part A Course44Reading & Composition Part B Course44
 17 15-16
Sophomore
FallUnitsSpringUnits
EECS 16A4EECS 16B4
MAT SCI 453MATH 544
MAT SCI 45L1PHYSICS 7C or 5C and 5CL14-5
MATH 534Humanities/Social Sciences Course43-4
PHYSICS 7B or 5B and 5BL14-5 
 16-17 15-17
Junior
FallUnitsSpringUnits
EL ENG 1204NUC ENG 1044
ENGIN 404NUC ENG 1504
NUC ENG 1003STAT 134 or EECS 1264
NUC ENG 1014Humanities/Social Sciences course43-4
 15 15-16
Senior
FallUnitsSpringUnits
EL ENG 1054EL ENG 1174
Technical Electives39NUC ENG 170A3
Humanities/Social Sciences course43-4Technical Electives38
 16-17 15
Total Units: 124-130
1

Students may choose to take the Physics 7 series or the Physics 5 series. Students who fulfill Physics 7A with an AP exam score, transfer work, or at Berkeley may complete the physics requirement by taking either Physics 7B and 7C, or Physics 5B/5BL and 5C/5CL. Students who take Physics 5A must take Physics 5B/5BL and 5C/5CL to complete the physics requirement. Completion of Physics 5A and Physics 7B and Physics 7C will not fulfill the physics requirement.

2

Students must take one course with ethics content. This may be fulfilled within the Humanities/Social Sciences requirement by taking one of the following courses: ANTHRO 156B, BIO ENG 100, ENGIN 125, ENGIN 157AC, ENGIN 185, ESPM 161, ESPM 162, GEOG 31, IAS 157AC, ISF 100E, L & S 160B, PHILOS 2, PHILOS 104, PHILOS 107, and SOCIOL 116.

3

See Major Requirements tab for list of technical elective courses.

4

The 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.

Student Learning Goals

 

Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

MISSION
  1. Preparing graduates to pursue postgraduate education in electrical engineering, computer science, or related fields.
  2. Preparing graduates for success in technical careers related to electrical and computer engineering, or computer science and engineering.
  3. Preparing graduates to become leaders in fields related to electrical and computer engineering or computer science and engineering.
LEARNING GOALS
EE
  1. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
  2. An ability to configure, apply test conditions, and evaluate outcomes of experimental systems.
  3. An ability to design systems, components, or processes that conform to given specifications and cost constraints.
  4. An ability to work cooperatively, respectfully, creatively, and responsibly as a member of a team.
  5. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
  6. An understanding of the norms of expected behavior in engineering practice and their underlying ethical foundations.
  7. An ability to communicate effectively by oral, written, and graphical means.
  8. An awareness of global and societal concerns and their importance in developing engineering solutions.
  9. An ability to independently acquire and apply required information, and an appreciation of the associated process of life-long learning.
  10. A knowledge of contemporary issues.
  11. An in-depth ability to use a combination of software, instrumentation, and experimental techniques practiced in circuits, physical electronics, communication, networks and systems, hardware, programming, and computer science theory.
CS
  1. An ability to apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the program’s student outcomes and to the discipline.
  2. An ability to analyze a problem, and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution.
  3. An ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs.
  4. An ability to function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal.
  5. An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security and social issues and responsibilities.
  6. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  7. An ability to analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society.
  8. Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in continuing professional development.
  9.  An ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice.

Nuclear Engineering

MISSION

The mission of the Department of Nuclear Engineering is to maintain and strengthen the University of California's only center of excellence in nuclear engineering education and research and to serve California and the nation by improving and applying nuclear science and technology. The mission of the undergraduate degree program in Nuclear Engineering is to prepare our students to begin a lifetime of technical achievement and professional leadership in academia, government, the national laboratories, and industry.

LEARNING GOALS

The foundation of the UC Berkeley Nuclear Engineering (NE) program is a set of five key objectives for educating undergraduate students. The NE program continuously reviews these objectives internally to ensure that they meet the current needs of the students, and each spring the Program Advisory Committee meets to review the program and recommend changes to better serve students. The NE Program Advisory Committee was established in 1988 and is composed of senior leaders from industry, the national laboratories, and academia.

Nuclear engineering at UC Berkeley prepares undergraduate students for employment or advanced studies with four primary constituencies: industry, the national laboratories, state and federal agencies, and academia (graduate research programs). Graduate research programs are the dominant constituency. From 2000 to 2005, sixty-eight percent of graduating NE seniors indicated plans to attend graduate school in their senior exit surveys. To meet the needs of these constituencies, the objectives of the NE undergraduate program are to produce graduates who as practicing engineers and researchers do the following:

  1. Apply solid knowledge of the fundamental mathematics and natural (both physical and biological) sciences that provide the foundation for engineering applications.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of nuclear processes, and the application of general natural science and engineering principles to the analysis and design of nuclear and related systems of current and/or future importance to society.
  3. Exhibit strong, independent learning, analytical and problem-solving skills, with special emphasis on design, communication, and an ability to work in teams.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the broad social, ethical, safety, and environmental context within which nuclear engineering is practiced.
  5. Value and practice life-long learning.

Courses

Select a subject to view courses

Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Nuclear Engineering

Contact Information

Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and Nuclear Engineering Program

Visit Program Website

Department Chair, EECS

Claire Tomlin

721 Sutardja Dai Hall

Phone: 510-643-6610

tomlin@eecs.berkeley.edu

Department Chair, NE

Karl A. van Bibber

4107 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-642-3477

karl.van.bibber@nuc.berkeley.edu

EECS Undergrad Advising

EECS Department Advisers

https://eecs.berkeley.edu/resources/undergrads/eecs/advising#advisors

Department Adviser, NE

Kirsten Wimple Hall

4149 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: (510) 642-5760

kirstenw@berkeley.edu

ESS Adviser

Shareena Samson

230 Bechtel Eng Cntr

shareena@berkeley.edu

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