Matriculating Nuclear Engineering Students: The North Carolina State University Case

First-year nuclear engineering students typically complete a common freshman year that does not include courses(s) in nuclear engineering. How then does a department engage students who have expressed their intent to major in nuclear engineering but haven’t matriculated into the discipline as of yet? Through an analysis of matriculation trends and a survey of current nuclear engineering students, we will report on why students choose nuclear engineering, what makes them stay, and what impact current retention programs for un-matriculated students have on their decisions? Students surveyed provide insight into factors they deem important and subsequently have an effect on their commitment to a nuclear engineering education at North Carolina State University.