Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering
MANE Home | Contact Us | Apply Print friendly version  
Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, & Nuclear Engineering

Undergraduate > U.S. Navy: Common Questions

Overview | Common Questions
Curriculum: Nuclear Engineering : Engineering Physics : Dual Major

NOTE: At this time, we are no longer accepting applications for the Rensselaer Navy Program operated at Rensselaer’s regional site in Malta, NY. The BS degree program in Nuclear Engineering is still available on the Rensselaer campus in Troy, NY. Students interested in pursuing the BS degree program in Nuclear Engineering the Rensselaer campus may contact Marie Dieffenbach at dieffm@rpi.edu or 518-276-2255.

Click on the section links below to jump to questions and answers related to that section:

How to Apply

What are the deadlines for application?

November 1 (for Spring start)
March 15 (for Summer start)
June 1 (for Fall start)

Are SATs or ACTs required?

We request a copy of your SAT or ACT scores, but if you have not taken the SATs or ACTs, you do not need to take them to apply to this program.

How do I obtain an information/enrollment packet?

Write...

Navy Nuclear Program
JEC 5049, RPI
110 8th St.,
Troy, NY 12180

Scroll up to the top of the page

Schedule & Location

Which work sections does this program accommodate?

Courses are schedules to accommodate students in sections 1, 2, and 4.

Where is the Malta Site?

Malta Commons Business Park [right off Exit 12 of the Northway (Route 87)]
11 Saratoga Village Blvd
Ballston Spa, NY 12020

Will lab classes also be offered at the Malta site?

All classes will be offered at the Malta site, though you may be occasionally asked to travel, as a class, to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where you will complete several labs at once (so that you maximize your trip).

How many hours will I be in class per week? Per day?

If you take 12 credit hours, you will be in class for roughly 12 hours per week. During any given day, you will be in class anywhere from zero to four hours.

What is the minimum number of classes I have to take per semester to meet all the requirements of graduation?

You will need to take 12 credits (3 classes) per semester. Other requirements you must fulfill are that you must complete at least 48 credit hours at Rensselaer, and you must be in residence (i.e., enrolled as a full-time student with a minimum of 12 credits per semester) for at least four semesters.

How long will it take me to get my degree?

The program is designed to be completed within a 2 and 2/3rd year time frame, which is equivalent to 8 trimesters.

What are the approximate start dates for each trimester?

Fall trimester -- the last week in August
Spring trimester -- the 2nd week in June
Summer trimester -- the 2nd week in May

Is there a particular semester during which I have to start?

The Navy Nuclear Program has rolling admission. You may start whichever trimester is most convenient, as long as you have applied before the deadline.

Scroll up to the top of the page

Financial Aid

How and when do I apply for financial aid?

Students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Rensselaer Financial Aid Application for Malta Students. You should complete these forms as quickly as possible and mail them to the appropriate addresses.

When you file this form, you will automatically be considered for aid from all available sources, including Rensselaer Alumni Scholarships. You can also obtain a FAFSA form online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Please be sure to print off the signature page and send it in immediately. Without that page, a FAFSA filed on-line cannot be processed.

When will I be notified of my financial aid award?

The FAFSA and Rensselaer Financial Aid Application for Malta Students will be used to create your financial aid package. The process takes over one month and once calculated, the award announcement will be sent directly to your home.

What is Rensselaer's school code for the FAFSA?

002803

What if my family's financial situation changes after I file my form?

If there is a change in your family's financial situation after the completion of your FAFSA, call or write directly to Rensselaer's Financial Aid Office. Do not send this information to the Federal Processing Center.

What kinds of financial aid are available to me?

Financial aid awards usually consist of a package that includes a combination of grant and loan. The financial aid package typically includes federal, state, and Rensselaer funds. When you apply for aid you will automatically be considered for aid from all available sources.

Do I have to apply for financial aid each year?

Yes. All families must reapply by completing the FAFSA form and Rensselaer's supplemental financial aid application. Renewal packets are mailed in December to all students who are currently receiving financial aid.

Does Rensselaer accept tuition assistance from the Navy? How much does Navy TA pay for?

Yes, Navy TA pays for $187.50 per credit hour, not to exceed $3,500 per fiscal year. (which runs Oct.1 - Sept.1)

Scroll up to the top of the page

Transfering Credit

What credits do I get for my Navy training?

ENGR-1300 Engineering Processes 1 Transfer Credit
CHEM-1500 Chemistry of Materials I 4 Transfer Credits
USNA-1010 Military and Its Place in Society 1 Transfer Credit
USNA-2040 Naval Ship Systems I 3 Transfer Credits
ENGR-2050 Intro. to Eng. Design with Professional Development I 4 Transfer Credits
ENGR-2940 Engineering Project 3 Transfer Credits
ENGR-2960 Topics in Engineering 3 Transfer Credits
ENGR-4300 Electronic Instrumentation 4 Transfer Credits
ENVE-4440 Critical Reactor Laboratory 3 Transfer Credits
ENGR-4010 Professional Development III 1 Transfer Credit
ENVE-2400 Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering 4 Transfer Credits

What if I have previous college credits and how is credit determined for such courses?

Transfer students can expect to receive a maximum credit for successfully completed courses of comparable depth and content to our own courses. Courses are evaluated by the Rensselaer faculy. You must supply the admissions office with catalog descriptions of each course for which you would like to receive transfer credit.

Is there a limit to the number of classes that I can transfer?

Yes, in that you must complete at least 48 credit hours at Rensselaer, and you must be in residence (i.e., enrolled as a full-time student with a minimum of 12 credits per semester) for at least four semesters.

Does Rensselaer accept credit for PACE, ACE, CLEP, DANTES, etc.?

No.

How are credits transferred from NPTU figured into my GPA?

Thirty one NPTU credits are transferred, but are not factored into your GPA.

As an ex-Navy Nuke, can I get credit from Rensselaer for my time in the NPTU School?

You can only receive credit for your NPTU training if you apply and are accepted as a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Scroll up to the top of the page

Outlook for Nuclear Engineers & Engineering Physicists

What is the job outlook for nuclear engineering/engineering physics?

The hiring market for new nuclear engineers and engineering physicists is red hot! A recent study for the American Society of Engineering Education, completed in 1999, found a significant gap between the number of BS/MS trained workers needed by the fission nuclear power industry and those graduated. This shortage of engineers flowing into the job market has created a surging demand, and with that demand comes higher salaries and greater career variety. The study suggests that by 2003, there will 460 more nuclear engineering/engineering physics jobs than there are graduates to fill them. Even Wall Street firms have discovered how Rensselaer Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics students can benefit the growing industry, often honing their engineering skills to create complex financial forecasts.

How good is job security after I graduate?

Unlike fields related to the computer industry, downturns in the economy and market fluctuations have little impact on the fields of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics. As the needs for energy and its impact on the environment and the world increase, the need for more specialists in the Nuclear and Engineering Physics has been growing considerably. Ever year the demand for recent graduates from the Nation's top Nuclear and Engineering Physics programs increases by about five percent. The recent retirement of an entire generation of current engineers has created an even more urgent need for new graduates. Additionally, over the span of a Nuclear Engineer's career the median salary is the third highest in the field of engineering (behind only petroleum engineering and forensic engineering).

Scroll up to the top of the page

For Former Members of the Navy

Is this program available to former Navy Nukes?

No, however, you may attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and be able to transfer in some credit from your NPTU training. (The amount of credit transferred will depend upon the degree you plan to pursue.)

As an ex-Navy Nuke, can I get credit from Rensselaer for my time in the NPTU School?

You can only receive credit for your NPTU training if you apply and are accepted as a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Is there a degree program, similar to the one Rensselaer offers, offered at the Charleston prototype?

No, not at this time.

Scroll up to the top of the page

General Questions

Can I earn a degree in both Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics?

Yes, we have recently designed a course of study whereby you can earn a dual major in both Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics in the same amount of time as you could a single degree.

What does "ABET accredited" mean?

ABET stands for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Both the Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics programs are ABET accredited.

How good of a school is Rensselaer?

The reputation of the School of Engineering at Rensselaer speaks for itself, consistently ranked among the best in the nation's first-tier engineering universities. As stated by the Dean of the School of Engineering, "our [current] top-twenty ranking in the U.S. News and World Report Undergraduate Rankings (#18) recognizes the exceptional quality of our faculty, staff and students, and our heritage of excellence and innovation in undergraduate engineering education." It's no surprise that our students fall in love with the educational experience that Rensselaer offers.

 

Scroll up to the top of the page