John Hanson (left), Chief of Staff at Oklo, shakes hands with Robert Siston (right), Chair of Ohio State’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, during an Oct. 9 announcement of an investment supporting the university’s planned undergraduate nuclear engineering major. Credit: Elaine Smith | Communications Specialist, Ohio State Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Ohio State plans to introduce its first undergraduate nuclear engineering major in the autumn 2027 semester, offering students new academic and career opportunities in fields ranging from nuclear energy to medicine and national security.
The new major would offer specialized coursework, hands-on laboratory experiences and a two-semester capstone design project, supported by a combined $4.5 million investment from nuclear technology company Oklo, company executives and Ohio State’s College of Engineering, according to Robert Siston, chair of the university’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. It would expand upon a nuclear engineering minor Ohio State currently offers.
“This is another way to give students those options here, things that they’re interested in, another way to leverage their technical ability to contribute positively here to society,” Siston said.
Oklo is a nuclear energy company that develops advanced, small nuclear power plants in the U.S., according to the company’s website. Siston said students in the new major would study nuclear reactor design, radiation fundamentals and medical applications, with the new Oklo Experiential Engineering Education Lab in Scott Laboratory supporting hands-on coursework, capstone projects and undergraduate research.
The $4.5 million investment includes $2 million for professorships, $1 million for undergraduate scholarships, $1 million for laboratory development, equipment and curriculum, and $500,000 for improvements to the university’s Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, Siston said.
The program still requires approval from Ohio State’s Board of Trustees and the state of Ohio before it can launch, Siston said.
The university currently offers nuclear engineering as an undergraduate minor, while degrees in the field are available only at the graduate level, according to the College of Engineering.
Siston said student demand helped drive the development of the new major, with 122 undergraduates pursuing the existing minor as of Oct. 14 and some students requesting a major for years.
Ethan Viano, a second-year in aerospace engineering with a minor in nuclear engineering, said he originally wanted to major in the field and believes the new program will expand students’ academic options and provide a more direct pathway into the nuclear industry.
“Well, dang, I’m a little early,” Viano said. “I expect it to be pretty big when it gets here.”
Siston said the university plans to enroll approximately 15 to 20 students transferring from other majors during the program’s first year.
Daniel Zheng, a first-year in mechanical engineering, said he is excited about the new major and believes it could attract students who had not previously considered attending Ohio State.
“I think it’s gonna be a great opportunity,” Zheng said. “Especially for people who are similar to me, who are interested in the nuclear engineering minor to maybe look towards switching to the major.”
Siston said students pursuing the existing nuclear engineering minor could qualify for the scholarships before the major launches, once money from the scholarship fund becomes available.
Ethan Schieb, a second-year Ph.D. student in nuclear engineering and a mechanical and aerospace engineering graduate student ambassador, said the new major could prepare undergraduates for careers at nuclear power plants, consulting firms and national laboratories.
“It really shows that the nuclear energy field is growing,” Schieb said. “It’s nice to see that there’s going to be more trained people at the undergraduate level.”
