This section concerns the Master of Engineering Science degree (Coursework and Minor Thesis).
Full candidature for the MEngSc
For admission to full candidature for the degree of MEngSc there must be clear and irrefutable evidence that a candidate has (a) a university honours degree in engineering or (b) a university pass degree in engineering or similar degree plus honours-equivalent experience appropriate to the field of study.
Preliminary candidature for the MEngSc
A candidate who seems to have the potential but is deemed to be inadequately prepared for MEngSc studies may be considered for preliminary candidature. Such a candidate would be required to pass a preliminary prescription recommended by the head of the department; this will normally consist of undergraduate units for which credit towards the MEngSc will not be allowed. Admission to full candidature will follow on receipt of an appropriate recommendation from the head of department certifying that the preliminary prescription has been passed.
Candidates for MEngSc (Coursework and Minor Thesis) are admitted without specifying full-time or part-time status. The minimum period for duration of the course is eighteen months with a maximum of four years. Intermissions are allowed which would add to this time limit.
Level of enrolment is determined by central administration on the basis of the actual subjects undertaken. The HECS charge is based on the level of enrolment and few exemptions are available for this form of study.
The work requirement of the coursework degree is specified in terms of credit points. Two credit points require one contact hour per week for one semester, ie thirteen contact hours. The number of credit points for the subject is indicated by the figures appearing after the decimal point in the subject classification number. A candidate must gain seventy-two credit points before becoming eligible for award of the MEngSc degree.
Any candidate who requests an intermission of candidature which during the whole period of candidature leads to the total length of all such intermissions exceeding twelve months, will be advised to seek `withdrawal in good standing.'
It is the faculty's policy to encourage candidates to complete in minimum time. It should be noted that although regulations allow for the course to be completed in one year in exceptional circumstances, any candidate attempting to do so is required to complete the equivalent of eighteen months full-time study (ie seventy-two credit points) during this period. International students should particularly note that completion of the course in one year would still attract a financial liability for eighteen months of study.
The coursework component is normally fifty-four credit points. The remaining eighteen credit points are to be earned by a minor thesis. Enrolment in the minor thesis is done on a percentage basis.
A candidate may be allowed or required to take and satisfactorily pass approved undergraduate subjects. Graduate credit at a rate of between 0.5 and 1.0 contact-hour graduate credit per undergraduate contact hour may be allowed for such undergraduate work. The maximum graduate credit allowed for undergraduate subjects is eighteen credit points.
Up to eighteen credit pointss can be earned by satisfactorily completing approved graduate-level coursework subjects offered outside the Monash Faculty of Engineering.
Each candidate will have a member of the faculty's academic staff as a supervisor. The supervisor will advise the candidate in the selection of coursework subjects and their sequence, help in the selection and specification of a candidate's project, and supervise the project.
The Faculty of Engineering operates a two-semester system for its graduate coursework program. Each semester is of thirteen effective teaching weeks. The first semester commences in the first week of March and the second semester commences in the third week of July.
As far as possible, coursework is held within the period 4 pm to 8 pm on weekdays, except for undergraduate subjects approved for graduate study. Each coursework subject is self-contained, including examining. There are no supplementary examinations for candidates who fail a subject.
Graduate subjects are postgraduate in nature and are clearly advanced relative to normal undergraduate subjects and to refresher-type extension courses. Subject sizes are arranged as thirteen, twenty-six or thirty-nine contact hours. That is, subjects rate between two and six credit points. A contact hour requires attendance of students and instructor. A thirty-nine contact-hour subject normally contains no more than twenty-six hours of formal lectures, the remaining time being spent in tutoring, laboratory, etc. A similar ratio applies to smaller subjects.
Subject offerings may not be repeated every year and, whenever possible, long-term notification will be given of subject offerings. Sufficient subjects will be offered so that candidates may pursue reasonable specialisation. The yearly course prescription of each candidate must be approved by the Head of the department in which the candidate is enrolled.
Assessment of performance
Each subject in a particular semester is completed and its candidates assessed or examined before the next semester starts. Final examinations can, if required by a department, be held after the completion of the semester, but before the start of the next semester. In the case of second semester, the final examination must be held within three weeks of completion of the thirteen-week semester.
Candidature may be terminated if progress is regarded as unsatisfactory. Performances will be reviewed at the end of second semester and if they do not reach the required standard, students will not be permitted to continue with the course. Students will be given their results by marks and grading of high distinction (HD), distinction (D), credit (C), pass (P) or fail (NN) in each subject.
Academic progress rule
Section 5 of the Master of Engineering Science (Coursework and Minor Thesis) regulations reads as follows:
The faculty board may review the academic progress of a candidate and, after taking into account any recommendation from the head[[dotaccent]]of the department concerned and the supervisor, and after giving the candidate an opportunity to be heard, may terminate the candidature, on the grounds of unsatisfactory performance.
All engineering higher-degree-by-coursework candidates are required, subsequent to attempting subjects to the value of eighteen credit points , to pass at least two-thirds (67 per cent) of all credit points attempted. Should a candidate not achieve this level of academic performance, his or her academic progress should be reviewed by the Graduate Affairs Committee who will decide whether or not candidature should be terminated on the grounds of unsatisfactory progress.
The administrative officer (graduate studies) will be responsible for examining results for higher-degree candidates at the end of second semester and identifying those candidates who have not passed at least two-thirds of all coursework attempted. This calculation will be made according to the weight of each subject so that allowance is made for coursework subjects which are allocated a non-standard weighting. Candidates identified according to this procedure will then have their case referred to the Graduate Affairs Committee who will review the academic progress of the candidate concerned.
Any student referred to the Graduate Affairs Committee for this purpose is entitled to an opportunity to be heard, and in the event that the student is excluded, provision exists for an appeal to the Exclusion Appeals Committee of the Academic Board.
Coursework subjects
Engineering graduate subjects
Each department of the School of Engineering at Clayton offers coursework subjects but reserves the right to withdraw an offered subject if an insufficient number of students choose it. If this occurs, there will be, generally, ample alternative subjects available. The subjects offered need not be the same each year, although repetitions of the more sought-after subjects can be expected. It is intended that a candidate can look ahead at least to the following year when selecting subjects.
Subjects from other faculties
Coursework candidates with interdisciplinary interests may include a selection of postgraduate subjects from other faculties within the university, eg Business and Economics. Initial inquiries should be directed to the faculty offering the subject(s) concerned, followed by consultation with the engineering department in which the student registers as a masters candidate.
Department of Chemical Engineering
Graduate coursework subjects are offered in the area of pulp and paper technology. The subjects available are listed below.
* CHE5160.04 The pulp and paper industry
* CHE5161.08 Process engineering of pulping
* CHE5162.08 Unit operations of papermaking
* CHE5163.06 Paper production, properties and use
* CHE5164.04 Management aspects
* CHE5165.04 Environmental aspects
* CHE5166.04 Special topics in pulp and paper
* CHE Pulp and paper laboratory
* CHE5168.04 Industrial visits
Department of Civil Engineering
The Master of Engineering Science (Coursework and Minor Thesis) in the Department of Civil Engineering has been developed in response to a growing need for higher professional training in the engineering disciplines. In our rapidly advancing technological society it is no longer possible to reach the forefront of technical and professional training in engineering undergraduate courses. Avenues must therefore exist for the leaders and future leaders of the profession to have access to further professional engineering knowledge and experience.
By suitable selection of subjects, candidates for the Master of Engineering Science degree by coursework can obtain a useful and satisfying understanding of the more advanced areas of civil engineering theory, application and technology.
In order to qualify for the degree a candidate must accrue a total of seventy-two credit points of which, in this department, fifty-four are to be obtained by an approved program of coursework subjects, and eighteen by completing a minor thesis.
It is expected that most candidates for the degree will specialise in a particular area of civil engineering: structural engineering, water resources/environmental engineering, transport engineering or offshore engineering. To this end a minimum of thirty credit points of coursework subjects must normally be selected from one of these areas of specialisation. Within these guidelines candidates are free to select their course of study from subjects offered by the Department of Civil Engineering, other engineering departments and, where appropriate, other faculties within the university. However, the availability of subjects is dependent upon the level of enrolments.
The coursework programs in each of the four fields are outlined below.
Structural engineering
The program in structural engineering recognises the need for practising engineers to keep abreast of technical as well as non-technical developments in and related to the field of structural engineering. The following subjects are available in structural engineering; a wide choice of related subjects from other streams in the Department of Civil Engineering and from other departments is also available. Two of the subjects listed are provided by the geomechanics staff especially for candidates in the structural engineering stream.
* CIV5220.06 Computer-aided structural analysis
* CIV5221.06 Thin-walled structures
* CIV5223.06 Concrete structural analysis
* CIV5225.06 Stability of structures
* CIV5226.06 Dynamics of structures
* CIV5227.06 Plastic analysis and design
* CIV5230.06 Finite elements in structures
* CIV5231.06 Structural engineering and ideals in architecture
* CIV5232.06 Prestressed concrete
* CIV5241.06 Foundation engineering
* CIV5248.06 Earth retaining structures
Water resources/environmental engineering
The program in water resources/environmental engineering is designed to meet the rapidly growing need for engineers with formal training in water resources engineering and the related environmental aspects. The program emphasises the application of the most recent developments and draws on the resources of several departments of the university.
The major section of the course covers the area of water resources planning, hydrology, hydraulics, public health engineering, coastal engineering, and water law. Related subjects such as regional planning, transport engineering, air pollution modelling, acoustics, and solar energy can also be taken. In addition a minor thesis in the candidate's special field of interest is required.
This course should be of particular interest to persons who are working in water resources, and who wish to further their skills and knowledge by formal study. Consultants in water engineering, engineers working for water authorities or local government, and others with an interest in the water-related aspects of environmental engineering will find the course to be of benefit.
The following subjects are available in water resources/environmental engineering; a wide choice of related subjects from elsewhere in the Department of Civil Engineering, and from other departments, is also available.
* CIV5260.06 Catchment planning and management
* CIV5261.06 Flood estimation
* CIV5263.06 Groundwater hydrology
* CIV5265.06 Surface water modelling
* CIV5268.06 Yield hydrology
* CIV5269.06 Water supply and sewerage
* CIV5270.06 River hydraulics and sediment transport
* CIV5271.06 Design of hydraulic structures
* CIV5610.06 Atmospheric pollution
Transport engineering
The program in transport engineering is a response to the growing need for engineers with broad awareness of the characteristics and significance of transport, including its technological, economic and social impact.
At the same time, the program outlines the state of the art of transport engineering, as it may be applied to the solution of real problems in the planning, design and operation of transport facilities.
The course is aimed at giving the student a thorough understanding of the nature of transport demand and the role of transport in the modern community, a familiarity with the characteristics of modern transport technology, and an ability to appraise and evaluate solutions to transport problems. To achieve these aims, the development of appropriate analytical skills and practical knowledge is stressed, together with a recognition of the role of other disciplines in tackling transport-related issues.
For these reasons, the program will have particular appeal to people with a few years postgraduate experience in transport who wish to have formal education in this field. Engineers working with road, traffic, or public transport authorities, or in local government, and people with an interest in transport planning or research will find the course to be of benefit.
The Master of Engineering Science program in transport engineering is designed and administered with the assistance of a Department of Civil Engineering advisory committee on transport education. Through this committee, which includes representatives of government departments, local government, research institutions and private firms with an interest in transport, the department is kept abreast of needs and opportunities related to transport education. The Monash University Higher Education Advisory and Research Unit assists with advice on course goals and objectives, teaching methods and assessment.
The following subjects are available in transport engineering; a wide choice of related subjects from other streams in the Department of Civil Engineering, and from other departments and faculties, is also available.
* CIV5280.06 Data analysis and statistics
* CIV5281.06 Survey methods in traffic and transport
* CIV5282.06 Transport policy
* CIV5283.06 Traffic systems and computer applications
* CIV5284.06 Road traffic engineering practice
* CIV5285.06 Public transport systems
* CIV5286.06 Transport network models
* CIV5287.06 Transport and regional structure
* CIV5288.06 Transport engineering economics
* CIV5289.06 Transport technology assessment
* CIV5290.04 Systems analysis for transport
* CIV5291.06 Case studies in transport
* CIV5292.06 Road Safety
Offshore engineering
A program of continuing education in offshore engineering has been established to serve national needs for further education. The courses cover a number of disciplines with most of the emphasis in civil and mechanical engineering. A large number of professional practitioners contribute to these courses. All the courses are given in an intensive mode of one week with supplementary tutorial and practice classes, and assessment for those enrolled in the MEngSc program. A supplementary fee is required to cover the costs of presenting these courses. The courses are generally designed to give a comprehensive introduction to particular facets of offshore engineering. (Refer to offshore engineering entry under mechanical engineering for a list of available subjects.)
Students may take a mixture of subjects from the offshore engineering program and other subjects from civil or mechanical engineering for the degree of MEngSc.
Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering
The degree of Master of Engineering Science (Coursework and Minor Thesis) consists of a coursework component worth between thirty-six and fifty-four credit points and a project (minor thesis) component worth between eighteen and thirty-six credit points, the total accumulating to seventy-two credit points. With the approval of the head of the department, the project (minor thesis) component may be increased up to a maximum of thirty-six credit points while the coursework component is correspondingly decreased to make a total of seventy-two credit points for the degree.
The program is arranged so that the degree can be completed in a minimum time of eighteen months. This would necessitate attendance at lectures, tutorials or laboratory classes for two afternoons or evenings per week over twenty-six weeks per year, plus work on the project. It should be noted that although regulations allow for the course to be completed in one year in exceptional circumstances, any candidate attempting to do so is required to complete the equivalent of eighteen months full-time study (ie seventy-two credit points) during this period. International students should particularly note that completion of the course in one year would still attract a financial liability for eighteen months of study.
Graduate coursework subjects are listed in the areas of bioengineering, computer systems engineering, intelligent robotics, telecommunications, and power engineering.
However, not all of the subjects will be offered in any one year, although most combinations will be accommodated over a two-year cycle provided that sufficient student interest exists.
Candidates are expected to take electrical and computer systems engineering graduate subjects worth at least thirty credit points (excluding the project). It is possible to take graduate subjects from other engineering departments worth up to twenty-four credit points and from other faculties worth up to eighteen credit points. It may also be possible to take some undergraduate coursework, in the Faculty of Engineering or in another faculty or in both, worth up to eighteen credit points. However, undergraduate coursework will rate between 0.5 and 1.0 contact-hour graduate credit per undergraduate contact hour. Depending on their background preparation, candidates may be required to take certain additional subjects (eg a selection of topics in engineering mathematics) that are not listed below and for which appropriate credit points will be given.
The project may involve an experimental or theoretical research problem, a substantial design or computational exercise, an industrial problem, a field study or the design and construction of an experimental facility within the department.
A supervisor is appointed for each candidate and approval for a project topic must be obtained from the head of department. Approval may be given for a project to be undertaken at a candidate's place of employment, providing satisfactory supervision arrangements can be made.
* ECS5323.06 VLSI systems
* ECS5330.06 Biomechanics
* ECS5331.06 Biomedical instrumentation
* ECS5332.04 Biomedical management
* ECS5333.06 Biomaterials
* ECS5334.06 Biological signal processing
* ECS5335.04 Biomedical computing
* ECS5336.06 Biomedical design
* ECS5337.04 Nuclear imaging
* ECS5338.04 Lasers and ultrasonics
* ECS5342.06 Identification and adaptive control
* ECS5343.06 Dynamics and control of robots
* ECS5351.06 Power systems computations
* ECS5352.06 Energy efficient motor drives
* ECS5353.06 High voltage equipment and testing techniques
* ECS5354.06 Demand side management: introduction
* ECS5355.06 Energy management: computer application
* ECS5356 Reliability of energy production and supply
* ECS5357.06 Energy management : technical and economic aspects
* ECS5361.06 Performance of telecommunication networks
* ECS5362.06 Application of high speed telecommunications networks
* ECS5363.06 Software engineering for telecommunications
* ECS5364.06 Mobile communication networks and systems
* ECS5365.06 ISDN networks and applications
* ECS5381.06 Advanced microprocessor systems
* ECS5382.06 Computer image processing
* ECS5383.06 Parallel computer architectures
* ECS5384.06 Computer graphics, solid modelling and animation
* ECS5385.06 Robot navigation
* ECS5386.06 Machine vision
* ECS5387.06 Tactile sensing
* ECS5388.06 Pattern recognition
* ECS5389.06 Expert systems
Most of these subjects consist of thirteen weeks of three contact hours per week and have a weight of six credit points.
A number of subjects in the areas of robotics technology, manufacturing systems and related topics are offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering; these are recommended to students with an interest in intelligent robotics as a means of broadening the scope of their coursework.
Department of Materials Engineering
The Department of Materials Engineering offers a part-time program of study leading to the degree of Master of Engineering Science in polymer engineering. In order to qualify for this degree, a candidate must obtain seventy-two credit points (forty-eight by coursework and twenty-four by a project leading to a minor thesis). This course is only provided if there is sufficient demand and will not be offered in 1995.
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The department has the following areas of expertise and research from which graduate subjects and projects may be selected: acoustics and industrial noise control; computer-aided design in manufacturing processes; control and automation with fluid power and logic; dynamics and vibration of mechanical systems and machines; environmental fluid mechanics, wind and ocean engineering; heat and mass transfer, air conditioning, energy conversion; kinematics and mechanism, robotics; machine condition monitoring; production science, forming and machining mechanics; technology policy.
To meet the requirements of seventy-two credit points, a candidate would normally be expected to complete a total of fifty-four credit points from selected subjects and submit a minor thesis which rates at eighteen credit points.
Graduate subjects may be taken from other engineering departments and from other faculties and, in exceptional cases, undergraduate courses may be taken. Although the university remains fully operational throughout the year, during the period November to March no coursework subjects are offered. Part-time candidates are encouraged to use this period for their project work.
The project may involve experimental or theoretical research, a substantial design or computational exercise, an industrial problem, or the design and construction of an experimental facility within the department.
The department offers the following list of subjects from which a graduate course may be selected. However, not all of the subjects will be offered in any one year, although most combinations will be accommodated over a two-year cycle. The specific subjects to be offered will be available towards the end of the preceding year, before enrolment has to be effected.
* MEC5401.06 Air conditioning and refrigeration
* MEC5403.06 Control systems I
* MEC5404.06 Environmental noise and vibration
* MEC5405.06 Wind engineering
* MEC5406.06 Engineering computation
* MEC5407.06 Coastal engineering
* MEC5408.06 Advanced random data analysis
* MEC5410.06 Research practices
* MEC5411.06 Advanced acoustics
* MEC5413.06 Design of fluid logic systems
* MEC5415.06 Professional disputation
* MEC5417.06 Industrial innovation
* MEC5418.06 Numerical modelling
* MEC5419.06 Estuarine dynamics
* MEC5420.06 Hydraulic control system design
* MEC5421.06 Plasticity in manufacture
* MEC5424.06 Ocean engineering structures
* MEC5425.06 Environmental systems
* MEC5427.06 Optimisation
* MEC5431.06 Total energy systems
* MEC5432.06 Advances in heat and mass transfer
* MEC5434.06 Solar/thermal conversion processes
* MEC5436.06 Introduction to random data analysis
* MEC5439.06 Dynamic simulation
* MEC5442.06 Machine condition monitoring
* MEC5444.06 Experimental modal analysis
* MEC5446.06 Control systems II
* MEC5447.06 Expert systems in mechanical engineering
* MEC5448.06 Renewable fuels
* MEC5449.06 Topological dynamics
* MEC5450.06 Fluid mechanics and transfer processes
* MEC5451.06 Fatigue and fracture
* CME5610.06 Atmospheric pollution
* CME5612.06 Finite element method for engineers
Offshore engineering program
A program of continuing education in offshore engineering has been established to serve national needs for further education. The courses cover a number of disciplines with most of the emphasis in civil and mechanical engineering. A large number of professional practitioners contribute to these courses. All the courses are given in an intensive mode of one week with supplementary tutorial and practice classes, and assessment for those enrolled in the MEngSc program. A supplementary fee is required to cover the costs of presenting these courses. The courses are generally designed to give a comprehensive introduction to particular facets of offshore engineering. The following subjects have been established:
* CME5620.06 Fatigue and fracture of dynamically loaded structures
* CME5621.06 Design, construction and installation of steel jacket structures
* CME5622.06 Offshore pipelines
* CME5623.06 Design of offshore foundations
* CME5624.06 Met-ocean data, analysis and prediction
* CME5625.06 Development of offshore oil and gas fields
* CME5626.06 Safety and reliability of offshore systems
* CME5627.06 Development, design and installation of topsides
* CME5628.06 Project management of offshore developments
* CME5629.06 Mobile offshore structures
* CME5630.06 Environmental awareness and management
Students may take a mixture of subjects from the offshore engineering program and other subjects from civil or mechanical engineering for the degree of MEngSc.