Monash University: University Handbooks: Undergraduate handbook 2004: Units indexed by faculty
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Undergraduate handbook 2004
Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering

Course abbreviation: BE

Course structure

First level

The BE first year, which is common to all the branches of engineering, is offered on the Caulfield, Clayton, and Monash Malaysia campuses. This means that students may delay the decision about the choice of an engineering branch until the end of the first year. Students are assisted in making their choice of branch by their experience of first-level engineering units and by a series of career lectures in second semester which review the branches of engineering available.

At the end of first-level BE, students at any of the campuses may proceed to any one of the later-year engineering branches, irrespective of the campus on which it is taught, provided that they have done well enough in their first-year units to secure a place in any quota which may exist for the branch of engineering. Quotas are imposed in some engineering branches because there are limited places available in second-level classes. Where demand exceeds the number of places, the only fair way to select is on academic merit, determined by first-year results. In 2004, the entire course of industrial engineering and engineering management (IE&EM) will be offered on the Caulfield campus.

BE in industrial engineering and engineering management

Industrial engineering and engineering management is the engineering behind modern business. Industrial engineers design productive systems comprising people, machines, materials and money. They are people with creative and innovative skills and a knowledge of engineering, computing and business principles. Their main aim is to create an efficient, safe and effective workplace. These skills enable a company to compete in today's world. Industrial engineering draws on a very broad range of skills. Monash industrial engineering training covers the basic applied sciences, engineering and information technology required in business. In addition, studies in business, management and personal skills are also undertaken. The degree course at Caulfield is both vocation-oriented and research-orientated in order to train industrial engineers who can quickly assimilate into all walks of professional employment.

The course is structured to provide a thorough understanding of the principles and applications of the various disciplines, it is designed to develop personal qualities that are essential for a successful career. These include communication skills, ethics, creativity, teamwork and sound judgement.
Students are required to complete level 1 (the common engineering first year) before they may select the industrial engineering and engineering management branch. In level 2 of the core units (48 credit points), students undertake both industrial engineering and engineering management units and two mathematics units. Further specialist industrial engineering units will be offered in levels 3 and 4.
Students undertake a multidisciplinary project in level 3 (Professional practice I) which is undertaken in conjunction with students from other faculties and is conducted in an actual business environment. In level 4, there is a 12 credit-point project thesis in which each student, or a pair of students, must undertake a research, design and/or industry-based project. The department offers electives in level 4, of which normally only six need to be selected. Appropriate electives will also be available to students in the industrial engineering and engineering management stream (subject to prerequisites, adequacy of challenge, relevance and timetable restrictions).

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