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Monash University:
University handbooks: Undergraduate handbook:
Units indexed by faculty Bachelor of EngineeringCourse code: 0032 + Course abbreviation: BE + Total credit points required: 192 (48 points at Bachelor of Engineering level 1, plus 144 points from the relevant engineering branch*) + 4 years full-time, 8 years part-time * Not all branches are offered at Malaysia campus Study mode and course locationOn-campus (Clayton; Malaysia) Course descriptionCandidates for the Bachelor of Engineering choose to specialise in one of seven branches of engineering*: chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer systems engineering, industrial engineering and engineering management, materials engineering, mechanical engineering and mechatronics engineering. The common first level studies allow students to keep open the option of entering any of the seven branches. There are limits on the number of students who may enrol in each branch and, where demand exceeds supply, students will be admitted on the basis of academic merit (results at level 1). Students who do not get their first choice will be offered a place in one of their other preferences. If students wish to change branches at a later level of the course, some additional units may be required and the transition could extend the duration of the course beyond four levels full-time. Following the completion of the common first level, students transfer into one of the seven branches of engineering at Clayton or Malaysia. Each of the seven branches of engineering is outlined below and requires an additional three levels of study after the completion of level 1. * Not all branches are offered at both campuses. See the individual branch entries below for details of offerings. Course objectivesStudies in this course aim to produce graduates with a foundation in general engineering and a detailed knowledge of a specialisation in one of the offered branches of engineering. See the individual branch entries below for details. Course structureTwo of the eight units in the common level 1 are compulsory. A student’s choice of the remaining units must take into account both the amount of mathematics, chemistry and physics completed prior to admission to the course, and the branch of engineering into which the student hopes to proceed at the end of the first level. The large majority of students entering the faculty have completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), and references in the following paragraphs are to the prerequisite VCE subjects. Some domestic and international students enter the faculty with equivalent qualifications, and advice about unit choice for students with qualifications other than the VCE may be obtained from the faculty administration offices. Course requirementsThe large majority of students entering the faculty have completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), and references in the following paragraphs are to the prerequisite VCE subjects. Some domestic and international students enter the faculty with equivalent qualifications, and advice about unit choice for students with qualifications other than the VCE may be obtained from the faculty administration offices. Foundation units are required for students who have not completed appropriate VCE studies:
For information about course requirements for later levels of this program, students should refer to the entries in their chosen engineering branch. First levelA total of eight units must completed. Core unitsSelect at least four units from:
Foundation unitsStudents who have not completed VCE units 3 and 4 of Chemistry or Physics and/or Specialist mathematics are required to select one or two appropriate foundation units(s) from: Elective unitsSelect none, one or two units from: Total: 48 points Chemical engineeringStudents may enter this branch of engineering at the Clayton or Malaysia campus after completion of the common first level. It is recommended that students wishing to enter this branch of engineering complete ENG1010 in the first level. The core units covered in levels 1 and 2 provide the necessary background in the sciences, engineering fundamentals such as fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, and chemical engineering principles. Levels 3 and 4 of the course are designed around the core topics of mass transfer and separation processes, reaction engineering, chemical thermodynamics, process control, particle technology, process design, sustainability and safety. Practical work forms an essential part of many units, and considerable emphasis is placed on this aspect of the program. Process simulation software is used by students throughout the course. Management studies are introduced in later levels and a greater emphasis is placed on synthesis and design, culminating in each student completing a design project, and a major research project in the final level. Students are given the opportunity to integrate a period of industrial experience or time at an overseas university with their studies. Areas of studyUpon entry to the branch of chemical engineering, students choose to specialise in one of three streams. Each stream involves 126 points of core chemical engineering units and 18 points of units at levels 3 and 4 (12 points at level 3 and 6 points at level 4) from one of the following three streams: BiotechnologyThe opportunities for the application of chemical engineering skills in biotechnology are widespread – from tissue engineering to biosensor development and from development of an artificial kidney to drug delivery – from fermentation processes to biofuels and from drug development to biopolymers. Nanotechnology and materialsNanotechnology is literally engineering at the molecular level. Over the last two decades, the ability to manipulate matter at the molecular level has improved dramatically. This revolution will allow fabrication of an entire new generation of products that are cleaner, stronger, lighter and more precise. Chemical engineers will play a major role in this revolution. Sustainable processingSustainable processing is concerned with the principles of sustainability and life cycle assessment to the development of environmentally clean technologies for product manufacturing and power generation. In this stream, students will learn how to develop processes for generating energy and for manufacturing existing and new products from renewable raw material sources. Course requirementsThis is a new course structure for students entering level 2 of the program from 2006 onwards. Level 4 will be offered from 2008. Students who entered level 2 of the program prior to 2006 should refer to the handbook for the level in which they commenced the course. Second level
Total: 48 points Third levelCore units
Stream unitsSelect one stream from: Biotechnology streamNanotechnology and materials streamSustainable processing stream
Total: 48 points Fourth levelCore units
Stream unitsBiotechnology stream
Nanotechnology and materials stream
Sustainable processing stream
Total: 48 points Civil engineeringStudents may enter this branch of engineering at the Clayton campus after completion of the common first level. It is recommended that students wishing to enter this branch of engineering complete ENG1020 in the first level. The intention of level 2 is to develop ‘sub-professional’ skills, ie the ability to design commonplace engineering artefacts in the context of suitable theoretical treatment. At the same time, students gain some appreciation for the breadth of civil engineering. Theory is developed in parallel with the applications (problems). The theoretical insights are further developed in levels 3 and 4, as more complex scenarios are considered. Level 3 is designed to develop ‘core professional’ skills. It includes a management unit, engineering investigation, road engineering, two structural units, a water unit and a geomechanics unit. The water and geomechanics groups share a groundwater unit. Level 4 is seen as a period of specialisation. Each student must take both 'Project A' and 'Civil engineering practice 4' (6 points each) and a minimum of four civil engineering electives (6 points each). The remaining 12 points may be taken anywhere within the university (including the Civil Engineering department), as long as the units do not substantially duplicate a unit already studied. Some of the electives are multidisciplinary. Course requirementsThis is a new course structure for students entering level 2 of the program from 2006 onwards. Students who entered level 2 of the program prior to 2006 should refer to the handbook for the level in which they commenced the course. Second level
Total: 48 points Third level
Total: 48 points Fourth levelCore unitsElective unitsSelect a minimum of 24 points from:
Total: 48 points Electrical and computer systems engineeringStudents may enter this branch of engineering at the Clayton or Malaysia campus after completion of the common first level. It is recommended that students wishing to enter the electrical and computer systems engineering (ECSE) branch complete ENG1030 and ENG1040 in the first level. The first three levels of the course provide a broad foundation in electrical and computer systems engineering and in the physical sciences such as physics, chemistry and mathematics. At levels 3 and 4, students, while completing their core units and a management unit, are able to choose from a large number of electives in electrical power systems, computer systems, control engineering, electronics, telecommunications engineering, biomedical engineering and robotics. These units build upon material studied in earlier levels. Electives comprise approximately 37 per cent of levels 3 and 4. The design and thesis projects at level 3 and 4 build self-reliance and planning capabilities in both individual and team-based environments. Projects are often related closely to the department's exceptionally strong research and collaborative industry programs within its research centres. Course requirementsThis is a new course structure for students entering level 2 of the program from 2006 onwards. Students who entered level 2 of the program prior to 2006 should refer to the handbook for the level in which they commenced the course. Second level
Total: 48 points Third level
Elective units
Total: 48 points Fourth levelCore units Select the two units not already taken from:
Total: 48 points ECSE electivesElective units are selected from the following units. Note that not all units will be taught in any level, and many will be offered only in alternate levels. One of the elective units may, with the written permission of the head of department, be a unit chosen from elsewhere in the university, provided the unit does not substantially duplicate material already studied.
Industrial engineering and engineering managementStudents may enter this branch of engineering at the Clayton campus after completion of the common first level. It is recommended that students wishing to enter this branch of engineering complete ENG1020, ENG1030 and ENG1040 in the first level. In level 2 students undertake industrial engineering and engineering management units as well as units in engineering design, dynamics, materials, thermo-fluids and mathematics. Further specialist industrial engineering units are offered in levels 3 and 4. Students undertake a multidisciplinary project in level 3, 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 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 a range of electives in level 4, including mechanical and industrial engineering units. Course requirementsThis is a new course structure for students entering level 2 of the program from 2006 onwards. Students who entered level 2 of the program prior to 2006 should refer to the handbook for the level in which they commenced the course. Second level
Total: 48 points Third level
Total: 48 points Fourth levelCore unitsElective units*Select 36 points from:
Total: 48 points * Students can also select from the list of ‘Mechanical engineering’ level 4 electives for the Bachelor of Engineering. Materials engineeringStudents may enter this branch of engineering at the Clayton campus after completion of the common first level. It is recommended that students wishing to enter this branch of engineering complete ENG1050 in the first level. At level 2, students are introduced to fundamental aspects of the structure of materials and its relationship to engineering properties, along with further training in mathematics and other essential skills. In the third and fourth levels, the units involve aspects of both materials science and materials engineering in which a wide treatment is given to the properties of metals, plastics, rubber and ceramics. At level 3 students are able to take an elective unit from the wide range of units offered by other faculties. In the final two semesters, special attention is given to topics such as materials design and selection, optimisation of properties, mechanical behaviour including shaping and fabrication, and the performance of materials in service. Practical work forms an essential part of most units and a substantial research project in a field of materials (metals, plastics, rubber or ceramics) is completed in the final two semesters. Course requirementsThis is a new course structure for students entering level 2 of the program from 2005 onwards. Students who entered level 2 of the program prior to 2005 should refer to the handbook for the level in which they commenced the course. Second level
Total: 48 points Third levelCore units
Elective unitsSelect one elective unit from:
Total: 48 points Fourth levelCore units
Elective units**Select a minimum of 18 points from:
Total: 48 points * All inter-faculty electives must be approved by the course adviser ** Some elective units are offered only every second level. Mechanical engineeringStudents may enter this branch of engineering at the Clayton or Malaysia campus after completion of the common first level. It is recommended that students wishing to enter this branch of engineering complete ENG1020, ENG1030 and ENG1040 in the first level. Specialisation in the field of mechanical engineering begins in the second level of the program and focuses more directly on engineering practice and the engineering sciences. In the third level, engineering science and practice studies are extended to a professional level and students are increasingly encouraged to learn independently and to make use of the learning resources available to them. During the fourth level, students undertake an independent full level project in an area of personal interest. The results of this are presented and examined by thesis. In addition, students complete two core units covering aspects of industrial innovation, technology and society, plus four engineering electives offering scope for specialisation, for example in mechatronics and robotics, aerodynamics or engineering design. An inter-faculty business unit completes the final level. Course requirementsThis is a new course structure for students entering level 2 of the program from 2007 onwards. Students who entered the program prior to 2006 should refer to the handbook for the level in which they commenced the course. Second level
Total: 48 points Third level
Total: 48 points Fourth level
Total: 48 points Mechatronics engineeringStudents may enter this branch of engineering at the Malaysia campus after completion of the common first level. It is recommended that students wishing to enter this branch of engineering complete ENG1020, ENG1030, ENG1040 and ENG1050 in first level. At level 2, units focus on providing fundamental knowledge across the wide range of disciplines that form the basis of mechatronics. Thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, electronics, mechanics, programming and digital electronics are some of the topics covered in second level. During level 3, further fundamental knowledge is introduced together with units that build on these fundamentals to cover areas of mechatronics to a professional level. These specialised areas include mechatronics and manufacturing, and power electronics and drives. At level 4, students undertake further units that draw together a wide range of fundamental knowledge in a mechatronics context such as robotics. Level 4 of the course allows for specialisation in wider areas of mechatronics through the selection of three elective units. Students have the opportunity to study a unit from another faculty as one of their electives and to undertake a substantial independent investigation in their chosen area of engineering interest. There is a strong emphasis on project work throughout the mechatronics course. As well as project units in second, third and fourth level many other units contain a strong project/design element. Course requirementsThis is a new course structure for students entering level 2 of the program from 2005 onwards. Students who entered level 2 of the program prior to 2005 should refer to the handbook for the level in which they commenced the course. This branch of the Bachelor of Engineering ceased intake into level 2 at the Clayton campus at the end of 2005, but will continue to be offered at the Malaysia campus as part of the Bachelor of Engineering Students seeking to undertake mechatronics engineering at Clayton campus should consider applying for a course transfer into the Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering. Second level
Total: 48 points Third level
Total: 48 points Fourth level
Elective units
Total: 48 points * All elective units must be approved by the course director. Contact detailsTelephone +61 3 9905 3404, email eng.info@eng.monash.edu.au or visit www.eng.monash.edu.au Course adviserVisit www.eng.monash.edu.au/current-students/course-information.html#1 Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents |