Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2010

Undergraduate courses offered by the Faculty

Bachelor of Electronic Engineering/Master of Biomedical Engineering (SZEEBE) – Melbourne (Bundoora)

This is a double degree program offered by the Department of Electronic Engineering that enables completion of a Bachelor of Electronic Engineering degree in combination with a Masters level degree in biomedical engineering. This program is designed for people interested in the expanding discipline of biomedical engineering, leading to a career in the professional health sector. It will provide training in electronic engineering to graduate engineering level, as well as training in the specialty of biomedical engineering. Graduates may apply for membership of Engineers Australia at the grade of Professional Engineer and seek employment in industry as an electronic engineer or as a biomedical engineering specialist. Graduates can, after holding a position of professional responsibility in biomedical engineering, apply for registration with the College of Biomedical Engineers. This program is fully accredited by Engineers Australia.

Biomedical engineering

The provision of first-rate health care and the prevention of disease are priorities for the 21st century. Advances in medicine in recent years have been assisted by new technology, including the applications of advanced electronics.

Biomedical engineers are at the forefront of the rapidly expanding, high-technology provision of these health services, including such fields as patient monitoring systems for operating theatres and intensive care subjects, computerised medical imaging and monitoring, artificial organs, neural prostheses and life-support systems, hospital safety and equipment management, as well as all other aspects of technology applied to medicine.

Entry with advanced standing

Students who have completed or partially completed a Diploma or Certificate studies may be granted advanced standing.

Industry experience

Students are required to complete at least 12 weeks certified practical experience under the guidance of an experienced engineer before being deemed to have completed the course and therefore qualify to graduate. This is preferably undertaken during the annual vacation following either the third or the fourth years of the course but may be done at the conclusion of the final year.

Scholarships

First year scholarships are available for high achieving students. Prospective candidates should contact the Department of Electronic Engineering early in their Year-12 studies for details.

Course structure

This double degree program is of five and a half years full-time or equivalent part-time duration and requires the completion of 670 credit points. Students may complete the program in five years as part of an accelerated study program.

As well as meeting the requirements of the Bachelor of Electronic Engineering degree, the first two years of the concurrent program include the basic life science training required for a career in biomedical engineering. The biomedical specialisation is commenced in the third year and continues through to the fifth year. In the third year, students combine physiology or anatomy studies with their engineering studies and in the fourth year students complete their engineering project. In the fifth and final year, students complete their thesis, along with specialist biomedical subjects. The first four years of the course are overloaded by 15 or 20 credit points to enable completion of the combined program in five years of full-time study.

This course is structured to allow reversion to the single Bachelor of Electronic Engineering course at any time and students must perform at a level satisfactory to the Head of Department in the third and fourth years of the course to be permitted to continue in the double degree program. Practical work is an integral part of the course and is compulsory.

First year (135 credit points)
Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Introductory Electronics ELE1IEL 15
TE-SEM-1 Calculus and Probability for Engineers MAT1CPE 15
TE-SEM-1 C Programming for Engineers and Scientists CSE1CES 15
TE-SEM-1 Organisation and Function of Cells and Organisms BIO1OF 15
TE-SEM-1 Principles of Physics A PHY1SCA 15
TE-SEM-2 Basic Electronic Circuits ELE1CCT 15
TE-SEM-2 Calculus and Linear Algebra MAT1CLA 15
TE-SEM-2 Electronic Engineering Design Project ELE1EDP 15
TE-SEM-2 Principles of Physics B PHY1SCB 15
Second year (140 credit points)
Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Electrical Power ELE2PWR 15
TE-SEM-1 Human Physiology A HBS2HPA 20
TE-SEM-1 Linear Circuits and Signals ELE2CIR 15
TE-SEM-1 Microprocessors and Digital Design ELE2MDD 15
TE-SEM-1 Vector Calculus MAT2VCA 15
TE-SEM-2 Digital Design with Programmable Logic ELE2DDP 15
TE-SEM-2 Analogue Circuits and Interfacing ELE2ANI 15
TE-SEM-2 Linear Algebra MAT2LAL 15
TE-SEM-2 Electromagnetism and Modern Materials PHY2EMM 15
Third year (140 credit points)

Core subjects (125 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Communication Systems ELE3CMN 15
TE-SEM-1 Control Systems ELE3CON 15
TE-SEM-1 Embedded Processors ELE3EMB 15
TE-SEM-1 Instrumentation Electronics and Sensors ELE3IES 15
TE-SEM-2 Clinical Engineering ELE4CLN 15
TE-SEM-2 Digital Signal Processing ELE3SIP 15
TE-SEM-2 Human Physiology B HBS2HPB 20
TE-SEM-2 Third Year Project ELE3PRO 15

Elective subject (15 credit points)

Students may take a 15 credit point third year level electronic subject available as listed below or select from any third year subjects available in the School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, or from any other subject approved by the undergraduate course adviser. The elective can be taken in first or second semester.

Recommended electives from within the School:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-2 Digital Communication Systems ELE3DCS 15
TE-SEM-2 Electronic Design Automation – Tools and Techniques ELE3DDE 15
TE-SEM-2 Sustainable Power Generation ELE3SPG 15
Fourth year (135 credit points)

Core subjects (120 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Applied Management for Engineers ELE4EMT 15
TE-SEM-1 Biomedical Engineering ELE4BME 15
TE-SEM-1 Engineering Project A1 ELE4EPA 15
TE-SEM-1 Modern Applied Statistics STA2AS 15
TE-SEM-1 Database Fundamentals CSE2DBF 15
TE-SEM-2 Neural Engineering ELE5NUE 15
TE-SEM-2 Engineering Project B1 ELE4EPB 30

Elective (15 credit points)

Students choose from fourth year level subjects offered by the Department of Electronic Engineering, or any other subject approved by the undergraduate course adviser.

Fifth year (120 credit points)

Core subjects (60 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Electronic Engineering Major Project A1 ELE5MPA 30
TE-SEM-2 Electronic Engineering Major Project B1 ELE5MPB 30

Electives (60 credit points)

Sixty credit points are chosen from available fourth or fifth year level electronic subjects, in keeping with the biomedical engineering specialty or other subjects approved by the postgraduate course adviser. Recommended to include ELE5MEN and ELE5DES.

Key: 1 Linked subjects: both subjects must be taken in the one academic year.

2 Subject not available in 2010

For a full description of subjects, including the subject name, subject code, credit points, campus/location, subject coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, students should access the Subject Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public.