Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2012

Bachelor of Electronic Engineering

Course code/s: Melbourne (SVEE)

The Bachelor of Electronic Engineering is a four-year (pass and Honours) course offering specialisations in biomedical, communication, electronic systems, optical engineering and sustainability in energy production. The course has a strong emphasis on project work as it introduces students to electronics related engineering sciences, computing, mathematics and management practices. Students develop an appreciation of the role of engineers in the community and an awareness of the social and environmental effects of their decisions. Graduates may apply for membership of Engineers Australia at the grade of Professional Engineer and seek employment in industry as an electronic engineer. Graduates completing the biomedical engineering specialty 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.

Communication engineering

The communications engineer today is faced with many challenges because of the rapid advances in computer, internet, multimedia, and telecommunication technologies. For example, mobile phones have extended functionality, the introduction of optical fibres has improved long distance communications, and the move to digital techniques has allowed many new features to be introduced to the telephone network. Communications is now of great importance to organisations of all sizes and to all people.

Electronic systems engineering

New developments in the field of electronics continue to appear at an ever-increasing rate and microelectronics has made an impact in nearly every aspect of our lives. An immense amount of computing power can now be provided by microprocessors for embedded systems and robotics. Modern scientific and industrial instrumentation relies heavily on electronic techniques of measurement, storage, processing, and display of information. Electronic control systems are an integral part of modern society in industrial, commercial, and domestic environments.

Optical engineering

The 21st century will be the age of photonics and optical engineering, when opto-electronics and light (photons) will replace electrons as the principal transmission carrier, as well as in some signal processing and sensing applications. Using optical engineering techniques, massive amounts of information (for example, telephone conversations, television signals and data communications) can be transmitted as light waves through an optical fibre that is thinner than a human hair. The main emphasis in the optical engineering specialisation is centred on fibre-optic systems and related optical devices.

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 the third year 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

The course consists of subjects with a total work value of 480 credit points, taken over four years or an equivalent part-time duration. For professional accreditation purposes, the syllabus is mostly fixed, with the first two years common to all students and a selection of specialised subjects available in the third and fourth years. Students may elect to specialise in biomedical, communication, electronic systems, optical engineering or sustainable energy. Practical work forms an important part of the course and is compulsory. The third and fourth years of the course comprise a common core, with specialty subjects and the final year engineering project taken according to the specialist stream chosen. The course comprises the following subjects:

First year (120 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 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 Engineering Practice EMS1EP 15
TE-SEM-2 Principles of Physics B PHY1SCB 15
Second year (120 credit points)
Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Electrical Power ELE2PWR 15
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 (120 credit points)

Core subjects (90 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 Digital Signal Processing ELE3SIP 15
TE-SEM-2 Third Year Project ELE3PRO 15

Specialty option (15 credit points)

Students must undertake a specialty subject from one of the following streams.

Biomedical Engineering Stream:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-2 Clinical Engineering ELE4CLN 15

Optical and Communication Engineering Streams:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-2 Digital Communication Systems ELE3DCS 15

Electronic Systems Stream:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-2 Electronic Design Automation – Tools and Techniques ELE3DDE 15

Elective subject (15 credit points)

Students may take 15 credit points of third year level subjects available in other electronic streams as listed above or from other subjects available in the School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, or the University, for which they are eligible to enrol.

Recommended electives from within the School:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-2 Linear Programming and Game Theory MAT3LPG 15
Fourth year (120 credit points)

Core subjects (60 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Applied Management for Engineers ELE4EMT 15
TE-SEM-1 Engineering Project A1 ELE4EPA 15
TE-SEM-2 Engineering Project B1 ELE4EPB 30

Specialty options (30 credit points)

Students must undertake two specialty subjects from one of the following streams.

Biomedical Engineering Stream:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Biomedical Engineering ELE4BME 15
TE-SEM-2 Neuro Engineering ELE5NUE 15

Communication Engineering Stream:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Communication Systems ELE4ACS 15
TE-SEM-2 Communication Networks ELE4NET 15

Electronic Systems Stream:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Digital Systems Design ELE4ADD 15
TE-SEM-2 Digital Control Theory ELE4DCT 15

Optical Engineering Stream:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Optical Fibre Communication Systems ELE4OFC 15
TE-SEM-2 Communication Networks ELE4NET 15

Elective subjects (30 credit points)

Any other electronics subjects from the fourth year recommended list or other subjects as approved by the course adviser.

Recommended list of fourth year electronic subjects.

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Digital Systems Design ELE4ADD 15
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Signal Processing ELE4ASP 15
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Topics A ELE4ATA 15
TE-SEM-1 Biomedical Engineering ELE4BME 15
TE-SEM-1 Optical Fibre Communication Systems ELE4OFC 15
TE-SEM-1 Radio Frequency Design ELE4RFD 15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2 Directed Study2 ELE4DIR 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Communication Systems ELE4ACS 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Instrumentation Electronics ELE4AAE 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Topics B ELE4ATB 15
TE-SEM-2 Antennas and Propagation ELE4ANS 15
TE-SEM-2 Clinical Engineering ELE4CLN 15
TE-SEM-2 Communication Networks ELE4NET 15
TE-SEM-2 Design for Mass Production ELE5DES 15
TE-SEM-2 Digital Control Theory ELE4DCT 15
TE-SEM-2 Image Processing and Coding ELE4IPC 15

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

2 Enrolment in ELE4DIR requires the approval of the Bachelor of Electronic Engineering Course Adviser.

The recommended subjects available may vary from year to year according to staff availability and student demand. Details of the subjects available, and the teaching period in which they will run, will be finalised in February of each year.

Please note: Some of these subjects may not be offered in the current year. For a full description of subjects, including the subject name, subject code, credit points, campus/location, teaching period and availability, subject coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, please click on the appropriate Subject Code or refer to the Subject Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public.