Electrical Engineering major

UTS major code: 04
UAC code: 603035
Testamur title: Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering
Diploma in Engineering Practice
Total credit points: 204

The benefits arising from the supply of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial sites is immense. Recent advances in electronics and micro-electronics have created a profound impact in homes, industries and hospitals. Automatic control has become an integral part of modern manufacturing and industrial processes, and has been a foundation for many important developments in medicine, economics, sociology and management. All these are part of electrical engineering.

This major aims to develop a new generation of electrical engineers who are more attuned to social and environmental sustainability and who have the technical expertise in various enabling disciplines, and the interdisciplinary skills, to contribute significantly towards the building of a more harmonious world. The Electrical Engineering major is concerned with the optimisation of energy systems, alternative energy sources, intelligent electronic systems, real-time computing, industrial networking, automated systems for social benefits, and devices for biomedical technology.

Graduates of the major will work in numerous challenging areas: electronic and micro-electronic industries, process control, mechatronics and robotics, power generation and distribution, power electronics, building services, manufacturing and transport industries, biomedical industries, mining and agriculture. Increasingly, electrical engineers are also involved in sports medicine, entertainment, environment control studies and financial engineering.

The major develops technical expertise in electronics and micro-electronics, power electronics, energy and power systems, analogue and digital control and automation, data acquisition and distribution, instrumentation and signal processing, artificial intelligence, real-time computing, and industrial networking. It incorporates substantial laboratory work, and most of the advanced subjects have 50 per cent theory and 50 per cent project work. Appropriate theoretical foundations are provided to ensure that designs are based on social responsibility, sustainability, and sound engineering methodologies with guaranteed stability and accuracy. At the same time, strong encouragement is provided to help student projects to production-level completion using appropriate management techniques. Whenever possible, professional hardware systems are produced, and with a high degree of software validation and professional documentation. There is emphasis on development of comprehension, presentation, interpersonal and team skills, and on interdisciplinary interactions.

Students also have the opportunity to develop community involvement through interdisciplinary projects. Examples might include automated systems for people with disabilities, low-cost efficient hydro-electric systems for villages in developing countries, or non-invasive blood glucose monitors for patients with diabetes.

Computer control and instrumentation covers areas such as robotics, fuzzy logic, neural networks and software development, relating to practice in fields such as mechatronics, biomedical engineering and financial engineering. A typical thesis topic could be an intelligent robotic system using fuzzy logic, or a voice and handwriting system. Energy technology covers areas such as variable speed drives, energy and environment economics, power system design and power generation. A typical thesis topic could be wind energy, a solar vehicle, or economics of energy distribution. Biomedical technology covers areas such as anatomy and physiology, biomedical instrumentation and medical imaging. A typical thesis topic could be a laser-based spectrometer for measuring muscle energetics, or a blood pressure control system for intensive care.

Standard program