Date of Revision Date of Previous Revision Programme Specification 2016-17 Existing Academic Year Structure Level 2 and above A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University s Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual. Programme Title Programme Code MEng in Software and Electronic Systems Engineering SEE- MENG Final Award (exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes) UCAS Code GH6Q JACS Code I390 MEng Honours Criteria for Admissions (Please see General Regulations) A-level: AAB including Mathematics and and at least one from Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Electronics, Further Mathematics, Geography, ICT [not Applied], Physics or Software Systems Development or Technology & Design. BTEC Extended Diploma: a relevant BTEC Extended Diploma with 16 Distinctions and 2 Merits. Distinctions will be required in stipulated relevant units. Irish Leaving Certificate: AB2B2B2B2B2 including Higher Level grade A and B2 in any order in Mathematics and a Science subject (see list under A-level requirements). Option to Transfer: transfer between BEng and MEng may be possible at the end of Stage 2. Mode of Study (Full-time, Part-time, other) Full Time Type of Programme Single Subject Length of Programme 4 years Total Credits for Programme 480 Awarding Institution/Body Teaching Institution School/Department Framework for Higher Education Qualification Level http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/informationand guidance Queen s University Belfast Queen s University Belfast School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Level 7 1
QAA Benchmark Group http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuringstandardsandqualit y/subject-guidance/pages/subject-benchmarkstatements Collaborative Organisation and form of Collaboration (if applicable) Accreditations (PSRB) ATAS Clearance External Examiner Name: Professor S Hall Institution of Engineering and Technology Not required Engineering (Hons) N/A Date of next scheduled accreditation visit 2016 External Examiner Institution/Organisation University of Liverpool Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations (Please see General Regulations) Programme Specific Regulations Yes No X (If yes, please state here any exemptions to regulations which have been approved for this programme) Progression Stage 2 In order to proceed to Stage 2, students must normally have passed a minimum of 5 Stage 1 modules (100 CATS, taking account of any prerequisites). Stage 3 In order to proceed to Stage 3, students must normally have 6 Stage 2 module credits (120 CATS) with an average of at least 55% on their first module enrolments and have passed 6 modules (120 CATS) at Stage 1. Students unable to progress to Stage 3 may be required to transfer to the BEng in Software and Electronic Systems Engineering programme. Stage 4 In order to proceed to Stage 4, students must normally have 6 Stage 3 module credits (120 CATS) with an average of at least 55% on their first module enrolments. Students unable to progress to Stage 4 may be required to transfer to the BEng in Software and Electronic Systems Engineering programme. Award of Degrees For the award of a MEng degree students must normally have passed at least 24 modules (480 CATS) to include ELE4001 (Project 4) and have achieved a weighted average mark of at least 50%. The classification of the MEng degree is determined by an aggregate of the weighted marks for the individual modules which contribute to the classification. The Stage 4 modules (120 CATS) contribute 50% of the final mark, the Stage 3 modules (120 CATS) contribute 30%, the Stage 2 modules (120 CATS) contribute 15% and Stage 1 modules (120 CATS) contribute 5%. Note that compulsory modules must be included in the calculation at all Stages. For students who entered the programme at Stage 2, the Stage 4 modules (120 CATS) contribute 53% of the final mark, the Stage 3 modules (120 CATS) contribute 32% and the Stage 2 modules (120 CATS) contribute 15%. 2
Students with protected characteristics Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations (Please see General Regulations) Length of Programme N/A No Fitness to Practise programmes are those which permit students to enter a profession which is itself subject to Fitness to Practise rules 4 years 3
Educational Aims of Programme Provide the necessary underpinning knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to enable graduates of the programme to embark on careers in the electronics and software and related industries. In addition, graduates will have the necessary skills and abilities for further study in, or to make a technical contribution to new business enterprises in, the broad field of electronics and software or in a number of themes, e.g., Connected Health, Pervasive Systems or Electronic Security. Inculcate a creative and pragmatic approach to the design and implementation of integrated software and electronic systems that will remain through changes in technology. Enable students to manage complexity through the use of abstraction and modelling, effective project management, best practice and standards, appropriate tool, logical reasoning and problem solving. To provide students with the skills necessary to evaluate critically new developments in technology and take advantage of them where appropriate. Informed by top grade research, to provide students with timely exposure to, and practical experience in, a range of current, emerging, novel and exciting technologies based on integrated electronic and software systems. To develop the ability to lead the design, innovation, and exploitation of integrated software and electronic systems and their related technologies. To develop strong interpersonal skills, encompassing team-working skills and effective oral, written, presentation and listening skills. To develop high levels of professionalism and high ethical standards in all aspects of work-related activity Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills On the completion of this course successful students will be able to: C1 Analyse, interpret, synthesise and evaluate information across a variety of sources including the effective and efficient organisation and management of that information. C2 C3 Critically apply knowledge and understanding of facts, concepts, principles or theories to reason about problems and unfamiliar situations. Develop strategies to solve problems that require the synthesis of facts, concepts, principles or theories. Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Problem solving and design pervade the degree with each module emphasising some aspect of problem solving and/or good design practice. All modules has a coursework component (practical work, homeworks or assignments) which supports, illustrates and reinforces the theoretical material presented in lectures. The coursework develops from guided work leading to understanding in first year to open learning, open ended designs with development of specifications, customer input and validation in final year. Methods of Assessment Assessed through homework, assignments and end-of-module written examinations. Assessed through assignments, reports on practical work and project reports, presentations and demonstrations. Assessed through homework, assignments and end-of-module written examinations. C4 C5 D1 D2 Critically evaluate designs, components, products and artefacts and develop improvements where appropriate. Apply professional judgement to balance quality and safety indicators in the design, development and deployment of electronic and software systems. On the completion of this course successful students will be able to: Work effectively within a team recognising the different roles within a team and the different ways of organising teams Retrieve information effectively and efficiently from a variety of Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Introduced during the University induction course and developed through assignments and project work involving library resources (catalogues), web-based Assessed through assignments, reports on practical work and project reports, presentations and demonstrations. Professional judgement and balance are largely assessed through the individual and industrial (group) project assessments, dissertations and reports at Stage 3 and 4 Methods of Assessment Indirectly assessed through assignments, practical work and projects. 4
D3 sources and by a variety of techniques. Use information technology effectively, efficiently and appropriately. resources (browsers and search engines) and personal contacts. Skill D3 is an integral part of all modules, reflecting the pervasive nature of information technology in terms of current educational delivery and assessment. Developed and practised within assignments, practicals and projects. Explicitly assessed within some technical assignments, practicals and projects, including the preparation of the dissertation and final report for the individual and industrial projects, respectively. Positive assessment of this skill is implicit to successful completion of any form of assessment involving electronic information manipulation. D4 Communicate succinctly and effectively within groups and to a range of audiences (orally, electronically or in writing). Skill D4 is an integral component of all modules and strongly integrated into those involving sizeable individual or group based projects. Explicitly taught in the Professional Studies modules; practised, assessed and developed through feedback within assignments and projects through presentations, demonstrations, reports, dissertations, etc. D5 D6 D7 D8 Understand use, evaluate and present information involving a quantitative dimension Propose, use and assess appropriate methods to solve problems in an effective and efficient manner. Manage one s own learning and development including time management and organisational skills Learn independently in familiar and unfamiliar situations with open-mindedness and a spirit of critical enquiry acting positively upon feedback. Skills D5 and D6 are an integral component of all technical modules and most other modules. Developed within lectures and practised through assignments and practicals Skills D7 and D8 are fundamental aspects of student engagement within modules, reflecting their essential role within higher education. Practised and developed as an integral component of students learning experience as delivered within independent study, lectures, assignments, practicals and projects. Assessed within assignments, practicals and through unseen written examinations. Positive assessment of this skill is implicit to successful completion of any form of assessment of previously unfamiliar material. D9 Plan and manage their career, appreciating the need for continuing professional development in the wider context of lifelong learning.. Learners are given the opportunity to develop Skill D9 through regular interaction with the Student Guidance Centre and Careers Service and other University-wide initiatives such as Degree Plus. The monitoring of the progress students are making in their employability and related skills development will be through Personal Development Planning (PDP) and a structured personal tutorial system. Additional positive assessment of Skill D9 is implicit to successful completion of any form of assessment that requires the student to engage in a period of profession 5
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding On the completion of this course successful students will be able to: A1 Understanding of the underpinning mathematics, physics and theoretical framework relevant to software and electronic systems. A2 Understanding of the essential facts, concepts, principles and theories common to all Electronic Engineering and Computing disciplines and specific to software and electronic systems. A3 Understanding of scientific and engineering practice, standards and associated problems, in the specification, design, development, implementation, testing, delivery and maintenance of electronic and software based solutions Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Principally through lecture and directed individual study across all stages. Practised through the application of understanding within assignments, practicals and projects Knowledge and understanding of A3 forms an integral part of all technical strands of the programme assuming increasing importance as students progress through the stages and is a major feature of the individual project and Design Projects modules (ECS1002 and ECS2001). development, eg as found within Stage 3 and Stage 4 project modules. Methods of Assessment primarily assessed within unseen written examination and, to a lesser extent, assignments or class tests A4 A5 A6 Understanding of professional aspects of the engineering discipline, including legal and ethical issues, principles of business and management and entrepreneurship. Understanding of the principles of entrepreneurship, business and management. Understanding of the technological developments related to emerging applications of software and electronic systems such as connected health, pervasive systems and electronic security. Acquisition of A4 and A5 begins explicitly at Stage 2 (CSC2011) and is mainly ensured by the compulsory Industrial Project at Stage 4 and (optionally) the year in Industry. However almost all of the Stage 3 and Stage 4 modules are delivered within an implicit recognition of professional engineering practice that includes these outcomes. Through specialist lectures and group and the individual project work in Stages 3 and 4, depending on the specific options selected by the learner. Primarily assessed within projects, practicals and assignments and to a lesser extent through unseen written examinations. Throughout the programme the learner is encouraged to undertake independent reading both to supplement and consolidate what is being taught/learnt and to broaden their individual knowledge and understanding of the subject. Knowledge and understanding is developed through feedback given to students on practical work, assignments, homework, and on all formative work produced. 6
Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific Skills On the completion of this course successful students will be able to B1 Apply scientific principles and mathematical methods to the modelling and analysis of devices, modules, libraries, circuits, networks and other component factors of electronic and software systems B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 Write efficient and reliable computer programmes, applying the basic principles of software engineering Apply computer based tools to the analysis and synthesis of algorithms, devices, circuits, networks and systems that combine or otherwise integrate electronics and software. Plan, carry out, report and critically evaluate an engineering design project. Identify and evaluate the wider commercial or social implications of current developments in electronic and software systems. Recognise risks and safety aspects involved in the practical embodiment, test and measurement of electronic and software systems. Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Related theory is taught and demonstrated within lectures, practicals and assignments and practised within assignments, practicals and projects. Skill B2 is introduced at Stage 1 emphasising both high and low level approaches. At Stage 2 programming skills are further developed through the requirement to take either CSC2001 or CSC2018. Skill B3 is specifically introduced at Stage 1 with the Design Project module, developed at Stage 2 and Stage 4 within Design Projects. However many of the technical modules at Stage 1 and Stage 2 contain practicals and assignments which require skill B3 and it is expected that the individual project at Stage 3 will provide further opportunity. Skill B4 and B4 are largely introduced within the Stage 4 Industrial Project and the professional studies modules at stages 2 and 3.. Skill B6 is a component of some technical modules. Risks and safety aspects related to business and enterprise are primarily taught within lectures and practised within practicals and assignments and in the Stage 3 individual project module.. Methods of Assessment.Assignments, practicals and projects Assessed within unseen written examinations, assignments, practicals and projects. Subject to the options selected B2 can continue to be assessed through modules at Stage 3 and Stage 4 and within Stage 3 individual project. Primarily achieved through those practicals, assignments, design reports and project reports Assessed through project reports and dissertations, assignments interviews and, to a lesser extent, unseen written examinations Assessed primarily through practicals, project work and assignments. 7
Programme Requirements The modules outlined in the programme requirements table are for Level 2 and above. Please consult the 2015-16 programme specification which shows the modules which were offered for Level 1. These can be accessed at http://www.qub.ac.uk/dasa/academicaffairs/programmespecifications/ Module Title Module Code Level/ stage Credits Availability Duration Pre-requisite Assessment S1 S2 Core Option Coursework % Examination % Design Projects 2 ECS2001 2 20 24 weeks 100 0 Embedded Systems 2 ELE2025 2 20 24 weeks 60 40 Professional Engineering ECS2003 2 10 24 weeks 100 0 Practice Mathematics 2 ELE2014 2 10 12 weeks ELE1012 30 70 Data Structures and CSC200 2 20 12 weeks CSC1011 and 60 40 Algorithms 1 CSC1012 Software Engineering and CSC201 2 20 12 weeks CSC1011 and 60 40 Project 8 CSC1012 Networks and CSC200 2 20 12 weeks CSC1011 40 60 Communications 8 Database Systems CSC203 2 20 12 weeks CSC1011 and 20 80 6 1012 Electronic Circuits and ELE2018 2 20 24 weeks 30 70 Devices Signals and ELE2020 2 20 24 weeks 30 70 Communications 2 Circuits and Control ELE2024 2 20 24 weeks 30 70 Industrial Project 3 ELE3026 3 30 24 weeks 100 0 Professional Studies 2 MEE300 3 10 12 weeks 0 100 2 Connected Health ECS3003 3 20 12 weeks 30 70 Agile and Component CSC304 3 20 12 weeks CSC2001 60 40 based.net 5 Concurrent Programming CSC302 3 20 12 weeks CSC2001 20 80 1 Signal Processing and ELE3041 3 20 12 weeks ELE2020 20 80 Communications Information System Security CSC304 3 20 12 weeks CSC2008 20 80 8 Software Testing and CSC305 3 20 12 weeks 60 40 Verification 6 Digital Systems Architecture ELE3038 3 20 12 weeks ELE2025 20 80 and Design Networks and Communications Protocols ELE3040 3 20 12 weeks 20 80 8
Control Systems ELE3042 3 20 12 weeks ELE 2024 20 80 Engineering Project 4 ELE4001 4 40 24 weeks 6 Level 3 100 0 modules Wireless Sensor Systems ECS4002 4 20 12 weeks 20 80 Wireless Communication ELE4009 4 20 24 weeks 20 80 Systems Intelligent Systems and ELE4011 4 20 24 weeks ELE3042 20 80 Control 4 Smart Grids ELE4020 4 20 24 weeks 20 80 Applied Cryptography ELE4090 4 20 12 weeks 40 60 Network Security and ELE4093 4 20 12 weeks 40 60 Monitoring Artificial Intelligence CSC300 4 20 12 weeks CSC2001 20 80 6 Software Design Principles CSC303 4 20 12 weeks 20 80 andpatterns 1 Web and Mobile Application CSC305 4 20 12 weeks 40 60 Development 4 Advanced Software CSC400 4 20 12 weeks CSC2018 20 80 Engineering 2 High Performance CSC400 4 20 12 weeks 100 0 Computing 5 Algorithms Analysis and Application CSC400 3 4 20 12 weeks CSC2001 20 80 * Students must select one of CSC2001 and CSC2018 Approved by Director of Education: Print Name: Dr Phil Hanna Signature: Philip Hanna Date: 18/05/16 9