Discipline Analysis: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

1. Discipline Analysis:Electrical and Electronic Engineering Angela McCarthy BU4061, SP1 2010

2. Electrical and Electronic Engineering • Overview • Faculty of Science and Engineering • “Electrical and Electronic Engineers provide technical leadership and design skills to the electronics, telecommunications and power generation industries. They use mathematical and scientific principles to design, build, fault find, analyse and control all things electrical from electric motors and power generators to tiny Integrated Circuit (IC) chips.” • Four years (full time) degree at James Cook University (Townsville campus only)

3. Subjects • Year 1 • EG1000:03 Engineering 1 • PH1005:03 Advanced Stream Physics • EG1002:03 Computing for Engineers • MA1000:03 Mathematical Foundations • EG1010:03 Process Engineering • EG1011:03 Statics & Dynamics • EG1012:03 Electric Circuits • MA1003:03 Mathematical Techniques • Year 2 • CC2510:03 Digital Logic & Computing Methods • EE2201:03 Circuit Theory • MA2000:03 Mathematics for Scientists & Engineers • PH2019:03 Introduction to Electromagnetism Optics & Thermodynamics • CC2511:03 Embedded Systems Design • CP1300:03 Introduction to Programming 2 • or • PH2020:03 Physics for Engineers • EE2300:03 Electronics 1 • EG2010:03 Materials Science & Engineering • Source: • http://cms.jcu.edu.au/courses/engineering/JCUPRD_035231 • Year 3 • EE3001:03 Signal Processing 2 • EE3700:03 Communications Systems Principles • EG3000:03 Engineering Project Management • CC3501:03 Computer Interfacing and Control (even years) • EE3300:03 Electronics 2 • EE3400:03 Power Engineering 2 • EE3600:03 Automatic Control 2 • EE4710:03 Communications Systems Propagation (odd years) • EG3021:03 Applied Engineering Analysis • Year 4 • EE4000:03 Signal Processing 3 • EE4400:03 Power Engineering 3 • EG4000:03 Engineering Economics & Entrepreneurship • EG4011:03 Thesis (part 1 of 2) • EE4600:03 Automatic Control 3 • EE4710:03 Communications Systems Propagation (odd years) • EG4012:03 Thesis (part 2 of 2) • CC3501:03 Computer Interfacing and Control (even years) • EG4013:03 Asset Management, Maintenance & Reliability

4. Topics • Topics can be either dispersed, concentrated or both • Depending on field of study • Sub-Diciplines • Sub-Disciplines • Power • Control • Electronics • Microelectronics • Signal Processing • Telecommunications • Instrumentation • Computers

5. Education • Electrical Engineering can be a major in the following degrees: • Bachelor of Engineering, • Bachelor of Science, • Bachelor of Technology or • Bachelor of Applied Science • Postgraduate degree • Master of Engineering/Master of Science (MEng/MSc), • Master of Engineering Management, • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Engineering or • Engineering Doctorate (EngD)

6. Papers • Uniform in style • Follow similar formatting style • Some provide index of acronyms, but not all • Papers generally designed for select audience • Papers make use of graphs, equations and circuit diagrams quite regularly • Communication of ideas is generally via papers with presentations given at seminars/conferences

7. Hard-Soft Distinction • Hard distinction • Boundaries rather tight • Work must comply to: • Set rules, and • Regulations • Building Codes • Environmental Law Legislations • Safety • Ethics

8. Applied-Theoretical • Work/Research is applied andtheoretical • Work mostly applied • Research applied and theoretical • Methods are simulated then tested • Check for faults/errors • Calculating risks/solutions • Once issues resolved, can then be tested physically • A new method may first be implemented before publication available publically

9. Methods • In research • Qualitative VS Quantitative • Majority of methods are quantitative • Qualitative methods rarely used

10. Rural-Urban • Mostly Urban • Requires ready access to equipment • Work completed in teams • Rural • Mostly for maintenance/checks • Mining companies

11. Scholars • Honours (JCU) • All 4th year students required to do thesis • Project is based on application of techniques on the research, design or solution of an engineering problem • Masters (JCU) • Master of Engineering Science (MEngSc) • Supervised thesis on a subject matter • Ability to demonstrate independent thought and effective research skills • One-two years (JCU)

12. Scholars • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) • Supervised original research • Critical research and analysis • Two-four years (JCU) • Research to be approved by Head of Engineering before application

13. Cross-Discipline • James Cook University • Bachelor of Science • Bachelor of Computer Science (discontinued) • Bachelor of Information Technology • Elsewhere • Bachelor of Administration • Bachelor of Business Management • Bachelor of Commerce • Bachelor of Economics

14. Research • Research can be comprised of both individuals and teams • Specified equipment and funding though is required • Normally a project sponsored by a company/organisation • Published work can be attributed to all fields, including students, graduates, technicians and scholars

15. Organisations • IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers • Sponsors more than 1100 annual conferences and meetings worldwide • IET – Institute of Engineering and Technology • EESTEC - Electrical Engineering Students' European Association

16. Discipline Views Thoughts and experiences

17. Questions? Thanks for listening!