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Specialisation: Telecommunications Engineering

Award(s) to which this specialisation belongs:
 

Telecommunications Engineering

TEN18MSV1

Department:
Department of Engineering
Faculty:
Faculty of Science and Engineering

Admission Requirements:
Admission to Master of Engineering
Study Mode:
Full-time, Part-time
Attendance Mode:
Internal
Commencement:
North Ryde — Session 1 (February)
North Ryde — Session 2 (July)

600 level

Required
4
Signal Analysis for Telecommunications (4)
 
Required
4
Communication Systems (4)
 
Required
4
Communication Networks (4)
 

This specialisation must be completed as part of an award. The general requirements for the award must be satisfied in order to graduate.

Requirements for the Specialisation:

Completion of a minimum of 44 credit points including the following prescribed units:

Credit points

800 level

Required
4
Advanced Telecommunications Engineering (4)
 
Required
20cp from
 
Software Defined Networking (4)
 
 
Reconfigurable Antennas and Electronics (4)
 
 
Cognitive Radio (4)
 
 
Telecommunications Performance Management (4)
 
 
Internet of Things (4)
 
 
5G Networks (4)
 
 
Heterogeneous Networks: Theory and Practice (4)
 
20
Wireless Sensor Network Applications (4)
 
Required
8cp from
 
Systems Engineering Process (4)
 
 
Advanced Topics in Computer Networks (4)
 
 
Special Topic in Information Technology (4)
 
 
Enterprise Application Integration (4)
 
 
Information Systems Project and Risk Management (4)
 
 
Enterprise Management (4)
 
 
Strategic Project Management (4)
 
 
Network System Design (4)
 
 
Mobile Data Networks (4)
 
 
Advanced System and Network Security (4)
 
 
Security Management (4)
 
 
Information Systems Design and Management (4)
 
8
Big Data Technologies (4)
 

TOTAL CREDIT POINTS REQUIRED TO SATISFY THIS SPECIALISATION

44
Overview and Aims of the Program Macquarie engineers will graduate with an international qualification with the capability for life-long learning. They will be able to maintain and develop skills and knowledge with fast-rate-of-change technologies; and to adapt and change with changing organisation needs.
The outcome of a Macquarie engineering degree is development of a core skillset of capabilities based in an area of specialisation and in the context of an international perspective distinguished by a broad domain expertise with:
• Understanding of systems engineering: the process of understanding and designing a system, or component of a system, to meet desired needs within realistic constraints;
• Background in fundamental engineering principles: with an ability to apply these to identify, formulate, and solve problems;
• Competency in principles of professional practice: including project management, business practice, documentation, sustainability, product life-cycle, social and ethical constraints and responsibilities;
• Practiced capabilities in communications: including personal and interpersonal capabilities to communicate effectively by oral and written means in a variety of contexts including meetings, presentations, team leadership and participation, customer relations;
for careers in the high-technology, precision manufacturing, telecommunications, government and academic sectors. Macquarie Engineers will be prepared for work in research, manufacturing, product development and production, and in operations roles such as sales, marketing, technology management and support.
Graduate Capabilities

The Graduate Capabilities Framework articulates the fundamentals that underpin all of Macquarie’s academic programs. It expresses these as follows:

Cognitive capabilities
(K) discipline specific knowledge and skills
(T) critical, analytical and integrative thinking
(P) problem solving and research capability
(I) creative and innovative


Interpersonal or social capabilities
(C) effective communication
(E) engaged and ethical local and global citizens
(A) socially and environmentally active and responsible

Personal capabilities
(J) capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
(L) commitment to continuous learning

Program Learning Outcomes By the end of this program it is anticipated you should be able to:
1 Knowledge and understanding
1.1 Demonstrate a comprehensive, theory based understanding of mathematics, computing, and advanced telecommunications engineering which could be applied to modern R&D problems in telecommunications and related fields.
1.2. Apply telecommunications engineering design, analysis, measurement, simulation, and computational and modelling concepts and techniques, such as selection of fundamental telecommunications technology, specification and planning network resources and management, algorithm and component design, system-level planning, implementation and performance evaluation for problems of some significance in telecommunications as would arise in a modern, non-academic research and development setting (K, T, P, I, C).

2. Skills and capabilities
2.1 Apply appropriate telecommunications modelling, measurement, simulation, and computational techniques, and appropriate software tools to solve problems within the scope of telecommunications engineering R&D.
2.2 Use telecommunications engineering theory and analysis, modelling, computation, and simulation, and measurement knowledge to solve specific problems that would be found in current industrial telecommunications R&D settings.

3. Application of skills and knowledge
3.1 Design, implement, test, deploy, and consider the long term maintenance of a modern telecommunications system, such as cognitive radio, 4G, 5G, etc. circuits, systems or networks that would normally be found in a non-academic R&D setting.
3.2 Apply telecommunications engineering advanced knowledge, skills, and capabilities to further the state of the art in telecommunications engineering itself.
The number of PLOs that a program should have is not specified. As a guide, between eight and twelve PLOs would be a reasonable number.
PLOs are made publicly available and so will be read by a wide audience. When writing PLOs it is useful to ask "is this written in a way which would be intelligible, accessible and meaningful to our students and prospective students?". Generally speaking, learning outcomes should be expressed in a form that includes action verbs, describing something your students can actually do, and can be assessed to have successfully done, like "identify", "describe" or "differentiate".
The AQF asks that PLOs should address the areas of Knowledge and Understanding, Skills and Capabilities, and the Application of Knowledge and Skills. It isn't necessary for each PLO to be classified under one of these headings. However it is important for the overall collection of PLOs for a program to clearly address all of these factors.
Each program learning outcome should be mapped to the graduate capabilities it fosters, using the standard letter codes given.
Learning and Teaching Methods The Telecommunications Engineering post-graduate spcialisation fits within the Master of Engineering degree. This degree is intended to prepare engineers for work in a new or related field of engineering by adding to their body of knowledge within the specialisation as well as further development of their professional skills. For the scientist, the Master of Engineering and related specialisation provide this after an initial year of study underpinning basic engineering process and profession.

The learning activities in the degree are designed to foster these things in the students. The academics involved with this program are active researchers, which enables them to integrate cutting-edge research into the units that they teach.
The majority of the units in this program have practical components supported by small-group teaching sessions in our laboratories. Most units utilise project teams where students work in a real-world engineering environment and tackle a problem of relative significance. Communication skills are developed through oral presentations and typical engineering work products. Project management skills are developed through the project work and general time-management components.

The theoretical components of units are presented in lectures and develop the underlying theory, and analytical and problem solving skills. All units have weekly face-to-face activities. Assignments are used for formative and summative purposes. As knowledge in the specialisation is continually evolving, learning and teaching methods support the capacity for students to become independent learners.

All Master of Engineering programs include a stand-alone project as a capstone, conducted over two semesters in two units (ENGG805, 806). The student applies all the skills developed through the coursework but is also required to formulate the approach by which the major requirements will be satisfied.
Assessment Assessment methods are common to all Majors in the Engineering Programs. Refer to the Master of Engineering Award for details.
Recognition of Prior Learning

Macquarie University may recognise prior formal, informal and non-formal learning for the purpose of granting credit towards, or admission into, a program. The recognition of these forms of learning is enabled by the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy (see www.mq.edu.au/policy) and its associated Procedures and Guidelines. The RPL pages contain information on how to apply, links to registers, and the approval processes for recognising prior learning for entry or credit. 


Domestic Students
For undergraduate RPL information visit www.goto.mq.edu.au/nonschoolrpl
For domestic postgraduate RPL information visit www.goto.mq.edu.au/pgrpl


International Students
For RPL information visit www.mq.edu.au/international/rpl

Support for Learning

Macquarie University aspires to be an inclusive and supportive community of learners where all students are given the opportunity to meet their academic and personal goals. The University offers a comprehensive range of free and accessible student support services which include academic advice, counselling and psychological services, advocacy services and welfare advice, careers and employment, disability services and academic skills workshops amongst others. There is also a bulk billing medical service located on campus.

Further information can be found at www.students.mq.edu.au/support/

Campus Wellbeing contact details:
Phone: +61 2 9850 7497
Email: campuswellbeing@mq.edu.au
www.students.mq.edu.au/support/wellbeing

Program Standards and Quality

The program is subject to an ongoing comprehensive process of quality review in accordance with a pre-determined schedule that complies with the Higher Education Standards Framework. The review is overseen by Macquarie University's peak academic governance body, the Academic Senate and takes into account feedback received from students, staff and external stakeholders.

Graduate Destinations and Employability Refer to the Bachelor of Engineering Award for general details.

Career Opportunities for Telecommunications Engineers are in

telecommunication system planning engineer
telecommunication system maintennace and service engineer
project and technology manager
research and development engineer


Employers include

Telecommunication service providers such as Optus, Telstra, Vodafone
Providers, developers and manufacturers of telecommunication system hardware and other telecommunications companies such as Commscope, Nokia, Toshiba and Ericson
Banks and financial institutions such as The Macquarie Group, NAB and Commonwealth Bank
Government and university research laboratories such as CSIRO, DSTO (Defence Science and Technology Organisation)
IT companies such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard and EMC
Public sector institutions at both state and federal level such as RailCorp
University research laboratories around the world
Assessment Regulations

This program is subject to Macquarie University regulations, including but not limited to those specified in the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, the Final Examination Policy and relevant University Rules. For all approved University policies, procedures, guidelines and schedules visit www.mq.edu.au/policy.

This program is subject to Macquarie University regulations, including but not limited to those specified in the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, the Final Examination Policy and relevant University Rules. For all approved University policies, procedures, guidelines and schedules, visit: mq.edu.au/policy/

Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course or program necessary for a student to successfully achieve the core learning outcomes of a course or program. Students must meet the inherent requirements to complete their Macquarie University course or program.

Inherent requirements for Macquarie University programs fall under the following categories:

Physical: The physical inherent requirement is to have the physical capabilities to safely and effectively perform the activities necessary to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.

Cognition: The inherent requirement for cognition is possessing the intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative capabilities to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.

Communication: The inherent requirement for communication is the capacity to communicate information, thoughts and ideas through a variety of mediums and with a range of audiences.

Behavioural: The behavioural inherent requirement is the capacity to sustain appropriate behaviour over the duration of units of study to engage in activities necessary to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.

For more information see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/inherent-requirements



2018 Unit Information

When offered:
S1 Day
Prerequisites:
Permission of Executive Dean of Faculty
Corequisites:
None
NCCWs:
HSC Chinese, CHN113, CHN148