Master of Engineering

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to provide specialist engineering knowledge and professionally oriented competence in one or more of the following: advanced engineering design, development, investigation or engineering management.

The qualifying learner has reached the educational requirements towards employment as a specialist and can apply specialist knowledge and applying specialised tools and techniques to problems in the practice of engineering and hence is able to contribute to the economy of the country through the application of such specialist skills and knowledge.

Rationale

This qualification has been introduced in response to the need to develop individuals with specialist knowledge at the highest level in a focused area of technology. The qualification builds on the broad first degree and prepares the learner for a research or leadership position in that specific technology area and allows for further Doctoral studies.

This postgraduate qualification facilitates the rapid development of knowledge in specific technology areas, whereas undergraduate programmes develop skills and competencies in a broad technological content. An example might be a specialized postgraduate qualification in Electrical Power Systems Management as opposed to an undergraduate programme in Electrical Engineering.

The need for the qualification is driven by the requirement for specialists and leaders in key strategic economic sectors characterized by rapid changes in technology. These sectors include telecommunications, information technology and manufacturing, for example.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable with regards to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted for modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Bachelor of Science in Town and Regional Planning, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Bachelor of Science Honours in Urban and Regional Planning, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Bachelor of Science in Building, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying, NQF Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and electives modules at National Qualifications Framework Levels 9 totalling 180 credits. The qualification comprises eight fields:

The Master of Engineering (Professional) is offered in the following branches or fields within a branch

1. Aeronautical Engineering, Level 9, 180 Credits

Compulsory module, Level 9, 140 Credits

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Coursework in Aeronautical Engineering, 80 Credits
• Engineering Investigational Methods, 15 Credits.
• Research/Industrial Project (topic on Aerospace Engineering), 45 Credits

Elective modules, Level 9, 40 Credits (Choose two modules)

• Reliability Engineering, 20 Credits.
• Production and Operations Management, 20 Credits.
• Value Engineering and Analysis, 20 Credits.
• Management of Technology, 20 Credits.
• Maintenance Engineering, 20 Credits.
• Finite Element Methods, 20 Credits.
• Systems Engineering: Hard Systems Methodologies, 20 Credits.
• Systems Engineering: Soft Systems Methodologies, 20 Credits.
• Supply Chain Management, 20 Credits.
• Systems Engineering: An Overview, 20 Credits.
• Service Engineering, 20 Credits.
• Operations Strategy, 20 Credits.
• Lean Operations, 20 Credits.
• Machine Learning for Engineers, 20 Credits.

1. Branch of Civil Engineering

Compulsory modules, Level 9, 45 Credits.

• Research/Industrial 45 (topic on Civil Engineering), 45 Credits.

Elective modules, Level 9,140 Credits (Choose combination yielding 140 credits)

• Non-Linear Analysis of Structures, 20 Credits
• Dynamic loading and structural dynamics, 20 Credits
• Employment Creation in Road Construction and Maintenance, 20 Credits
• Employment creation in the construction and Maintenance of Infrastructure, 20 Credits
• Advanced Design of Structural Steel, 20 Credits
• Wastewater Engineering, 20 Credits
• Hydraulic Structures, 20 Credits
• Project Management in Construction, 20 Credits
• Project Management in Developing Areas, 20 Credits
• Advanced Geotechnical Site Investigation, 20 Credits
• Advanced Geotechnical Site Investigation, 20 Credits
• Deep Foundations and Anchors, 20 Credits
• Environmental Management, 20 Credits
• Construction Site Management, 20 Credits
• Analysis and Design of Shell Structures, 20 Credits
• Theoretical Soil Mechanics, 20 Credits
• Earth Pressures & Retaining Structures, 20 Credits
• Urban Engineering Context, 20 Credits
• Science and Technology Policy for Development, 20 Credits
• Water Quality Modelling, 20 Credits
• River Hydraulics, 20 Credits
• Finite Element Analysis of Structures, 20 Credits
• Project Management I, 20 Credits
• Project Management II, 20 Credits
• Select Topics - Civil Engineering, 20 Credits
• Pollution Control and Abatement, 20 Credits
• GIS Applications in Environmental Planning, Management and Decision-Making, 20 Credits
• Advanced Prestressed Concrete Design, 20 Credits
• Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design, 20 Credits
• Introduction to Industrial Ecology, 20 Credits
• Design for the Environment, 20 Credits
• Air Resources Engineering, 20 Credits
• Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, 20 Credits
• Water Management, 20 Credits
• Hydraulic Modelling, 20 Credits
• Water Supply and Urban Drainage, 20 Credits
• Design of Masonry Structures, 20 Credits
• Chemistry, Durability and Performance of Concrete in Structures, 20 Credits
• Advanced Concrete Technology, 20 Credits
• Water Resources Systems Planning and Management, 20 Credits
• Durability, Assessment and Repair of Concrete Structures, 20 Credits
• Environmental Engineering Design, 20 Credits
• Managing the Environmental Impact of Nuclear Project Lifecycle, 20 Credits
• Critical State Soil Mechanics, 20 Credits
• Analytic Methods in Geomechanics, 20 Credits
• Management of Tailings Storage Facilities, 20 Credits
• Sustainability for the Built Environment, 20 Credits
• Transport Modelling Analysis, 20 Credits

1. Branch of Electrical Engineering, Level 9, 180 Credits

Compulsory module, Level 9, 60 Credits

• Research Methods in Engineering or Research Methodology, 15 Credits
• Research/Industrial Project, 45 Credits

Elective modules, Level 9,120 Credits (Choose combination yielding 120 credits)

• Principles of Communications Systems, 20 Credits
• Teletraffic Engineering, 20 Credits
• Coding Techniques and Telecommunications, 20 Credits
• Selected Topics in Telecommunications, 20 Credits
• Introduction to Software Engineering, 20 Credits
• Database Systems, 20 Credits
• Software Development Methodologies, Analysis & Design, 20 Credits
• Software Technologies and Techniques, 20 Credits
• Software Project Management, 20 Credits
• Selected Topics in Software Engineering, 20 Credits
• Principles of Insulation Coordination in Electrical Power Systems, 20 Credits
• Earthing and Lightning Protection, 20 Credits
• Advanced Electromechanical Conversion, 20 Credits
• Variable Speed Drives for AC Machines, 20 Credits
• Power Electronics, 20 Credits
• Selected Topics in Power Engineering, 20 Credits
• Applied Quantum Computing, 20 Credits

1. Branch of Industrial Engineering

4.1) In the field of Engineering Management

Compulsory modules, Level 9, 60 Credits

• Engineering Investigational Methods, 15 Credits
• Research/Industrial Project (topic appropriate on Engineering Management), 45 Credits

Elective modules, Level 9,120 Credits (Choose combination yielding 120 credits)

• Engineering Economics, 20 Credits
• Elements of Commercial and Industrial Law, 20 Credits
• Financial Management, 20 Credits
• Principles of Management, 20 Credits
• Human Resource Management, 20 Credits
• Accounting and Financial Statements, 20 Credits
• Mathematical Topics for Engineering Management, 20 Credits
• Management Accounting, 20 Credits
• Business to Business Marketing, 20 Credits
• Strategic Management in Engineering, 20 Credits
• Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Excellence, 20 Credits

4.2) In the field of Industrial Engineering

Compulsory modules, Level 9, 60 Credits

• Engineering Investigational Methods, 15 Credits
• Research/Industrial Project (topic on Industrial Engineering), 45 Credits

Elective modules, Level 9,120 Credits (Choose combination yielding 120 credits)

• Operational Research Methods, 20 Credits
• Production and Operations Management, 20 Credits

or

• Operations Management for Mining Systems, 20 Credits
• Quality Management, 20 Credits
• Value Engineering and Analysis, 20 Credits
• Management of Technology, 20 Credits
• Discrete Event Simulation, 20 Credits
• Lean Operations, 20 Credits
• Mathematical Topics for Engineering Management, 20 Credits
• Systems Engineering: Soft Systems Methodologies, 20 Credits
• Systems Engineering: An Overview, 20 Credits
• Enterprise Engineering, 20 Credits
• Supply Chain Management, 20 Credits
• Service Engineering, 20 Credits
• Lean Management of Health Care Systems, 20 Credits
• Strategic Management in Engineering, 20 Credits
• Operations Strategy, 20 Credits
• Machine Learning for Engineers, 20 Credits
• Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Excellence, 20 Credits

4.3) In the field of Systems Engineering

Compulsory modules, Level 9, 120 Credits

• Requirements Analysis in Systems Engineering Systems, 20 Credits
• Systems Engineering: Architecture, 20 Credits
• Systems Engineering: Hard Systems, 20 Credits
• Engineering Investigational Methods, 15 Credits
• Research/Industrial Project (topic on Systems Engineering), 45 Credits

Elective modules, Level 9, 60 Credits (Choose a combination yielding 60 credits)

• Operations Research, 20 Credits
• Systems Engineering Management, 20 Credits
• Systems Engineering: Soft Systems Methodologies, 20 Credits
• Strategic Management in Engineering, 20 Credits

1. Branch of Mechanical Engineering

Compulsory modules, Level 9, 60 Credits

• Engineering Investigational Methods, 15 Credits
• Research/Industrial Project (topic on Mechanical Engineering), 45 Credits

Elective modules, Level 9,120 Credits (Choose combination yielding 120 credits)

• Reliability Engineering, 20 Credits
• Principles of Air Conditioning, 20 Credits
• Principles of Refrigeration, 20 Credits
• Internal Combustion Engine Analysis, 20 Credits
• Analysis of Composite Structures, 20 Credits
• Maintenance Engineering, 20 Credits
• Finite Element Methods, 20 Credits
• Automotive Engineering, 20 Credits
• Bulk Solids Storage and Handling, 20 Credits
• Belt Conveying of Bulk Solids, 20 Credits
• Extended Finite Element Methods and Meshfree Methods, 20 Credits
• The Mechanics of Heavy Vehicles, 20 Credits
• Vehicle Dynamics and Automotive Engineering, 20 Credits
• Machine Learning for Engineers, 20 Credits

1. Branch of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering

Compulsory modules, Level 9, 60 Credits

• Engineering Investigational Methods, 15 Credits
• Research/Industrial Project (topic on Mechanical, Industrial or Aeronautical Engineering), 45 Credits

Elective modules, Level 9,120 Credits (Choose combination yielding 120 credits)

• Engineering Economics, 20 Credits
• Mathematical Topics for Engineering Management, 20 Credits
• Production and Ops Management, 20 Credits
• Value Engineering and Analysis, 20 Credits
• Management of Technology, 20 Credits
• Lean Operations, 20 Credits
• Enterprise Engineering, 20 Credits
• Supply Chain Management, 20 Credits
• Service Engineering, 20 Credits
• Reliability Engineering, 20 Credits
• Maintenance Engineering, 20 Credits
• Finite Element Methods, 20 Credits
• Bulk Solids Storage and Handling, 20 Credits
• Belt Conveying of Bulk Solids, 20 Credits
• Systems Engineering: Hard Systems Methodologies, 20 Credits
• Systems Engineering: Soft Systems Methodologies, 20 Credits
• Operations Strategy, 20 Credits

� Machine Learning for Engineers, 20 Credits

1. Branch of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering

7.1) In the field of Welding Metallurgy

Compulsory modules, Level 9, 60 Credits

• Engineering Investigational Methods, 15 Credits
• Research/Industrial Project (topic on Welding Metallurgy), 45 Credits

Elective modules, Level 9,120 Credits (Choose combination yielding 120 credits)

• Advanced Welding Processes, 20 Credits
• Fabrication applications engineering, 20 Credits
• Non-destructive testing methods and economics, 20 Credits
• Case Studies for Welding Engineers, 20 Credits
• Practical Education Welding and Fabrication Processes, 20 Credits
• Design and Construction of Welded Structures under Static Loading, 20 Credits
• Design and construction of Welded Structures under Dynamic Loading, 20 Credits

1. Apply specialist knowledge to engineering problems.
2. Perform high order problem solving techniques.
3. Apply specialised engineering tools and techniques.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1

• Apply knowledge in a specialised field
• Demonstrate competence as an engineer which includes leadership in advanced problem-solving and ability to work with others in a team
• Show initiative and ability to work independently with professional responsibility in a specialised field
• Communicate effectively in any medium
• Engage in lifelong learning and hold lifelong learning as a professional value.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2

• Select, apply, evaluate and/or develop the most appropriate specialised approach to the solution of problems
• Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems and can integrate knowledge across the various fields of engineering
• Apply diverse knowledge to development of appropriate solutions of problems, recognising wide-ranging factors including management, financial, environmental, health and technological aspects

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3

• Select, apply, evaluate and/or develop the most appropriate specialised techniques to the solution of problems
• Use specialist engineering tools and techniques effectively and critically

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Assessment within each course follows the principles of integrated assessment. Formative assessment is limited in view of the postgraduate nature of the qualification. Assessment concentrates on the demonstration of competence to apply specialist knowledge. In those components of the programme focusing on professional competencies, assessment is performed by project work, within or simulating a professional practice environment.

Integrated assessment will be both summative and formative. In the summative component of the MEng allows learners to undertake major Design and Investigation Projects. Learners will be required to consider and evaluate relevant economic and social issues at a level expected from an expert in the specific technology area or sector. Learners are also expected to apply and integrate principles and methods introduced in each of the programme's individual courses. The assessment will thus integrate practical, theoretical and reflective competence. In addition there will be a long technical report and oral presentations that will require integration of information from different areas of the course content.

Formative integrated assessment will take place during seminar presentations and discussions in which learners are expected to participate in self-assessment, peer assessment and assessment by members of the academic staff.

In order to promote, monitor and measure student learning throughout a course, no single assessment may count for more than 40% of the final mark unless there are special circumstances, in which case the permission of the Dean is required.