ELEC4713: Honours Thesis B (2013 - Semester 1)

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Unit: ELEC4713: Honours Thesis B (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Honours
Faculty/School: School of Electrical and Information Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Li, Yonghui
Session options: Semester 1, Semester 2
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit: http://www.eelab.usyd.edu.au/project/index.html
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: ELEC4712.
Brief Handbook Description: Students will work individually or in groups on an assigned project for the Semester. The concepts covered depend on the nature of the project, but broadly cover research and inquiry, and information literacy.
Assumed Knowledge: This is a diverse subject like no other you have tackled before. You will be required to show significant self-motivation and initiative, and bring together all your wealth of knowledge gained over the past years in electrical engineering. I`m sure you`ll enjoy the challenge! Most students find it to be one of the most rewarding experiences of their time at The University. I hope you do too!
Additional Notes: Note that students require permission from the HOS to do both A and B units in the same Semester, and will have an accelerated assessment schedule. Note also that entry to Honours Thesis is by permission.
Lecturer/s: Dr Rathmell, James
Timetable: ELEC4713 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Project Work - own time 12.00 1 13

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Developed through the design and problems encountered in the specific project. Design (Level 4)
Depending on the project, the development of expertise specific to the discipline. Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 4)
The science and engineering fundamentals underpinning work on a project. Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3)
Searching for and assimilation of information relevant to the particular problems of the project. Information Seeking (Level 3)
Through interactions with supervisor(s), staff and other students, and through a seminar presentation of the work. Communication (Level 4)
Working on industry-relevant projects. Professional Conduct (Level 3)
Working with supervisor(s), staff and other students to manage project goals. Project Management and Teamwork (Level 3)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Design (Level 4)
1. Ability to formulate and plan a personal research project
2. Originality, ingenuity and initiative in dealing with critical research issues.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 4)
3. In-depth knowledge of a specialised area within the discipline
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3)
4. Ability to formulate an appropriate method for investigating a specific research question
5. Ability to analyse data, draw appropriate conclusions and present those conclusions in context, with due consideration of methods and assumptions involved.
Communication (Level 4)
6. Ability to document and report research work undertaken in a format appropriate for academic literature with correct referencing.
7. Ability to deliver a research presentation that is clear, confident and engaging to an academic audience.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Thesis No 60.00 Week 13 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
2 Presentation/Seminar No 20.00 Exam Period 3, 7,
3 Participation Yes 20.00 Multiple Weeks 1,
Assessment Description: Thesis: Written treatise.

Presentation/Seminar: Seminar.

Participation: Project management.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD (High Distinction), D (Distinction), CR (Credit), P (Pass) and F (Fail) as defined by Academic Board Resolutions: Assessment and Examination of Coursework. Details of Academic Board Resolutions are available on the University`s Policy website at http://www.usyd.edu.au/ab/policies/Assess_Exam_Coursework.pdf Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Faculty Policies & Procedures: Academic Honesty in Coursework. All students must submit a cover sheet for all assessment work that declares that the work is original and not plagiarised from the work of others.

Coursework assessment and examination policy. The faculty policy is to use standards based assessment for units where grades are returned and criteria based assessment for Pass/Fail only units. Norm referenced assessment will only be used in exceptional circumstances and its use will need to be justified to the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Special consideration for illness or misadventure may be considered when an assessment component is severely affected. This policy gives the details of the information that is required to be submitted along with the appropriate procedures and forms.

Special Arrangements for Examination and Assessment. In exceptional circumstances alternate arrangements for exams or assessment can be made. However concessions for outside work arrangements, holidays and travel, sporting and entertainment events will not normally be given.

Student Appeals against Academic Decisions. Students have the right to appeal any academic decision made by a school or the faculty. The appeal must follow the appropriate procedure so that a fair hearing is obtained.

Note that policies regarding assessment submission, penalties and assessment feedback depend upon the individual unit of study. Details of these policies, where applicable, will be found above with other assessment details in this unit outline.

All university policies can be found at http://sydney.edu.au/policy

Various request forms for the Faculty of Engineering and IT can be found at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/forms/

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 2 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 3 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 4 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 5 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 6 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 7 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 8 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 9 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 10 Submission of Draft Treatise.
Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 11 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 12 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Week 13 Independent work on project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s).
Submission of Treatise.
Assessment Due: Thesis
Exam Period Presentation.
Assessment Due: Presentation/Seminar

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Biomedical - Electrical Major 2013
Bachelor of Information Technology (Computer Science) 2010
Computer Engineering 2010
Computer Engineering/Commerce 2010
Electrical 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical Engineering/Commerce 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Bioelectronics) 2011, 2012
Electrical (Bioelectronics) Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012
Electrical (Bioelectronics) Engineering/Commerce 2011, 2012
Electrical (Bioelectronics) Engineering/Medical Science 2011, 2012
Electrical (Bioelectronics) Engineering/Science 2011, 2012
Electrical Engineering/Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical Engineering/Project Management 2012, 2013
Electrical Engineering/Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Computer) 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Computer) Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Computer) Engineering/Commerce 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Computer) Engineering/Medical Science 2011, 2013
Electrical (Computer) Engineering/Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) Engineering/Commerce 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) Engineering/Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) Engineering/Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Telecommunications) 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Telecommunications) Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Telecommunications) Engineering/Commerce 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Telecommunications)/Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Telecommunications) Engineering/Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Electrical (Power) Engineering/Project Management 2012, 2013
Software 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Software Engineering/Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Software Engineering/Commerce 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Software Engineering/Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Software Engineering/Project Management 2012, 2013
Software Engineering/Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Telecommunications 2010
Flexible First Year (Stream B)/Science 2012, 2013

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Design (Level 4) Yes 40%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 4) Yes 20%
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3) Yes 20%
Information Seeking (Level 3) Yes 0%
Communication (Level 4) Yes 20%
Professional Conduct (Level 3) Yes 0%
Project Management and Teamwork (Level 3) Yes 0%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.