Associate Degree in Engineering

Body of Knowledge

Acquire the knowledge, skills and understanding of the principles and practice of engineering in the service of society. Particular emphasis is placed on the acquisition of engineering practice skills, on engineering in the service of sustainable solutions to societal issues and to the impact of conventional and new materials and processes within a wide range of industry sectors.

Life long learning

Acquire the ability to learn and an understanding of the need to continue learning in an environment where technology and processes are constantly changing.Acquire intellectual and professional independence through information literacy and research skills in doing project work and case studies.

Effective problem solving

Acquire the knowledge and skills of work based problem-solving methodologies through project based learning and insights into the multi-disciplinary nature of the engineering work place.Acquire the ability to integrate and apply the developed knowledge and skills to examine, evaluate and solve engineering problems.Acquire the skills to identify important aspects of key technologies and the factors that impact upon them, and how effectively to use research to assist in the solution of management and societal issues.

Work alone and in teams

Acquire the ability to work independently and in teams through individual and teamwork assignments and learning activities in every degree in the program.Acquire the ability to use effective communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.

Ethical action

Acquire an understanding of the ethical and social factors involved in the application of engineering in the service of the community.

Communicate effectively

Be well equipped with a variety of communication skills practiced throughout the program including group and individual presentations and a variety of written projects, assignments and case studies.

International perspective

Acquire an understanding of the place of engineering in a global environment.

The Associate Degree in Engineering offered by UniSA is a pathway program towards a professional Bachelor of Engineering degree. Associate Degrees require the completion of 16 subjects and offer an introduction to university level study.

The Associate Degree is not accredited by Engineers Australia because of its pathway design. Unfortunately students of the Associate Degree are not eligible to join Engineers Australia as student members. Graduates of the program can individually apply for membership of Engineers Australia through a process which includes payment of a fee. Beyond the introductory subjects all of the subjects offered in the Associate Degree are part of UniSA’s four year Engineering degrees which are accredited by Engineers Australia.

This Associate Degree degree offers core subjects in Engineering and electives in Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Civil Engineering includes the fundamentals of mechanics and structures, water engineering, geology, geoinformatics, road design and project planning. Mechanical Engineering includes the principles of mechanical design, properties of fluids, manufacturing processes, mathematical modelling and project planning and operations management.

The Associate Degree in Engineering is a restricted degree and offers OUA students two entry points depending on their eligibility:

• Students who have not completed the mathematics and science requirements can start with the Engineering Pathway subjects before applying for admission to the Associate Degree
• Students who have completed study in science and mathematics plus other academic requirements can apply now for admission to the associate degree and start with the Engineering Level 1 subjects

Students starting with the Engineering Pathway subjects can include these subjects in their Associate Degree. However the four Engineering Pathway subjects are generally not eligible for credit towards further study in a four-year Bachelor of Engineering degree.

Recommended study pattern

This degree is an OUA Pathways course, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the Pathway for this degree, simply select subjects from the Pathway stream below.

Students who aren't taking part in OUA Pathways are recommended to follow this study pattern:

PLEASE NOTE: This is a restricted degree.
With the exception of the Engineering Pathway subjects and the Engineering level 1 open enrolment subjects, this is a restricted degree. Continuing enrolment is only available to students who have been accepted into this degree. Students are required to apply and be approved by UniSA before they can enrol in restricted subjects through OUA.

To get the most out of this degree students are recommended to follow these steps:

• All students complete a total of 16 subjects including the 8 Level 1 Engineering core subjects
• Students who have not completed the mathematics or science requirements should start with the Engineering Pathway subjects
• Students who have completed the mathematics and science requirements may start with the open enrolment Level 1 Engineering subjects while their application is being processed or with any Level 1 subject if admitted to the degree.
• Complete all eight Level 1 Engineering core subjects
• Complete Electives

Applications for the Associate Degree in Engineering are due 2 weeks before the close of enrolment.

Students who are applying for credit and exemptions should submit their application 6 weeks before the close of enrolment.

The first six subjects of this degree are available as open enrolment subjects.

Award requirements

To qualify for the Associate Degree in Engineering from University of South Australia, students must meet the following requirements:

• A student must complete 16 subjects
• A student must complete at least 6 subjects through University of South Australia

Choose your subjects

Majors

The Associate Degree in Engineering offers units in two majors: Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering. Students in both majors study the Engineering Pathway if they have not previously studied equivalent material. Students who have previously studied material equivalent to one or more of the Pathway units are required to apply for exemption from these units. Students given exemptions for any Pathway units will be required to study additional advanced level Mechanical or Civil Engineering units.

All students in both majors study seven common first level units. One additional first level unit is required: Mechanical Engineering students study ENR111 Electricity and Electronics while Civil Engineering students study ENR120 Engineering and Environmental Geology.

To complete a total of 16 units for the Associate Degree students are required to select four Advanced Engineering units in their chosen major, students with exemptions for one or more of the Engineering Pathway units will be required to study additional Advanced Engineering units in their major.

Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.

This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.

• Engineering Pathway

• Open - Level 1 Core Engineering Subjects

• Restricted - Level 1 Core Engineering Subjects

• Restricted - Core Subject Civil Engineering

• Restricted - Major in Civil Engineering

• Restricted - Core Subject in Mechanical Engineering

• Restricted - Major in Mechanical Engineering

Once you have enrolled:

Once your enrolment has been confirmed, your details will be sent through to the University of South Australia (UniSA). Your details will then be used to send out your UniSA log in details. If you enrolled two weeks before (or earlier) to the start of the study period your log in details for the UniSA student portal will be sent out two weeks prior to the start of the study period. If you enrol during the last two weeks before the start of the study period the email will be sent the following Monday after you enrol.

If you have not received your log in details by the start of the study period date please contact UniSA directly on 1300 361 450.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $18,704

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

The University of South Australia (UniSA) is ranked as one of the best young universities in the world, and is the number one university in Australia for graduate employability. UniSA offers over 200 world-class degrees that are informed by industry and delivered with a highly practical approach to teaching and learning, and is a valuable partner with Open Universities Australia.

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MATHEMATICS requirements - Open Enrolment subjects

• Students with little recent background in Mathematics are strongly advised to enrol in ENR101 Essential Mathematics 1: Algebra and Trigonometry before they enrol in ENR102 Essential Mathematics: Calculus.
• Students with a reasonable background in Mathematics but who require a single subject to strengthen their mathematics background before taking ENR114 Mathematical Methods for Engineers 1 are advised to enrol in ENR102 Essential Mathematics 2: Calculus.

ENGINEERING PATHWAY UNITS

All four of the Engineering Pathway subjects are Open Enrolment subjects and no application form is required to enrol in these subjects:

• ENR101 Essential Mathematics 1: Algebra and Trigonometry (UniSA)
• ENR102 Essential Mathematics 2: Calculus (UniSA)
• SCI16 General Physics (Murdoch)
• SCI18 Introduction to Chemistry (Murdoch)

*Students are advised that these subjects are prerequisites for some Engineering - Level 1 core subjects.

ENGINEERING - Level 1 core subjects

These two Level 1 core subjects are Open Enrolment subjects and no application form is required to enrol in these subjects:

• ENR118 Engineering Drawing with SolidWorks
• ENR112 Sustainable Engineering Practice

Completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma, obtaining a minimum score of 24 points and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements

Completed or partly completed a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements.

Completed at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) units at the appropriate level and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements.

Completed the equivalent secondary education qualifications as required for University entry under SACE and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements
Qualified for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE);
- and completed 200 credits of subjects;
- achieved a grade of C- or better in the Personal Learning Plan, 20 credits of literacy, 10 credits of numeracy and the Research Project at Stage 2;
- achieved a grade of C- or better in an additional 60 credits at Stage 2; and obtained an ATAR of 65.

Completed an award from TAFE or from another registered training organisation at AQF Certificate IV or above and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements.

Completed the University of South Australia Foundation Studies program OR;
Qualified for Special Entry

Students may get credit for previous study (including for the introductory mathematics and science subjects).

All students complete 16 subjects to qualify for the award of Associate Degree in Engineering. Students who obtain credit for subjects will reduce the total number of required subjects by the number of subjects credited.

Credit applications should be submitted to UniSA at least six weeks prior to enrolling in any OUA subjects. Contact UniSA for further information ouainfo@unisa.edu.au

MATLAB Software

In ENR114 Mathematical Methods for Engineers 1 we will use the powerful professional version of MATLAB, which contains MATLAB and the Symbolic Math Toolbox, along with other toolboxes. The same software is used in other follow-on units such asENR115 Mathematical Methods for Engineers 2 and ENR208 Engineering Modelling.

You need to obtain a copy of MATLAB software as soon as possible. As a UniSA student, MATLAB is available for free from Mathworks. Once enrolled, instructions for installation are available. The MATLAB resources website is available as a helpful resource (if asked to Enrol, say yes).

We recommend that you install and activate the MATLAB software as early as possible and start working through the MATLAB Practicals guide, backed up with the Introduction to MATLAB guide, both available online through the UniSA website.

Due to the specialist nature of this degree, you will be required to attend the University of South Australia in Adelaide to complete practical and laboratory classes.

• The laboratory classes will be offered in block mode, typically requiring two or three days per subject. Classes will be scheduled so students can usually complete the requirements for two subjects in a four day block. There will be one week of block practicals in each Study Period.
• These classes are compulsory. Students wanting further information about the laboratory or practical classes should contact OUA.

The following subjects have on-campus laboratory and/or practical classes:

• ENR111 Electrical and Energy Systems - 3 days
• ENR119 Engineering Mechanics - 2 days
• ENR120 Engineering and Environmental Geology - 3 days
• ENR205 Water Chemistry - 2 days
• ENR209 Fluid and Energy Engineering - 2 days
• ENR212 Manufacturing Processes - 2 days

On-campus Schedules
The schedules are provided to assist students plan their studies and arrange travel and accommodation. All times listed are Adelaide times. All classes are based at the Mawson Lakes campus. Note that the ENR111 and ENR120 on-campus practical run for three days. 

Study Period 1 2019 On-campus Schedule

• ENR120 - 9am Monday 15 April 2019 to 5pm Wednesday 17 April 2019
• ENR212 - 9am Tuesday 16 April 2019 to 5pm Wednesday 17 April 2019

Study Period 2 2019 On-campus Schedule

• ENR119 - 9am Tuesday 9 July 2019 to 5pm Wednesday 10 July 2019

Study Period 3 2019 On-campus Schedule

• ENR205 – 9am Wednesday 25 September 2019 to 5pm Thursday 26 September 2019
• ENR209 - 10am Monday 23 September 2019 to 5pm Tuesday 24 September 2019

Study Period 4 2019 On-campus Schedule 

• ENR111 – 9am Wednesday 8 January 2020 to 5pm Friday 10 January 2020
• ENR119 – 9am Monday 6 January 2020 to 5pm Tuesday 7 January 2020
• ENR209 – 10am Monday 6 January 2020 to 5pm Tuesday 7 January 2020

Travel and accommodation resources

• Map of Mawson Lakes Campus
• UniSA advice on temporary accommodation (Information on student accommodation, backpackers, affordable hotels, serviced apartments, Aboriginal hostels)
• Getting to Mawson Lakes (including links to the Adelaide Metro transport system)

Financial support

• Please note that you may also be eligible for a travel subsidy from OUA.
  

Please note: There is no on-campus attendance for the Engineering Pathway subjects ENR101, ENR102, SCI16, SCI18.