Materials and Management Studies Beng

LOUGHBOROUGHUNIVERSITY

Programme Specification

Materials and Management Studies – BEng

Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module can be found in Module Specifications and other programme documentation and online at

The accuracy of the information in this document is reviewed by the University and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Awarding body/institution; / LoughboroughUniversity
Teaching institution (if different); / As above
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body; / Institute of Materials
Name of the final award; / BEng (Hons) or BEng (Hons), DIS
Programme title; / Materials and Management Studies
UCAS code; / J5N2, J5NF
Date at which the programme specification was written or revised. / May 2002
Revised June 2003, June 2004, June 2005

1. Aims of the programme:

To provide a fully accredited honours degree programme in the field of materials engineering which satisfies the needs of industry for high quality graduates who have a strong academic background with outstanding business and interactive skills. A strong academic background with outstanding business knowledge and understanding. The management stream for this programme provides knowledge and understanding in accounting and financial management, human resource management, marketing, operations management and strategy."

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

QAA Benchmark Statements for Materials and General Business and Management

SARTOR 3 Engineering Accreditation, 1997

Institute of Materials Guidelines for Accreditation

QAA National Qualification Framework, annex 1

3. Intended Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding:

On successful completion of the programmes graduates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Relevant mathematical methods and principles of materials science as applied to materials engineering;
A number of specialist materials topics connected with metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and automotive materials;
The role of information technology in providing support for materials engineers;
Engineering principles relevant to materials selection;
Processing of materials;
The materials aspects of design;
The professional and engineering responsibilities of materials engineers;
Organisations, their internal structures and their management, including the management of human resources, financial resources and operations;
The external environments within which organisations operate; the markets for goods and services; the implications for marketing;
Business policy and strategy; development of policy and strategy; current issues in strategic management."

Teaching Learning and Assessment Strategies to Enable the Above Outcomes to be Achieved and Demonstrated

Acquisition of the above knowledge and understanding is through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, co-operative projects with industry, internal group and individual projects, practical laboratory work, industrial training coursework assignments, and industrial visits.

Assessment is through a combination of written examinations and continuously assessed coursework. Coursework assessment includes the evaluation of laboratory reports, technical reports, project reports, problem solving exercises, computer-assisted assessment, oral presentations, poster presentations, and viva-voce examinations.

For example, poster presentations , project reports, viva voce examinations and oral presentations are all part of the Project (MPC010). Materials selection, design and IT is taught and assessed in Study Skills(MPA006), Introduction to Materials in Product Design (MPA007), and Materials Selection Methods and Product Design (MPC004). Organisations and their management are addressed through lectures in Organisational Behaviour (BSA505), Accounting For Managers (BSA526) and Operations Management (BSC502). The external environment, business policy and strategy are covered in two Marketing modules (BSB560 and BSB562) and a final year Fundamentals of Strategic Management module (BSC565)."

Skills and Attributes

Subject specific: intellectual/cognitive

On successful completion of this programme student should be able to:

Select and identify an appropriate material and manufacturing route for the design of a component;
Utilise materials engineering principles to develop new materials/processing routes for improved performance of engineering systems;
Solve materials engineering problems;
Select and apply appropriate IT tools to a variety of materials problems;
Select materials from an environmentally appreciative viewpoint;
Interpret numerical data and apply mathematical methods to the analysis of materials engineering and management problems;
Define and use the language associated with management theory and practice;
Evaluate a range of organisational scenarios;
Apply appropriate quantitative and qualitative management techniques to identify, formulate and resolve business problems.

Teaching Learning and Assessment Strategies to Enable the Above Outcomes to be Achieved and Demonstrated

Acquisition of the above skills is through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, co-operative projects with industry, internal group and individual projects, practical laboratory work, industrial training coursework assignments, and industrial visits.

For example, selection and identification of suitable material and manufacturing route for selected components is the subject of project exercises taking place in the Project (MPC010), Materials Selection Methods and Product Design (MPC004), and Introduction to Materials in Product Design (MPA007). IT tools are used ubiquitously: more specifically in Study Skills (MPA006), Advanced Testing and Characterisation (MPB007), Engineering Communication (MMA440), and the Project (MPC010). Selection of materials with and environmental appreciation is taught in Recycling and Environmental Issues (MPC001). Mathematics skills are developed through lectures (MAA100, MAA102, MAA202, MAA102, MAB102, and MAB202), tutorials, and in the Mathematics Support Unit. Management skills will be developed throughout the BusinessSchool modules and will be assessed through coursework and examinations. Short scenarios and case study work will be used to bridge theory and practice.

b. Subject Specific: Practical Skills

On successful completion of the programmes, students should be able to:

Use appropriate mechanical testing, corrosion testing, optical, X-ray, and electron metallographic, and chemical analysis methods for the study of materials;
Use appropriate computer software for design and modelling exercises;
Evaluate and present practical data in a suitable format;
Explain experimental results in terms of theoretical mechanisms and concepts;
Research for information;
Develop alternative strategies and select the most appropriate for a business;
Propose and assess options for the improvement of operations.

Teaching Learning and Assessment Strategies to Enable the Above Outcomes to be Achieved and Demonstrated

Acquisition of the above practical skills is through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, co-operative projects with industry, internal group and individual projects, practical laboratory work, industrial training coursework assignments, and industrial visits.

Examples of most of the modules where these skills are developed are: Project (MPC010), Standards, Testing and Characterisation (MPA005) and Advanced Testing and Characterisation (MPB007) and Processing and Service Behaviour of Materials (MPB015). Explanation of practical results in terms of theoretical concepts and mechanisms is taught in Advanced Testing and Characterisation (MPB007) in Part B, and in the Project (MPC010) in Part C. Case study work is a particular feature of the development of skills related to organisational strategies and operations.

c)Key Transferable Skills

On successful completion of the programmes, students should be able to:

Work effectively, both as part of a team and/or independently;
Organise and manage time and resources effectively; for short-term and longer-term commitments;
Possess skills needed to communicate effectively through written, graphical, inter-personal, and presentation media;
Apply constructive and structured approaches to problem solving;
Demonstrate a reasonable level of numeracy; appropriate to the cognitive skills required;
Compile clear and well-structured reports;

Extend their learning ability to be able to undertake further training of a professional or business-related nature.

Teaching Learning and Assessment Strategies to Enable the Above Outcomes to be Achieved and Demonstrated

Team work is taught and learning strategies for encouraging team work are introduced in Introduction to Materials in Product Design (MPA007). These are taken further in Advanced Testing and Characterisation (MPB007) and in the Project (MPC010). Study Skills (MPA006) and Engineering Communication (MMA440) combine to assist in providing skills to assist communication in presentational and written forms. The required numeracy is provided by the modules taught by the Mathematical Sciences Department. These include: lectures in MAA100, MAA102, MAA202, MAA102, MAB102, and MAB202; tutorials; and help from the Mathematics Support Unit.

4. Programme structures and requirements , levels, modules, credits and awards:

The BEng (Hons) programme in Materials with Management Studies is offered as a full-time three year programme or a four year sandwich programme if taken with the optional year of Industrial training in year 3 between Parts B and C. Approximately one-quarter of the programme is taught by the BusinessSchool. The sandwich degree offers the additional award of Diploma of Industrial studies (DIS). Students study modules with a combined weight of 120 credits in each part (academic year) of the programme. Each part is taught in two 15-week semesters; weeks 13-15 being assessment weeks at the end of each semester.

The programme structure is described below and can be found in the Programme Regulations (see Appendix). Details of module specifications can be found at the following website and in the Appendix. Modules are listed under the Department primarily responsible for them, e.g. MP, =IPTME, MC = Mechanical Engineering, BS = BusinessSchool. The credit for each module is specified, 10 credits being approximately equivalent to a total of 100 hours of student effort, including private study. Typical contact time (lectures, tutorials, and practical classes) for a 10-credit module is 3 hours a week, for 11 weeks.

Part A Semester 1
Properties of Materials and Understanding Product failure
(MPA001) 10 credits / Introduction to materials
Structure-property relationships
Applications
Science for Materials
(MPA003) 10 credits / Physics for materials
Chemistry for materials
Mathematics for materials
Study Skills
(MPA006) 10 credits / Presentation and communication skills
Word processor and spreadsheet applications
Engineering drawing
Organisational Behaviour
(BSA505) 10 credits / Introduction to organisations and management
Managing and supervision of staff
Engineering Communication
(MMA440) 10 credits / Graphics in design
Computer based engineering drawing tools (CAD); Effective communication in the wider engineering context
either Bridging Mathematics
(MAA100) 10 credits / Algebra. Trigonometry. Calculus.
or Mathematics 1
(MAA102) 10 credits / Differentiation. Integration. Differential equations.

Part A Semester 2

Strength of Materials and Structures 1
(MPA002) 10 credits / Elastic behaviour of materials
Strength of materials
Stresss and strain
Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria
(MPA004) 10 credits / Basic thermodynamics
Phase equilibrium diagrams
Standards, Testing and Characterisation
(MPA005) 10 credits / Mechanical and non-destructive testing
Electron microscopy techniques
Thermal and x-ray analysis methods
Introduction to Materials in Product Design
(MPA007) 10 credits / Materials selection
Product design and performance
Economic manufacture
Accounting For Managers
(BSA526) 10 credits / Financial analysis
Accounting techniques for problem solving, planning, control and decision making
Mathematics 2
(MAA202) 10 credits / Linear algebra. Complex numbers

Part B Semester 1 and 2

Physical Properties and Thermodynamics
(MPB016) 20 credits / Corrosion, creep, and fatigue
Processing of metals, polymers, and ceramics
Processing and Service Behaviour of Materials
(MPB015) 20 credits / Phase equilibrium diagrams
Phase transformations
Structure-property relationships

Part B Semester 1

Industrial Polymers
(MPB004) 10 credits / Elastomers, thermoplastics, and thermosets; Industrial polymers;
Applications
Organisational Behaviour
(BSB555) 10 credits / Impact of change on management;
Business structures, policies, and strategies
Marketing 1
(BSB560) 10 credits / Principles of marketing and the contribution of marketing management;
Marketing orientation and customer focus
Marketing strategy
Either
Mathematics 1
(MAA102) 10 credits / Differentiation. Integration. Differential equations
Or
Mathematics 4
(MAB102) 10 credits / Fourier series. Differential equations. Eigenvalues
Part B Semester 2
Advanced Testing and Characterisation
(MPB007) 10 credits / Advanced thermal methods
Polymer characterisation techniques
Advanced microscopy
Design and Manufacture with Ceramics
(MPB008) 10 credits / Processing, microstructure and properties
Structural and functional engineering ceramics; Ceramics composites
Marketing 2
(BSB562) 10 credits / Nature and components of the marketing mix; New product development process;
Marketing strategy
OPTION: ONE from
Mathematics 3
(MAB202) 10 credits / Optimisation. Matrices. Regression.
Company Finance
(BSB550) 10 credits / Financing companies. Different sources and methods, and their implications
French, German or Spanish language
(EUL---) 10 credits / Available at a range of levels, students will be guided to a level dependant on their experience

Part C Semester 1 and 2

*Project
(MPC010) 30 credits / Individual research project
Materials Selection Methods and Product Design
(MPC004) 20 credits / Selection principles and software
The design process
Case histories

*The Project, in one of the Institute's research areas, is carried out individually using the wide range of processing, testing, and analytical facilities in IPTME. Awareness of the management and business aspects is also emphasised where possible. Projects are often related to industrial problems and are supervised closely by members of staff, most of whom are leading authorities in their specialised fields.

Part C Semester 1

Recycling and Environmental Issues
(MPC001) 10 credits / Materials resources, availability, and recycling; Environmental protection
;Pollution control
Operations Management
(BSC502) 10 credits / Production/operations management;
Issues and techniques in operations management; Interfaces between marketing, purchasing, production, distribution and the implications of modern technology
OPTION ONE from:
Fundamentals of Strategic Management
(BSC565) 10 credits / Alternative approaches to strategic management
Formation of strategic plans
Risk Management
(BSC120) 10 credits / Definition of risk
Hazard management
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
(BSC522) 10 credits / Information systems in organisations; Evaluating new and emerging data; Integration of information systems

Part C Semester 2

Industrial Case Studies
(MPC003) 10 credits / Application of materials science and engineering to real-life industrial problems.
Fracture and Failure
(MPC002) 10 credits / Materials failure in service; Properties and measurements related to failure.
Project Management
(BSC144) 10 credits / Project planning techniques
Role of Information Technology
Evaluating efficiency
OPTION (ONE from three)
Marketing Communication
(BSC124) 10 credits / Advertising strategies
Advertising client/agency relationships
Leadership and Interpersonal Skills
(BSC575) 10 credits / Leadership traits and effective leadership; Sources of power
International Financial Management
(BSC027) 10 credits / Foreign exchange risk management; Working capital management
Design and Manufacture with Composite Materials
(MPC005) 10 credits / Polymer, metal, and ceramic matrix composites; Fabrication techniques; Properties and applications

5. Criteria for admission to the programme:

For the Materials Engineering (BEng) Programme students will normally require:

240 points (based on the new UCAS Tariff) from:

two of mathematics/physics/chemistry at A level

plus a third subject at A level or two subjects at AS level

(not including General Studies)

Holders of Vocational A levels, BTEC, GNVQ, and other similar qualifications in science and engineering subjects are welcome to apply and are considered on an individual basis. Certain overseas qualifications are also accepted.

Under special circumstances, second year entry may be possible for those with appropriate sub-degree qualifications. A good level of achievement in materials related subjects studied at college level and considerable relevant practical experience are prerequisites.

For those with unusual combinations of examination subjects and grades, the Science and Engineering Foundation Studies Programme offers a possible means of entry to this Materials Engineering Programme.

The URL describing these criteria is found at

All students who apply through UCAS are invited to attend a one day visit, prior to an offer of a place being made, during which detailed presentations are made about the degree programmes, department and the University. Students and their parents are also shown around the laboratories and campus, and given an individual interview with a member of academic staff.

Students are encouraged to attend University and Departmental Open Days and arrangements are made in circumstances where a student wishes to visit on an individual basis prior to an application being made.

Each year we receive a number of overseas applications. In recent times, these have come from continental Europe, e.g., Italy and Portugal, the Far East, e.g., Singapore and Malaysia, and Africa, e.g., Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa.

6. Information about assessment regulations:

The method of assessment for each module is described within the relevant module specification (see section 4).

Examinations are held in each subject for which an examination is required in the assessment period at the end of the semester in which it is taught. This is January for semester 1 and May/June for semester 2. At the end of each year the results from examinations and coursework assessment are combined, as detailed in each module specification. The results for each module are compiled and considered by an examination board, which awards credit for each satisfactorily completed module (>40%). Students who achieve sufficient credit to meet the assessment requirements of their programme regulations (see Appendix) are allowed to proceed to the next year of their programme.