BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING HONOURS DEGREE IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING (HTENG)
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
This program prepares students for exciting careers in the dynamic field of communication. Through classroom and laboratory experience, they gain in-depth knowledge of the components and systems that make up the global telecommunications network.
Students learn about the infrastructures (devices and media) that transport and direct communication signals through telecommunications networks.
The Telecommunication Engineering Programme includes a thorough teaching in the areas of communication systems, electromagnetic, antennas & propagation, digital & data communications, etc.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
For all entry pathways candidates must have at least five Ordinary Level subjects including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject at grade C or better
2.1. Normal Entry
Two Advanced level passes to include Mathematics (Pure Mathematics/Further Mathematics/Mechanics), and Physics.
- 2.2 Special Entry
At least a minimum of National Diploma in a related field.
2.3 Mature Entry
See General Academic Regulations
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION
4.1. Employability
Graduates with the BSc Telecommunications Engineering Degree can seek employment in Industry, Commerce and Research as
- Signal processing engineers,
- Network engineers,
- Mobile communication systems engineers,
- Satellite communication engineers,
- Software/hardware specialists,
- Design and development engineers in telecommunications
They are also developed to have the ability to start a telecommunications and/or electronics business
4.2. Further Studies
Master’s and Doctoral studies in Telecommunications Engineering, Electronic communications and related areas
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Level 1 Semester 1
Code Module Description Credits
HTENG131* Communications Principles 10
HTENG133 Physics for Engineers 10
HTENG134* Engineering Mathematics 10
HTENG135* Analogue Electronics 10
HCSE131* Introduction to Computer Engineering 10
CS131* Communication Skills 12
Level 1 Semester 2
HTENG136* Engineering Drawing 10
HTENG137* Digital Electronics and Systems 10
HTENG138* Digital Communications 10
HTENG139* Network Theory 10
HTENG140* Analogue Communications 10
HTENG141 Engineering Mathematics 2 10
Level 2 Semester 1
HTENG231* Transmission Technologies 10
HTENG232* Mobile Communications 10
HTENG233* Electromagnetic Theory 10
HCSCI234 Research Methods 10
TCNP201* Technopreneurship 12
GS231* Introduction to Gender Studies 12
Level 2 Semester 2
HTENG234 Telematics and Industrial Telemetry 10
HTENG235* Fundamentals of Radio & TV 10
HTENG236* Power Supplies 10
HTENG237* Digital Signal Processing 10
HTENG238 Telecommunications Engineering Mini Project 10
HCSCI237* Data Communication and Computer Networks 10
Level 3 Semester 1
HTENG332* Work-Related Learning I 40
Level 3 Semester 2
HTENG333* Work-Related Learning II 80
Level 4 Semester 1
HTENG431* Telecommunications Planning & Management 10
HTENG432* Communications Network Design 10
HTENG433* Antenna Engineering 10
HTENG434* Project Management 10
HTENG435 Satellite communication Engineering 10
Electives (choose any one from the following)
HCSE432 Embedded Systems 10
HCSE433 IoT and Cloud Systems Engineering 10
HCSE435 Digital Media Engineering 10
Level 4 Semester 2
HTENG437* Next Generation Networks 10
HTENG439* Radar Systems 10
HTENG440* Cryptology & Security in Telecommunications 10
HCSCI439 Fundamentals of Data Science and Big Data 10
HTENG441* Research Project 20
(Note: * denotes core modules)
SYNOPSES
HTENG131 Communications Principles
Fundamentals of telecommunications. Power measurements. Signals and their classifications. Time domain representation of signals. Periodic & non periodic, analog & digital, deterministic & random, energy & power signals. Elements of communication systems. Telephone circuit. Telephone networks. Basic call procedure. Transmission line basics matched and mismatched lines, reflection coefficient and standing wave ratio. Bandwidth and Spectral efficiency and their limitations on signal transmission.
HCSE131 Introduction to Computer Engineering
Introduction to Computers. History of computers. Functional structure and main components of computer hardware and software. Applications of computers. Computer components: CPU Harvard and Von Neumann Microprocessor architectures. Types of computer systems, system features, central processing unit, memory, the motherboard, the expansion bus, memory map. Memories and Storage devices: RAM ROM and their derivatives such as SRAM, DRAM, EEPROM. Input-Output (IO) devices and processing: Direct Memory Access DMA; Memory Mapped; Port Mapped and IRQ processes. Operating systems introduction: MSDOS, UNIX and Windows. Computer maintenance.
Introduction to programming using the C procedural language. Variables, data types, operators and statements; program flow control; if-then-else, switch-case, ternary operator and other language basics.
HTENG133 Physics for Engineers
The physics of electricity and magnetism; application of electronic, semiconductor and magnetic materials, ferromagnetism, electric and magnetic fields. Forces on magnetized iron surfaces; forces of attraction and alignment, Waves and Optics. Mechanics: work and energy, momentum and collisions. Thermal physics: temperature, kinetic theory and the ideal gas, heat and the first law of thermodynamics.
HTENG134 Engineering Mathematics
Limits and continuity of functions. Differentiation. Leibniz’s Rule. L’Hopitals Rule. Elementary functions including hyperbolic functions and their inverses. Integration – techniques including reduction formulae. Applications – arc-length, area, volumes, moments of inertia, centroids.
Plane polar coordinates. Complex Numbers: Basic algebra. De Moivre’s theorem. Complex exponentials. Linear Algebra: Vector algebra in 2 and 3 dimensions. Scalar and vector products. Equations of lines and planes. Systems of Linear Equations. Ordinary differential equations. First-order differential equations. Linear second order equations. Higher order linear differential equations. Practical applications of differential equations to engineering
Integration. Integrals of standard functions. Double and triple integrals. Multiple Integrals. Iterated integrals change of order. Change of variable. Polar, cylindrical and spherical coordinates. Applications in three dimensions. Vector Calculus. Scalar and vector fields. Directional derivatives. Gradient, divergence and curl. Line and surface integrals. Theorems of Green, Gauss and Stokes. Fourier Analysis. Fourier Series. Half range series. Fourier integrals and transformations. Laplace transforms of basic functions. Inverse Laplace transforms, derivation using partial fractions.
Probability and statistics: distributions, mean, variance, covariance, bounds, likelihood function, Bayes rule, entropy, divergence, mutual information Statistics. Concepts of Probability. Random variables. Distribution functions and distribution theory.
HTENG135 Analogue Electronics
Characteristics of an ideal operational amplifier. Practical operational amplifier – structure, parameters and characteristics. Operational amplifier circuits: zero crossing and voltage level detectors; inverting and non-inverting amplifier; summing amplifiers; integrating and differentiating circuits; logarithmic and antilogarithmic amplifier; monolithic differential amplifier; active filters – first, second and higher order types; oscillators and multi-vibrators. Special-purpose operational amplifiers: low input current, low drift, low noise, wideband and unit gain type. Analogue multipliers integrated circuits and applications. 555 Timer integrated circuit – operation, parameters, characteristics and applications. Instrumentation amplifiers. Analogue-to-Digital and Digital-to Analogue converters.
HTENG136 Engineering Drawing
Introduction. Sketching, discrete geometry, charts. Plane geometry. First and third angle projection. Dimensioning. Pictorial views. Freehand sketching. Drawing of common objects; sectioning. Intersections. Developments. Conventioning. Assembly Drawing. Exercises. Graphs of electrical and mechanical concepts.
HTENG137 Digital Electronics and Systems
Numerical systems and binary arithmetic. Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) and ASCII. Logic gates and truth tables. Boolean algebra theorems. Karno (K) – maps. Combinational logic – minimizing logic expressions using Boolean algebra theorems and K-maps. Universal gates (NAND and NOR) implementation of combinational logic circuits. Combinational logic applications: adders and subtractors, magnitude comparators, multipliers, encoders and decoders, multiplexers and de-multiplexers. Digital integrated circuits. Integrated circuit families: RTL, DTL, TTL, ECL, NMOS, PMOS, CMOS. Bi-Stable systems – flip flops: R-S type, T-type, D-type, J-K-type and Master-Slave type. Sequential logic circuits: counters and registers and applications. Finite State Machines (FSMs).
Memories: RAM, ROM, EAROM. PROM, EPROM. Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs).
HTENG138 Digital Communications
Digital communication systems overview. Review of probability and statistics. Review of linear systems and signals. Principles of information theory. Source coding and channel coding. Shannon’s theorems and their implications. Formatting and modulation of baseband signal. Baseband demodulation/detection. Band pass modulation and de-modulation/detection. Communication link analysis. Synchronization. Multiplexing and multiple access. Spread-spectrum techniques. Fading channels. Optimal receivers for binary communications systems. Matched-filter and correlation receivers. Performance analysis of binary communication systems. Binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). Pulse shaping. Inter-symbol interference. Channel capacity. Error probabilities; signal-to-noise ratios; probability of error for digital modulation schemes. Digital transmission of analogue signals (PCM) and quantization. Noise. Forward error correction codes.
HTENG139 Network Theory
DC circuit analysis. First order circuits: The source free RC and RL circuits, step response of RC and RL circuits. Second order circuits: The source free series and parallel RLC circuits, step response of a series and parallel RLC circuit. AC circuits analysis: Kirchoff’s law in the frequency domain. Sinusoidal steady analysis. Frequency response. Series and parallel resonance. Filters. Transfer functions.
Advanced circuit analysis: Applications of Laplace Transform, Fourier series and Fourier Transform to circuit analysis. Two-port networks: impedance parameters, admittance parameters, hybrid parameters, transmission parameters, relationship between parameters, interconnection of networks.
HTENG140 Analogue Communications
Introduction to analogue communications. Modulation. Amplitude modulation methods: Double Sideband with Suppressed Carrier, Single Sideband and Vestigial Sideband Modulation. Application of AM systems. AM transmitters and receivers. Angle modulation methods. Instantaneous frequency, frequency deviation, modulation index, significant sideband criteria, bandwidth of angle modulation. Power of an FM signal. Narrowband FM, wideband FM. FM generation. FM Transmitters and receivers. Phase modulation. Demodulation.
HTENG141 Engineering Mathematics 2
Matrix Algebra, Eigenvalues & eigenvectors and Calculus. Fourier series and integrals, Periodic functions, Euler formulae for Fourier coefficients & transformations, Linearity property, transform of derivatives, convolution theorem, Gamma and Beta functions, BVPs and systems of ODEs. Applied statistics and probability. Solving engineering problems using high-performance language for technical computing (e.g. MATLAB).
CS131: Communication Skills – Refer to Communication skills department
HTENG231 Transmission Technologies
Microwave passive components: behavior and construction of components at microwave. Resonant circuits, filter design, impedance matching. Smith Chart, impedance matching on the Smith Chart. Directional Coupler, Power Divider, Magic Tee, Attenuator, Resonator. Microwave oscillators, active components. Diodes, transistors, behavior and construction of microwave semiconductor diodes: Gunn, IMPATT, Schottky, PIN and Varactor diodes. Modes of operation and circuit realization. Microwave tubes: Klystron, Travelling Wave, Magnetron; behavior and construction performance. Application and characteristics of the devices. Design of small signal amplifiers, distributed amplifiers and power amplifiers. Y parameters and S parameters. Microwave mixers design. Control devices and their application. Microwave integrated circuits. Design of micro-strip and related applications in antennas. Scattering parameters. Microwave techniques using miniature technology.
FIBRE OPTIC TECHNOLOGY – Introduction to vector nature of light, propagation of light, propagation of light in a cylindrical dielectric rod, Ray model, wave model. Different types of optical fibres and their applications. Modal analysis of a step-index fibre. Signal degradation on optical fibre due to dispersion and attenuation. Fabrication of fibre and measurement techniques like OTDR. Optical sources – LEDs and Lasers, Photo-detectors – pin-detectors, detector responsivity, noise, optical receivers. Optical link design. Optical switches: coupled mode analysis of directional couplers, electro-optic switches. Nonlinear effects in fibre optic links. Optical amplifiers – EDFA, Raman amplifier, and Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) systems. Broadcast-and-select networks: Topologies, medium access control and test-bed examples (LAMBDANET, RAINBOW, STARNET and LIGHTNING). Wavelength routing networks: Node design, the routing and wavelength assignment problem (RWA), virtual topology design, current testbeds (MONET, ONTC, MWTN).
HTENG232 Mobile Communications
Cellular system design and analysis. Limits of wireless transmission systems. Mobile radio propagation. Modulation techniques for mobile radio. Analog and Digital Modulation schemes. Digital modulations applied in Mobile Communications. Frequency management and channel assignment. Equalization, diversity and channel coding. Multiple-Access Techniques (FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, SDMA, OFDM). Cellular radio architectures and capacity calculation. Wireless channel and system models. Fading and diversity, resource management and power control. Multiple antenna and MIMO systems. Space-time codes and decoding algorithms. Multiple access techniques and multi-user detection. Cellular and ad-hoc network topologies. Mobility management: roaming /handover. GSM case study.
HTENG233 Electromagnetic Theory
Maxwell’s equations. Laplace and Poisson equations and their solution. Boundary conditions. Plane waves in a perfect dielectric; propagation in imperfect dielectric. Propagation in imperfect conductors, skin effect. Generalized wave equation, field distributions in rectangular waveguide. Radiation field, dipoles, radiation resistance, impedance, mutual impedance, linear arrays.
HTENG234 Telematics and Industrial Telemetry
Instrumentation Standard Protocols and automation networks, bus standards, third party interface, object linking and embedding for Process Control. Wireless instrumentation-Wireless HART,ISA100.11A, Foundation Fieldbus H1: frame structure, programming. Buses, Controlnet, Industrial Ethernet. PLC and SCADA/DCS.
TCNP201 Technopreneurship
Introduction:Nature and importance of technopreneurship, Differences between technopreneurship and entrepreneurship; Relationship between technopreneurship and the national economy; Innovation and creativity, Qualities of an entrepreneur.
Small business model and financial issues: Developing a business model, Basics of small business management, Risks and stages of funding, Sources of funding, Financial funding for growth, product valuation, How to form and register a small business in Zimbabwe.
New Product development (NDP): Opportunity recognition and creation, Sources of opportunity, Screening technology opportunities, Designing your product/service: design thinking; process thinking, strategic thinking; The NPD process: idea generation, idea screening, concept testing, market strategy development, business financial analysis, prototyping, test marketing, commercialization.
Developing and Protecting Intellectual Property: Concept of intellectual property, Theory behind IP protection, Intellectual Property (IP)-driven vs non-IP driven technopreneurshipTrade secrets, Copyrights, Trademarks, Patent and Trademark protection and its significance, Basics of patenting, legislation governing IP in Zimbabwe; Case studies of successful technopreneurs , Project.
HTENG235 Fundamentals of Radio & TV
Constituents of Radio. Radio communications. Radio transmitters and receivers. Radio wave propagation. Waveguides: higher-order modes on parallel-plate waveguides, rectangular waveguides, dielectric slab waveguides. Antenna properties. Principles of TV. Audio and video transmission. Scanning principle. TV broadcasting systems. Transmission & reception of TV signals. Aspect ratio, Resolution, Video bandwidth. TV broadcast studio. TV Transmitter: video modulation, vestigial sideband transmission. Standard TV channels.
TV Receiver: block diagram, receiver controls, RF tuners, Video channel and picture tube. Automatic Gain Control and synchronization circuits. Deflection circuits (horizontal and vertical). Video detector. Sound section. Colour TVs. Digital TV (terrestrial, satellite and cable). Video display systems (LED, LCD, Plasma).
HTENG236 Power Supplies
AC Theory; power factor correction, Tariff philosophies , AC power supplies:- Single phase and three phase systems; Transformers; Characteristic, ratings and protection of Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCRs), Gate Turnoff Thyristors (GTTs), Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs), Metal Oxide Semi-Conductors (MOSFETs), Single phase AC –DC Conversion; Single and three phase AC –DC conversion using thyristors, include determination of size of filtering capacitors. Inverters (DC-AC conversion single and three phase systems) and UPS systems. Linear power supplies overview of switching mode power supplies (DC-DC converters- Buck, Boost and Buck –boost regulators). Sources of energy: – An overview of Photovoltaic and wind energy sources. Portable power supplies.
HTENG237 Digital Signal Processing
Analysis of continuous and discrete signals and systems. Discrete-time signals, Discrete-time systems, Linear Time-Invariant systems and their properties. Linear constant coefficient difference equations. Discrete Fourier transform. Z-transform. Definition of Z-transform, Region of Convergence, Properties of z-Transform, Inversion of the z-Transform, Analysis of Linear Time-Invariant Systems in the Z-Domain. Basics of image processing. Radar and sonar signal processing. Digital filters and their application.
HCSCI237 Data Communication And Computer Networks
This module explores the principles underlying the design of computer networks. Topics covered include: Computer network technologies and applications, Transmission Media, Signaling, Communication protocols, Communication architectures, Network connections, Network types, Routing and routing algorithms, spanning tree protocol and IP addressing.
HCSCI234 Research Methods
The module provides students with a grounding in the Philosophy of Science as a foundation and equips them with advanced knowledge in educational research. It provides them with concepts and skills in statistics and capacity to use current computer packages such as SPSS and NVIVO to analyse both quantitative and qualitative data pertaining to Philosophy of Science Education related research. Students are also required to relate their research to real issues that affect Philosophy of Science Education in different contexts and are required to validate their findings and recommendations at specified cites. Students are expected to understand and apply ethics considerations in line with laid out guidelines. Overall, the research module should prepare students with adequate knowledge and skills that enable them to embark on their Doctoral studies as the next stage of their academic pursuit.
GS231 Introduction to Gender Studies
This module will empower the students with knowledge and skills that enable them to be gender sensitive in the University, workplace and in all their social interaction. Topics covered include: understanding gender, gender analysis, gender issue in Zimbabwe, redressing gender imbalances, empowerment and strategies for creating gender responsive environment. Students gain insight into accounts of gender studies in Science and Technology
HTENG331 Industrial Attachment
Familiarization with actual plan organization and operations, training in practical engineering work for graduate engineers, exposure to as many of the following as possible; industrial management, plant maintenance, design and development, service/field engineering; working with planning, manufacturing, production and marketing departments, industrial research.
HTENG431 Telecommunications Planning & Management
Telecommunications sector. Strategic Planning. Telecommunications Policies. By-Laws and Regulations governing telecommunications infrastructures. ITU Standards. Telecommunications Markets. Telecommunications Technologies. Telecommunications Costing. Project planning. Project management.
HTENG432 Communications Network Design
Business justification. System requirements. System analysis and network modelling. System design and implementation. System performance and evaluation. Market forecasts of demand on the network to the implementation of plans. Aspects of the design that influence the likely replacement of legacy telecommunications networks. Network performance parameters that impact on the quality of service perceived by customers. Layered view of network requirements, signalling, operation, service management, support systems and associated architectures.
HTENG433 Antenna Engineering
Fundamentals of antennas, arrays and mobile communications. Antenna types and design methods: dipoles, monopoles, loop antennas, small antennas, micro-strip antennas, slot antennas. Frequency independent antennas, horn and reflector antennas, earth station antennas. Antenna instrumentation and measurements. Direction finding antennas and systems. Propagation of radio waves, propagation mechanisms, propagation modelling Electromagnetics and RF propagation. Antenna fundamentals, RF safety, atmospheric effects. Antenna matching.
HTENG434 Project Management
Project proposal writing- types of proposals; Project definition, life cycle, and systems approach; Project scoping, work definition, and work breakdown structure (WBS); Project time estimation and scheduling using GANTT, PERT and CPM. Project costing, budgeting, and financial appraisal; Project control and management, using standard tools of cost and schedule variance analysis; project management use-case through practical, example projects; use of computers in project management, some software tools for PM e.g. MS Project; PM techniques e.g. PRINCE2.
HTENG435 Satellite Communication Engineering
Satellite communication fundamentals, Satellite orbits, orbit parameters, satellite types, ITU standards, satellite launching methods, orbital mechanics, radio wave propagation, satellite communication and interference, satellite lifetime and reliability, multiple access techniques, access protocols for data traffic, satellite applications
HCSE432 Embedded Systems
This module covers Embedded Systems concepts. Topics include nature of embedded systems, specific problems, special issues; role in computer engineering; embedded microcontrollers, embedded software; real time systems, problems of timing and scheduling; testing and performance issues, reliability; low power computing, energy sources, leakage; design methodologies, software tool support for the development of such systems; problems of maintenance and upgrade; networked embedded systems.
HCSE433 IoT and Cloud Systems Engineering
IoT and Cloud Computing. IoT Physical Devices and Endpoints: IoT physical servers and cloud offerings: cloud storage models and communication Networks, Cloud technologies, Framework and Platforms. Internet of services, SOA, Grid computing, System types, architectures and models, applications in telecommunication systems, cloud systems examples, security management, Governance, legislation, economic environment.
HCSE435 Digital Media Engineering
Audio Engineering: concepts & standards, Overview of audio in the broadcast context, Computer-based audio systems, Software engineering and the MAX programming environment, Audio quality assessment and monitoring. Video Engineering: Concepts and standards, Overview of video in the broadcast context, Compression standards for broadcast, internet distribution and streaming, video transmission over IP networks.
HCSCI439 Fundamentals of Data Science and Big Data
Introduction: Big Data Overview, importance of data science, big data analytics in industry verticals. Data Analytics Lifecycle and methodology: Business Understanding, Data Understanding, Data Preparation, Modelling and Evaluation. Data exploration and pre-processing, Data Analytics: Theory and Methods, Unstructured Data Analytics, Data Visualization Techniques, Creating final deliverables
HTENG437 Next Generation Networks
Optical networks. Design and management of optical networks. Enabling technologies: Tuneable sources and tuneable filters, couplers, isolators, circulators, optical multiplexers, photonic switches, optical amplifiers, wavelength converters. Optical access networks: Optical access architecture, fibre-to-the-curb/home (FTTC/H), hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) approaches, passive optical networks (PONs) for access. Photonic Packet Switching: Optical time division multiplexing (OTDM). Photonic switching node design, broadcast OTDM networks, OTDM testbeds (ATMOS, KEOPS, CORD, AON).
Optical network architectures: point to point, star, ring, mesh; system principles: modulation formats, link budgets, optical signal to noise ratio, dispersion, error rates, optical gain and regeneration. Wavelength division multiplexed networks; WDM components: optical filters, gratings, multiplexers, de-multiplexers, wavelength routers, optical cross-connects, wavelength converters, WDM transmitters and receivers; Wavelength switched/routed networks, ultra-high speed TDM, dispersion managed links, soliton systems; broadcast and distribution networks. Multiple access, subcarrier multiplexed light wave video networks. Optical LAN, MAN and WAN architectures: SDH/SONET, FDDI and Optical Synchronous Networks (OSN).
Next Generation Network (NGN) standards and protocols. NGN applications and architecture. NGN operations and management. NGN Network Case Study: Long Term Evolution (LTE): network architecture and interfaces, air interfaces and radio network. Backhaul considerations. Scheduling. Basic procedures. Mobility management and power optimization. Security architecture. Interconnection with other networks. Network planning aspects.
HTENG439 Radar Systems
Radar fundamentals: range, Doppler frequency, coherence, radar range equation; Continuous wave and pulsed radars. Radar detection, radar wave propagation, clutter and moving target indicator. Radar antennas and target tracking. Synthetic aperture radar: real versus synthetic arrays, design considerations, geometry.
HTENG440 Cryptology & Security in Telecommunications
Network security. Cryptography, cryptology and cryptanalysis, encryption, measures of effectiveness of encryption algorithms, symmetric and asymmetric (public key) algorithms, standards, block ciphers and stream ciphers, public key algorithms, authentication, integrity and non-repudiation, key handling, multiple public key cryptography, secret sharing, SET (secure electronic transactions), e-commerce, cryptographic hardware/software requirements and tradeoffs.
HTENG441 Research Project
Each student must complete an approved design or research project during their final year, after which a comprehensive report on the project is submitted. The project must be of an investigative nature and the ability of the student to work independently will be assessed.
The process will involve selection of a problem, research on and planning of a possible solution. Modelling of possible solutions. Selection and testing of an optimal solution. Presentation of these preliminary results. Acquisition of components, testing of subsystems, construction of overall prototype. Writing the final report. Oral presentation of results.