An undergraduate course in Engineering, Technology and Design.

From design concepts to the manufacture of products, this key introductory Level 1 course examines the range of human activity that is ‘engineering’. It introduces the context in which engineers operate – including issues such as product safety and patent law – and looks at current engineering practice. It considers some of the developments in engineering methods and applications that will shape the future. The course is ideal as a general introduction if you simply have an interest in what engineering is and how it is practised in modern society; and also if you’re considering studying engineering at higher levels and wish to acquire more specialised skills.

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What you will study

This course is part of a suite of Level 1 courses developed by the Technology Faculty. It is particularly suitable for students who are building a foundation in engineering studies and for those who intend to continue their studies in technology.

It is upon engineering skills that the wealth and safety of nations depend. This course shows why. It offers an introduction to engineering principles as they are applied in modern engineering practice, and looks at the historical development of engineering, how engineering is performed today, and trends for the future. It also teaches general skills such as numeracy, critical reading and analysis, writing reports and essays, problem solving, and learning at a distance. There is an introduction to some more specialised skills and knowledge, such as aspects of engineering principles and engineering science, that you will need if you go on to higher-level engineering courses.

The course is presented through five main themes.

• Historical development How engineering has developed step by step over the years, with new developments building on earlier knowledge; sometimes progress is gradual, sometimes an intuitive leap is made. This has led to the engineered society we live in today.
• Design A look at the different aspects of the design process, from conceptual product design to the physical requirements of materials to make a product.
• Rules Engineers work within a framework of ‘rules’. This includes such things as engineering standards, patent law, environmental legislation, and the fundamental laws of physics. This section looks at these issues with a variety of case studies.
• Manufacturing How raw materials are obtained for industry, from metal extraction to the fabrication of plastics. How materials are used to produce a final product, whether it is a light-bulb or a suspension bridge.
• Pushing back the boundaries This part of the course looks at some of the engineering applications that will develop during the twenty-first century, including engineering implants for our bodies, remote probes for the planets and intelligent machines. We show how fairly conventional engineering principles can have novel and exciting applications.

Within each theme you will develop both your study skills and skills related to engineering: the course will enable you to read technical information critically and to understand fundamental engineering science behind it.

There is computer-based material to illustrate some parts of the course.

Associated residential school

If you have declared the BEng (Hons) (B65) as your qualification intention, you must include at least two undergraduate residential school modules, or modules with embedded residential schools in total for this degree. The 10-credit residential school Engineering: an active introduction (TXR120) offers tuition and activities that support the academic aims of this course. If you decide to attend the residential school, you must register for TXR120 separately, for which an additional fee is payable.

Entry

This is a key introductory Level 1 course. Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning, to help you to progress to courses at Level 2.

You are not expected to have any particular scientific or technical knowledge, but you should be able to solve simple mathematical problems; read and understand written English of a style and complexity characteristic of a professional magazine or quality newspaper; and interpret simple maps, plans, line graphs and tabulated data. To help determine the level of your mathematical skills, see our Maths Quiz. 

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability

The study materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Written transcripts are available for the audio-visual material. The video programmes are subtitled. The written study material is available in comb-bound format. You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

Study materials

What's included

Course books, other printed materials, DVD, CD-ROM, a website.

The Sciences Good Study Guide

You will need

Television, DVD player, scientific calculator.

Computing requirements

You will need a computer with internet access to study this course. It includes online activities – you can access using a web browser – and some course software provided on disk.

• If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer running Windows since 2007 you should have no problems completing the computer-based activities.
• A netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device is not suitable for this course – check our Technical requirements section.
• If you have an Apple Mac or Linux computer – please note that you can only use it for this course by running Windows on it using Boot Camp or a similar dual-boot system.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor is particularly concerned to help you with your study methods. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.

Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. But if you unavoidably miss or perform badly in an assignment, some courses allow you a ‘substitution score’. In T173 this rule can apply to one assignment only. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2012 and February 2013 when it will be available for the last time. It will be replaced by Engineering the future (T174) from October 2013.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• Using mathematics (MST121)
• Engineering: mechanics, materials, design (T207)
• Discovering mathematics (MU123)

How to register

We regret that we are currently unable to accept registrations for this course. Where the course is to be presented again in the future, relevant registration information will be displayed on this page as soon as it becomes available.

Student Reviews

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information read Distance learning explained.

A taste of OU study

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