Course Outline
ELC401 Advanced Digital Communications
Course Coordinator:Phil Yeoh (pyeoh@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
2026Trimester 1
UniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
Digital communications are essential to the functioning of modern society. Examples include cellphones, broadcasting, and satellite communications. In this course you will expand on your knowledge and understanding of Communication Engineering, by developing specialised techniques and the design of components in communication systems. You will explore the standards governing communication protocol and hardware, analyse performance of communication systems, and specify general telecommunication systems.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Learning materials – Asynchronous learning materials | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Laboratory 1 – On campus | 2hrs | Week 4 | 4 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus | 2hrs | Week 2 | 10 times |
| Seminar – On campus | 1hr | Week 1 | Once Only |
Course Topics
Topics may include:
- Source Coding for Digital Communications
- Timing and Carrier Synchronization
- Digital Modulation Techniques
- BPSK, QPSK, QAM
- Maximum Likelihood Detector
- Bit Error Rate (BER) Performance
- Error Control Coding Techniques
- Broadband Communications
- Orthogonal Frequency Modulation
- Wireless Communications
- Introduction to Optical Communications
What level is this course?
400 Level (Graduate)
What is the unit value of this course?
12 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1 | Analyse and evaluate various digital modulation techniques for efficient data transmission. | Creative and critical thinker |
2, 2.1.a, 2.1 |
| 2 | Assess alternative multiple access techniques and select appropriate schemes for different communication scenarios. | Creative and critical thinker |
1, 1.1.a, 1.1, 2, 2.1.f, 2.1 |
| 3 | Analyse spread spectrum communications to achieve secure and robust wireless communication and model wireless channels and analyse their impact on system performance. | Creative and critical thinker |
2, 2.1.a, 2.1.b, 2.1 |
| 4 | Apply technical knowledge and utilise software-defined radio platforms for prototyping and implementing digital communication systems to meet specific requirements. | Empowered |
1, 1.4.a, 1.4, 2, 2.3.a, 2.3 |
| 5 | Design and implement error control coding schemes to ensure reliable communication in noisy channels. | Empowered |
1, 1.5.a, 1.5.c, 1.5, 2, 2.2.d, 2.2 |
* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1 | Elements of competency: Knowledge and Skill Base |
| 1.1.a | Knowledge and Skill Base - Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline: Engages with the engineering discipline at a phenomenological level, applying sciences and engineering fundamentals to systematic investigation, interpretation, analysis and innovative solution of complex problems and broader aspects of engineering practice. |
| 1.4.a | Knowledge and Skill Base - Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline: Identifies and critically appraises current developments, advanced technologies, emerging issues and interdisciplinary linkages in at least one specialist practice domain of the engineering discipline. |
| 1.5.a | Knowledge and Skill Base - Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline: Identifies and applies systematic principles of engineering design relevant to the engineering discipline. |
| 1.5.c | Knowledge and Skill Base - Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline: Appreciates the issues associated with international engineering practice and global operating contexts. |
| 1.1 | Knowledge and Skill Base: Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. |
| 1.4 | Knowledge and Skill Base: Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline. |
| 1.5 | Knowledge and Skill Base: Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. |
| 2 | Elements of competency: Engineering Application Ability |
| 2.1.a | Engineering Application Ability - Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving: Identifies, discerns and characterises salient issues, determines and analyses causes and effects, justifies and applies appropriate simplifying assumptions, predicts performance and behaviour, synthesises solution strategies and develops substantiated conclusions. |
| 2.1.f | Engineering Application Ability - Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving: Conceptualises alternative engineering approaches and evaluates potential outcomes against appropriate criteria to justify an optimal solution choice. |
| 2.1.b | Engineering Application Ability - Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving: Ensures that all aspects of an engineering activity are soundly based on fundamental principles - by diagnosing, and taking appropriate action with data, calculations, results, proposals, processes, practices, and documented information that may be ill-founded, illogical, erroneous, unreliable or unrealistic. |
| 2.3.a | Engineering Application Ability - Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes: Proficiently applies technical knowledge and open ended problem solving skills as well as appropriate tools and resources to design components, elements, systems, plant, facilities and/or processes to satisfy user requirements. |
| 2.2.d | Engineering Application Ability - Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources: Applies a wide range of engineering tools for analysis, simulation, visualisation, synthesis and design, including assessing the accuracy and limitations of such tools, and validation of their results. |
| 2.1 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving. |
| 2.2 | Engineering Application Ability: Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. |
| 2.3 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
Enrolled in GC005, GD005, MC005, GC006, GD006, MC006 or SC404
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Not applicable
Microcredential Information
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
Early feedback will be provided through completion of weekly activities in workshops. Furthermore, feedback on each assessment will be provided which will be used to help with the following assessment.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Practical / Laboratory Skills, and Written Piece | Individual | 30% | 1500 words |
Week 5 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 2 | Practical / Laboratory Skills | Individual | 30% | 1500 words |
Week 9 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 40% | 2 hours |
Exam Period | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Simulation | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | Experimental/simulation work to verify students' ability to apply knowledge and skills acquired in the course. |
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| Product: | Practical / Laboratory Skills, and Written Piece | ||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||
| Format: | Experimental/simulation work to verify students' ability to apply knowledge and skills acquired in the course. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Experimental/simulation work | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | To apply knowledge and skills acquired in the course. |
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| Product: | Practical / Laboratory Skills | |||||||||||||||
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| Format: | Laboratory |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 3:Final exam | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | Questions and problems related to the materials covered in the course. |
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| Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | ||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Questions and problems related to the materials covered in the course. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
Specific requirements
Not applicable
How are risks managed in this course?
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Assessment: Submission penalties
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.
For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: