Bachelor of Engineering Honours/Bachelor of Laws Edith Cowan University (ECU)

This double degree combines a full engineering degree with a full law degree program that satisfies the academic requirements for the admission of law graduates as legal practitioners in Western Australia.

The result of this challenging educational initiative is an internationally recognised double degree that will create opportunities in the global marketplace. It provides students with lifelong transferable skills, equipping them for employment in a wide range of professions, and for further study in a variety of disciplines.

Course structure

Students are required to complete: 31 engineering units, comprising of 15 Core Engineering units, an Engineering Practicum unit, and a 15-unit Engineering Major; plus 29 Law units, comprising of 22 Core Law units and 7 Law Elective units.

Course Learning Outcomes

• Apply systematic planning, synthesis and design processes to conduct and manage engineering or legal projects, with some intellectual independence.
• Demonstrate a global outlook and knowledge of contextual factors impacting engineering and law disciplines, including respect for cultural diversity and indigenous cultural competence.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of law and the underpinning natural and physical sciences and in depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering and law disciplines.
• Demonstrate effective team membership and team leadership to implement engineering or legal projects according to relevant standards of ethical conduct, sustainable practice and professional accountability.
• Demonstrate responsibility for own learning, professional judgement and an understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary practice in both engineering and law.
• Think critically, and apply established methods and research skills to the solution of complex engineering and legal problems.

Employment opportunities

Graduates of this program will be able to practise in areas where both technical and legal knowledge is applied to the analysis of complex legal issues dealing with elements of design, construction and operation of engineering systems, operations and management, and intellectual property. The knowledge and skills required of a lawyer in a technologically advancing society are more challenging and intellectually adventurous than they have ever been. This program gives graduates the edge to conduct court work as a legal practitioner dealing with multi-national corporations on advanced technological issues in an international context. The program also provides graduates with the skills to contribute to technological developments that are environmentally friendly and safe for the community. They will be more employable in industry, government, commerce, community organisations, or academic institutions than engineering graduates without law qualifications.

Possible future job titles

Intellectual Property Lawyer, Technology Licensing Expert, Technology Law Enforcement Agent

• Electronics and Communications
• Instrumentation Control and Automation
• Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronics
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Systems
Electrical Power