Instrumentation-a central discipline in undergraduate technological education

The Department of Physical Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University has chosen measurement and analytical science as the theme of the departmental activities. This theme is apparent in the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Instrumentation offered by the department. This paper specifically describes the four year undergraduate honours degree programmes leading to BSc(Honours) awards, which the author believes are examples of “best practice” for the education of graduate specialists in instrumentation. The Instrumentation with Applied Physics programme provides a solid foundation for the formation of scientists and engineers specialising in measurement and instrumentation from a base of applied physics. The advantages of developing an instrumentation and measurement theme from an applied physics base are that the graduates are equipped with an understanding of a wide range physical processes and an appreciation of the scientific technique. A programme in Chemistry with Information Technology and Instrumentation is offered in parallel with the programme described. The central philosophy of the programme lies in applying the principles of measurement and instrumentation to chemistry and chemical systems