Master of Engineering (MEng) Specializations

Customize your MEng degree by selecting a Specialization

As part of the Master of Engineering degree (MEng), we offer our students the opportunity to specialize in specific areas and earn a Specialization in addition to their MEng degree. Courses taken towards a MEng Specialization will also be counted towards your degree requirements. Note: Specializations are not guaranteed and are subject to course availability.

Specializations are not declared at the beginning of the MEng program but at the end of the program. If the course plan has been followed (see below for Specialization details), a student will be awarded a Specialization in one of the following areas, upon successful completion of their MEng Degree;

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Biomedical Engineering
Computer Networking and Security
Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems
Nanoelectronic Devices and Materials
Software
Sustainable Energy
Business Leadership

Note: ECE MEng students can take a maximum of 10 courses (of 0.5 units each) during their degree program which includes failed courses. Once the 8 degree required courses have been completed, you are not eligible to take extra courses. Please see below for further details, or speak with your program coordinator:

The degree of Master of Engineering is awarded based on the successful completion of 8 graduate level courses.
A student may take a maximum of 10 courses (0.5 credits each) as part of the MEng program. This 10 course maximum includes failed courses, as well as courses that are taken as audit or extra to degree. Once degree requirements have been met, students are required to degree complete.

Specialization details

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

To receive the MEng Specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, a student completing their MEng will have to successfully complete two compulsory courses and three elective courses from the lists below.

Compulsory courses (2):

ECE 657: Tools of Intelligent Systems Design
ECE 657A: Data and Knowledge Modelling and Analysis

Elective Courses (choose 3 from the following list):

ECE 602 Introduction to Optimization
ECE 603 Statistical Signal Processing
ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis
ECE 607 Fundamentals of Ultrasonics
ECE 613 Image Processing and Visual Communication
ECE 659 Intelligent Sensors and Sensor Networks
ECE 700 Topic-7: Game Theory with Engineering Applications
ECE 750 Topic-32 Biology and Computation
ECE 750 Topic-33 Embodied Intelligence
ECE 750 Topic-35 Social Robotics
MSCI 718: Statistical Methods for Data Analytics

2. Biomedical Engineering

The ECE MEng Specialization in Biomedical Engineering has been designed for students without biomedical background to learn about the development of biomedical technologies that involve principles in electrical and computer engineering. Students will develop their biomedical knowledge foundations in an engineering context through core courses in human physiology, quantitative cell biology, and biostatistics. They will also have opportunities to gain knowledge in biomedical engineering themes that align with electrical and computer engineering, including ultrasonics, medical imaging, and artificial life. Upon successful completion of this Specialization, graduates will have developed a general understanding of how electrical and computer engineering principles are being applied to biomedicine.

To receive the MEng Specialization in Biomedical Engineering, a student completing their MEng will have to successfully complete three compulsory courses and two elective courses from the lists below.

Compulsory courses (3):

ECE 601 Foundations of Biology in Engineering
ECE 608 Quantitative Methods in Biomedical Engineering
ECE 609 Engineering Analysis of Living Cells

Elective Courses (choose 2 from the following list):

ECE 607 Fundamentals of Ultrasonics
ECE 613 Image Processing and Visual Communications
ECE 675 Radiation and Propagation of Electromagnetic Fields
ECE 750 Topic-32 Biology and Computation
ECE 750 Topic-33 Embodied Intelligence
SYDE 677 Medical Imaging

3. Computer Networking and Security

Students will be exposed to the fundamental, advanced, and practical aspects of computer networks, security, and distributed computing systems. They will gain knowledge in the field of local and wide area networks - both wired and wireless. Students will learn designing network based systems for parallel and distributed processing; and the security aspects of communication and distributed system applications.

To receive the MEng Specialization in Computer Networking and Security, a student completing their MEng will have to successfully complete three compulsory courses and two elective courses from the lists below.

Compulsory courses (3):

ECE 610 Broadband Communication Networks
ECE 628 Computer Network Security
ECE 655 Protocols, Software, Issues in Mobile Systems

Elective Courses (choose 2 from the following list):

ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis
ECE 611 Digital Communications
ECE 612 Information Theory
ECE 656 Database Systems
ECE 657 Tools of Intelligent Systems Design
ECE 659 Intelligent Sensors & Wireless Sensor Network
ECE 715 Wireless Communication Networks
ECE 716 Communication Security

4. Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems

To receive the MEng Specialization in Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems, a student completing their MEng will have to successfully complete one compulsory course and 5 elective courses from Set-A and Set-B. A minimum of 2 of the 5 electives must be taken from Set-A.

Note: Students are required to complete the 5 elective courses prior to enrolling in the ECE 649 project course.
The Graduate Specialization in Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems is primarily designed for students starting in the Fall term. Therefore, if a student starts in the Spring or Winter term the Graduate Specialization may not be guaranteed, due to the sequencing of elective courses.

Compulsory courses (1):

ECE 649 Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems Project (1.0 unit - note that this is a double unit course)

Elective Courses Set-A:

Elective Courses Set-B:

ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis
ECE 638 CMOS Sensor Integrated Circuits
ECE 730 Topic 9: VLSI Quality, Reliability and Yield Engineering
ECE 730 Topic 16: Semiconductor Memories
ECE 730 Topic 30: Advanced VLSI Devices
ECE 738 VLSI Circuits for Wireless Communication
ECE 740 Topic 3: CMOS Data Converters
ECE 770 Topic 22: Radio and Wireless Systems

5. Nanoelectronic Devices and Materials

Scaling feature sizes well below 100 nanometers has been a key driver of the semiconductor industry, bringing benefits such as improved device performance, reduced power consumption and lower costs. Many other ubiquitous electronic devices, such as solar cells and lasers, exploit nanotechnology as well. The unique properties that occur on the nanoscale present both immense opportunities and challenges. This MEng Specialization covers courses from the affiliated areas of electronic materials, nanofabrication, and devices. In the core and elective courses, the various topics will include: (i) the physics and properties of silicon and other conventional electronic materials, as well as emerging nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes and organic materials; (ii) modern and future microelectronic processing technologies including extreme ultraviolet lithography, electron beam lithography and nano-patterning; (iii) the design and operation of modern and next generation transistors, thin film transistors, solar cells, light emitting devices and photodetectors.

To receive the MEng Specialization in Nanoelectronic Devices and Materials, a student completing their MEng will have to successfully complete two compulsory courses and three elective courses from the lists below.

Compulsory courses (2):

Elective Courses (choose 3 from the following list):

6. Software

Students will learn the concepts, techniques and methods of modern, effective software development. They will gain knowledge in software specifications, design and testing and will be exposed to data structures and algorithms, networking lower and upper layers, data-base systems, knowledge modeling, computational intelligence, component-based software engineering, re-engineering, and network security.

To receive the MEng Specialization in Software Engineering, a student completing their MEng will have to successfully complete three compulsory courses and two elective courses from the lists below.

Compulsory courses (3):

ECE 650 Methods and Tools for Software Engineering
ECE 651 Foundations of Software Engineering
ECE 653 Software Testing, Quality Assurance and Maintenance

Elective Courses (choose 2 from the following list):

ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis
ECE 655 Protocols, Software, Issues in Mobile Systems
ECE 656 Database Systems
ECE 657 Tools of Intelligent Systems Design
ECE 658 Component Based Software

NOTE: MEng students may receive a Graduate Diploma in Software Engineering instead of the Specialization if they began their degree when the Graduate Diploma was still active (requirements may differ between the Specialization and the Graduate Diploma). Please see your program coordinator for details.

7. Sustainable Energy

Students will be exposed to different aspects of sustainable energy sources including the theory of operation and analysis of wind turbines, fuel cells and photovoltaic. Interfacing these energy sources with the electric utility grid and their effects on electricity market pricing will be addressed.

To receive the MEng Specialization in Sustainable Energy, a student completing their MEng will have to successfully complete two compulsory courses and three elective courses from the lists below.

Compulsory courses (2):

ECE 660 Operation and Control of Future Integrated Energy Systems

Elective Courses (choose 3 from the following list):

ECE 632 Photovoltaic Energy Conversion
ECE 662 Power System Analysis and Control
ECE 663 Energy Processing
ECE 664 Power System Components and Modelling
ECE 665 High Voltage Engineering Applications
ECE 666 Power System Operation
ECE 667 Sustainable Distributed Power Generation
ECE 668 Distribution System Engineering
ECE 669 Dielectric Materials
ECE 765 Power System Protection and Relaying
ECE 768 Power System Quality

8. Business Leadership (Offered starting in Fall 2022)

This Graduate Specialization has been designed to introduce students to the processes and best practices for leading technical teams, processes, and organizations in a North American business context. The key purpose of leadership is creating a framework for action. Doing this well requires an understanding of people, familiarity with the “language” of business which is finance, and disciplinary expertise. This Graduate Specialization supplements the expertise students develop in the ECE MEng program with the core skills needed to lead a business venture.

Note: Students are not expected to have a background in business to take any of the BE courses. This specialization will only be offered to students who start in Fall 2022 and forward.

To receive the MEng Specialization in Business Leadership, a student completing their MEng will have to successfully complete two compulsory courses and two elective courses from the lists below.

Compulsory courses (2):

BE 600 Management and Leadership
BE 601 Introduction to Financial and Managerial Accounting

Elective Courses (choose 2 from the following list):

BE 602 Data Analysis and Management
BE 603 Operations and Supply Chain Management
BE 604 Marketing Management
BE 605 Project Management
BE 606 Entrepreneurship and Innovation
BE 610 Special Topics in Business and Entrepreneurship
BE 680 Consulting
ECE 657A Data & Knowledge Modelling & Analysis
- Please note, if you take ECE 657A as part of the Business Leadership specialization, it will not count towards the AI&ML specialization. You must apply it either one or the other.
ECE 699 Master of Engineering Project

Note: A maximum of 4 courses from outside the Department of ECE is permitted to satisfy both the MEng in ECE and Graduate Specialization in Business Leadership requirements.