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;

  1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 

  2. Biomedical Engineering
  3. Computer Networking and Security 
  4. Nanoelectronic Circuits and Systems 
  5. Nanoelectronic Devices and Materials 
  6. Software
  7. Sustainable Energy 
  8. 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 750 Topic-32 Biology and Computation
  • ECE 750 Topic-33 Embodied Intelligence
  • ECE 750 Topic-35 Social Robotics
  • ECE 750 Topic-36: Game Theory with Engineering Applications
  • 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):

Elective Courses Set-A:

Elective Courses Set-B:

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):

  • ECE 630 Physics and Models of Semiconductor Devices
  • ECE 631 Microelectronic Processing Technology

Elective Courses (choose 3 from the following list):

  • ECE 632 Photovoltaic Energy Conversion
  • ECE 633 Nanoelectronics
  • ECE 634 Organic Electronics
  • ECE 635 Fabrication in the Nanoscale: Technology and Applications
  • ECE 672 Optoelectronic Devices
  • NANO 600 Introduction to Nanotechnology

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

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 one compulsory course and four elective courses from the lists below.

Compulsory course (1):

  • ECE 660 Operation and Control of Future Integrated Energy Systems

Elective Courses (choose 4 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 

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.

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.