This page summarizes common questions and information about specific courses. Courses are organized by year and then alphabetically.
TPPE 000/TPM 1x000
A student who fails the Technical Presentation Proficiency Examination (TPM 1x000) may clear the Technical Presentation Milestone by taking SPCOM 223. For approval, print, complete, and submit the Course Override Form to Sylvia Hannigan in Speech Communication and request that the form is forwarded to your Undergraduate Advisor/Co-ordinator (Department: ECE, Building: EIT).
A student may also take the Ryerson University course CCMN 314 (Oral Communication Course) which has, in the past, been given on Saturdays (see taking non-uWaterloo courses).
Students who began their program in or after fall 2018 will meet the Technical Presentation Milestone when they successfully complete ECE 298 Instrumentation and Prototyping Laboratory.
100-level courses
BUS 111W
This course may be used as a CSE as it is an antirequisite of AFM 131.
BUS 121W
Under no circumstances will this course be allowed as a CSE.
GENE 123
For the purposes of prerequisites, the two courses PHYS 222 and PHYS 223 together may be used in place of GENE 123.
GENE 191
This course may be replaced by ENGL 109 Introduction to Academic Writing or a similar technical writing course.
ECE 100A and ECE 100B
If you fail these courses, you cannot proceed to 2A or 2B, respectively, until the courses have been cleared. If you failed these courses, the only option for clearing them is to take a distance-education version of these courses which you can take either during the next Academic Term or during one of your Co-op Work Terms. Please note: if you take this course during your Co-op Work Term, you will have to pay for taking a course.
ECE 103
This may be replaced by MATH 239, MATH 249, CO 220; or the Athabasca University course MATH 309.
ECE 105
This course may be replaced by either NE 131 or by taking both of the courses PHYS 121 and PHYS 122 (however, the laboratory component is not necessary). Taking just PHYS 121 will not clear a failure in ECE 105. Please note that both PHYS courses are taught through distance education.
ECE 106
This course may be replaced by either NE 241 or by taking both of the courses PHYS 222 and PHYS 223 or by taking both of the courses PHYS 122 and PHYS 122L. Taking just PHYS 222 or just PHYS 122 will not clear a failure in ECE 106. Please note that both PHYS courses are taught through distance education.
ECE 108
This may be replaced by MATH 239, MATH 249, CO 220; or the Athabasca University course MATH 309.
ECE 124
This may be replaced by SE 141.
ECE 140
This may be replaced by ME 123, MTE 120, or the Ryerson University course ELE 202.
ECE 150
This is a core 1A EE and CE course, however, if for some reason a student does not have it (either as a result of a failure or a transfer), another is COMP 206 (see taking non-uWaterloo courses). To take a course during a Co-op Work Term, see the Co-op page. ECE 150 is a prerequisite for the core ECE 250 taken in 2A.
ECE 155
This course may be replaced by either ECE 452 or COMP 410 at Athabasca University (see taking non-uWaterloo courses).
MATH 115
This course was last taught to ECE students in Fall 2008 and was replaced by MATH 215. MATH 115 will still be taught to other engineering Students.
This may be replaced by MATH 126 or MATH 136 or the Athabasca University course MATH 270.
MATH 117
This may be replaced by MATH 127 or MATH 137 or the Athabasca University course MATH 265.
MATH 119
This may be replaced by MATH 128 or MATH 138.
CHE 102
This may be replaced by CHEM 120.
200-level courses
ECE 200A and ECE 200B
If you fail these courses, you cannot proceed to 3A or 3B, respectively, until the courses have been cleared. If you failed these courses, the only option for clearing them is to take a distance-education version of these courses which you can take either during the next Academic Term or during one of your Co-op Work Terms. Please note: if you take this course during your Co-op Work Term, you will have to pay for taking a course.
ECE 205
Equivalent courses are MATH 218, MATH 228, AMATH 250 and MATH 376 at Athabasca University (see taking non-uWaterloo courses).
ECE 206
Equivalent courses are MATH 217, MATH 227, and AMATH 231.
ECE 209
This course may be used by Computer Engineering students as a List-1 Natural Sciences Elective (NSE).
ECE 222
This may be replaced by CS 251.
ECE 250
Two replacements include SE 240 and COMP 272 which may be taken through distance education through Athabasca University. See taking non-uWaterloo courses.
ECE 254
This course may be used by Electrical Engineering students as one of the two permitted 2nd- and 3rd-year ECE Technical Electives (TEs). It may be replaced by MTE 241 or COMP 314 at Athabasca University. See taking non-uWaterloo courses.
ECE 290
This course may be replaced by taking any course that covers contract or tort law, such as LS 283 Business Law together with PD 22 as one of your PD elective courses. The PD course continues to count as a PD elective, but it is required to ensure you are exposed to engineering ethics and Ontario Regulation 941.
MATH 211
This course is replaced by ECE 205. Equivalent courses are MATH 218, MATH 228, and AMATH 250.
MATH 212
This course is replaced by ECE 206. Equivalent courses are MATH 217, MATH 227, and AMATH 231.
MSCI 261
This course is not a substitute for ECE 390 and may not be used as one of your Complementary Studies Electives (CSEs).
300-level courses
ECE 300A and ECE 300B
If you fail these courses, you cannot proceed to 4A or 4B, respectively, until the courses have been cleared. If you failed these courses, the only option for clearing them is to take a distance-education version of these courses which you can take either during the next Academic Term or during one of your Co-op Work Terms. Please note: if you take this course during your Co-op Work Term, you will have to pay for taking a course.
ECE 327
This course may be used by Electrical Engineering students as one of the two permitted 2nd- and 3rd-year ECE Technical Electives (TEs).
ECE 331
This course may be used by Computer Engineering students as one of the two permitted 2nd- and 3rd-year ECE Technical Electives (TEs).
ECE 351
This course may be used by Electrical Engineering students as one of the two permitted 2nd- and 3rd-year ECE Technical Electives (TEs).
ECE 356
This course may be used by Electrical Engineering students as one of the two permitted 2nd- and 3rd-year ECE Technical Electives (TEs). This may be replaced by the Athabasca University course COMP 378.
ECE 358
This course may be used by Electrical Engineering students as one of the two permitted 2nd- and 3rd-year ECE Technical Electives (TEs). This may be replaced by the Athabasca University course COMP 347.
ECE 361
This course may be used by Computer Engineering students as one of the two permitted 2nd- and 3rd-year ECE Technical Electives (TEs).
ECE 375
This course may be used by Computer Engineering students as one of the two permitted 2nd- and 3rd-year ECE Technical Electives (TEs).
FINE 392W
This course may count as the one-allowed List-D CSE technique-development course. It is usually taken in 3B for Stream-4S students or 4B.
HRM 301
This course does not count as a CSE if the student has taken either MSCI 211 or MSCI 311.
PMATH/AMATH
331
PMATH
332
PMATH/AMATH
351
PMATH
352
If you are interested in taking either real analysis or complex analysis, contact your Academic Advisor for more information.
400-level courses
GENE 452
This course is often taught by an off-campus instructor. Therefore, any inquiries about this course should be directed to the Engineering Undergraduate Office.
ECE 400A and ECE 400B
If you fail these courses, you cannot graduate until the courses have been cleared. If you failed these courses, the only option for clearing them is to take a distance-education version of these courses which you can take either during the next Academic Term or during one of your Co-op Work Terms. Please note: if you take this course during your Co-op Work Term, you will have to pay for taking a course.
ECE 403, 404, 405
These are List-1 natural science electives (NSEs) and they may not be used as technical electives (TEs).
MSCI 444
This course may be counted as a Technical Elective only by Electrical Engineering Students who are not taking either of the Computer Engineering or Software Engineering Options. It may, however, be used by all ECE students to count towards the Management Science Option. It may be replaced by STV 202.
Other equivalent courses for options are: MSCI 441 and CS 330; SYDE 543, PSYCH 446, and PHIL 446; CS 330 and MSCI 441; BUS 111W and AFM 131; SYDE 543, PSYCH 446, and PHIL 446; and CHE 102 and CHEM 120.
Historic courses
ECE 412
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 415.
ECE 428
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 409.
ECE 431
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 433.
ECE 434
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 433.
ECE 437
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 445.
ECE 438
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 445.
ECE 439
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 444.
ECE 443
This course is no longer offered.
ECE 456
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 356.
ECE 457
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 457A and ECE 457B.
ECE 471
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 375 and ECE 475.
ECE 476
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 474.
ECE 484
This course is no longer offered and is replaced by ECE 481.