Computer Engineering

Why choose? Develop software savvy and hardware know-how.

Want to design a brain stimulator to combat symptoms of Parkinson's disease? Develop software to protect companies from cyber attacks? Create the next groundbreaking gaming platform?

Between labs and lectures, you'll gain experience with all aspects of computers, from chips and wiring to software, networks, and communications. Meanwhile, your co-op terms will give you 2 years of paid work experience.

You’ll graduate ready for a career as a software developer, hardware engineer, IT specialist, systems designer, and more.

Study in a high-tech hub

Waterloo Region is home to more than 1,000 technology companies, including Google and Kik, providing lots of co-op and career opportunities.

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Bring your ideas to life at Hack the North — Canada’s biggest hackathon — which attracts more than 1,000 students from around the world each year.

Female student using electronic equipment in lab

As an Engineering student in North America's largest co-op program, you'll graduate with 2 years of work experience, earn money to help pay for your education, and be able to try out different career areas.

About the Computer Engineering program

breifcase Gain 2 years of experience in the co-op program

click Apply directly to this program on your application

grad cap Earn a Bachelor of Applied Science degree

Engineering school in Canada (US News & World Report 2018)

Gears Offered by the Faculty of Engineering

Money flower Students earn $17,800 on average per co-op term

Computer Engineering admission requirements

Ontario students: 6 Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Chemistry (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Physics (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- English (ENG4U) (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
Admission averages: Individual selection from the low to mid-90s
An Admission Information Form is required
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements

First-year Computer Engineering courses

September to December

GENE 191 - Communication in the Engineering Profession
ECE 105 - Classical Mechanics
ECE 150 - Fundamentals of Programming
ECE 190 - Engineering Profession and Practice
MATH 115 - Linear Algebra
MATH 117 - Calculus 1 for Engineering
Workplace Hazardous Materials Milestone*

January to April or May to August

ECE 102 - Information Session
ECE 106 - Electricity and Magnetism
ECE 108 - Discrete Mathematics and Logic 1
ECE 124 - Digital Circuits and Systems
ECE 140 - Linear Circuits
ECE 192 - Engineering Economics and Impact on Society
MATH 119 - Calculus 2 for Engineering

* Milestones and courses with deadlines for successful completion are shown in the terms where they are normally completed. Work-term report courses (WKRPT 201, WKRPT 301, WKRPT 401) are considered milestones with deadlines for successful completion

After first year

See the range of courses available in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
View all the courses required for your degree.

Sample upper-year Computer Engineering courses

ECE 254 – Operating Systems and Systems Programming
ECE 320 – Computer Architecture

ECE 405 – Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
ECE 452 – Software Design and Architectures

Gain relevant work experience through co-op

By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, you can explore new career areas and types of employers as your career interests evolve.

Sample co-op job titles

Test automation developer
Software developer
Full stack web developer
Data engineering student
Data scientist
iOS developer
Infrastructure engineering intern
QA developer, mobile

Sample co-op employers

Apple
Microsoft Corporation
Salesforce.com
Mitre Media
Connected Lab
Public Service Commission of Canada
Aviva Canada
Ford Motor Company of Canada

Careers in Computer Engineering

As a graduate, you might design control systems for automated production lines, create software for digital telephone switching systems, develop an operating system for a client with specific needs, or plan and supervise the installation of computer networks.