Electrical Engineering

Set yourself up for an electrifying future.

Behind just about every advance in information, power, and energy, you’ll find an electrical engineer. Join the ranks of those innovators with a degree from Waterloo.

You’ll study the fundamentals of electromagnetism, circuits, algorithms, and instrumentation. You'll also gain hands-on experience starting right in first year, thanks to paid co-op work terms and some of the best electrical engineering student labs in North America.

When you graduate, you’ll have hundreds of career paths open to you: from designing power stations and aircraft control systems to pioneering the future of microprocessors and telecommunications systems.

Electrical 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)
  • Physics (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
  • Chemistry (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

Complete the Admission Information Form once you've applied.

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements

 

First-year Electrical Engineering courses

September to December

  • ENGL 192/SPCOM 192 - 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. You can also view all the courses required for your degree.

Sample upper-year courses

ECE 260 – Electromechanical Energy Conversion
ECE 309 – Introduction to Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
ECE 375 – Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
ECE 406 – Algorithm Design and Analysis

 

student in engineering laboratory

In your final year, you'll have the opportunity to participate in a design symposium, where you'll be able to show off your fourth-year project to the public, including potential employers and investors.

breifcaseGain 2 years of experience in the co-op program

clickApply directly to this program on your application

grad capEarn a Bachelor of Applied Science degree

 

Co-op = relevant paid work experience

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

  • Hardware design engineer
  • Assistant information analyst
  • Artifical intelligence undergraduate researcher
  • Test systems engineering
  • Electrical engineering intern
  • Hardware designer
  • Junior designer - electrical

Sample co-op employers

  • Toronto Transit Commission
  • Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada
  • Ontario Power Generation
  • Ceridian
  • Regional Municipality of Peel
  • Rogers Media
 

#1Engineering school in Canada (US News & World Report 2018)

GearsOffered through the Faculty of Engineering

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

 

What can you do with a degree in Electrical Engineering?

Waterloo Electrical Engineering graduates often pursue careers in software development, manufacturing, telecommunications, aerospace, and more. They often work for engineering firms, technology companies, and manufacturing companies.

Recent graduates

  • Hardware Engineer – Intel
  • Electrical Designer – Mulvey & Banani International 
  • Business Technology Analyst – Deloitte
  • Programmer – Kubra Data Transfer
  • Software Engineer – Dropbox
  • Application Specialist – Ceridian
  • Engineering Product Management – IBM Canada

Possible professional designation

Build electric cars

Join one of Waterloo’s student design teams where you’ll design, build, and race electric cars in North American and global competitions.

Showcase your ideas

An annual design symposium gives you the opportunity to show your fourth-year project to the public — as well as potential employers and investors!

 

Learn more about Electrical Engineering