Electrical and Computer Engineering

Master of Applied Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Quantum Information)

The University of Waterloo, home of the Institute for Quantum Computing, offers graduate students unique opportunities to learn about and engage in world-leading research in quantum information through a wide range of advanced research projects and advanced courses on the foundations, applications and implementation of quantum information processing.

In particular, the University of Waterloo offers a unique interdisciplinary graduate program in Quantum Information that leads to Master of Mathematics (MMath), Master of Science (MASc), Master of Applied Science (MASc), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. This program is a collaboration between the Institute for Quantum Computing and: 

• The Departments of Applied Mathematics, Combinatorics and Optimization, and the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science in the Faculty of Mathematics 
• The Departments of Chemistry and Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science 
• The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering 

These academic units are referred to hereinafter as the home units.

MMath, MSc, and MASc students will receive both strong and broad foundations in quantum information science, coupled with knowledge and expertise obtained within their home programs. This will prepare them for the workforce and/or further graduate studies and research leading towards a PhD degree.

PhD students will be especially well-prepared for careers as scholars and researchers, with advanced expertise in quantum information science, together with the focus of their home programs. This new program is designed to provide students with knowledge of quantum information, including both theory and its implementations, advanced expertise in quantum information science and in home program disciplines, as well as training in research.

Admission requirements are the same as those of the home programs. The home unit in which an applicant intends to pursue graduate study must approve the application. Interested students should apply directly to one of the following units via the regular university application process:

Department of Applied Mathematics
Department of Chemistry
Department of Combinatorics and Optimization
David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department of Physics and Astronomy

Information specific to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is given below.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements are the same as those for the MASc in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Degree Requirements

Students must fulfill the general requirements for the Quantum Information Collaborative Program, as well as the minimum degree requirements of their home unit. It is possible that some students may need to take more courses than are prescribed by the home program in order to meet the specific course requirements of the quantum information program.

Thesis MASc Program: The MASc in ECE Quantum Information degree requirements are as follows:

• at least five half credit (0.50 unit weight) courses including two required quantum information core courses (QIC 710 and QIC 750), a required ECE quantum information core course (QIC 885/ECE 770-T14 [Quantum Electronics & Photonics]) and two elective courses from the approved lists below:
  
  
  • one of:
     ECE 612 Information Theory
     ECE 604 Stochastic Processes
     ECE 672 Optoelectronic Devices
     ECE 720 Topic 2 Cryptographic Computations, and
  • one of:
     ECE 616 Principles of Data Communication
     ECE 671 Microwave and RF Engineering
     ECE 678 Fourier Optics and Optical Signal Processing
     ECE 730 Special Topics in Solid State Devices (13 Nanoelectronics, 19 Magnetism and Spintronics, 20 Physics of Nanodevices, 24 Fabrication of Nanoscale: Techniques & Applications)
     ECE 770 Special Topics in Antenna and Microwave Theory (5 App High Temp Superconduc, 17 Photonics)
• original Research Thesis, in Quantum Information (a list of approved Quantum Information thesis supervisors is available at the Institute for Quantum Computing website), and
• ECE MASc Seminar Milestone (scheduled with the ECE department)

Core Courses

The required core courses are:

• QIC 710 Quantum Information Processing 
• QIC 750 Implementation of Quantum Information Processing
• QIC 885/ECE 770 Topic 14 Quantum Electronics & Photonics

In addition to the core courses, students may take advanced courses in quantum information which are offered on a regular basis:

• QIC 820 Theory of Quantum Information
• QIC 823 Quantum Algorithms
• QIC 845 Open Quantum Systems
• QIC 880 Nanoelectronics for Quantum Information Processing
• QIC 890 Topics in Quantum Information (Lecture)
• QIC 891 Topics in Quantum Information (Lecture) (0.25)
• QIC 895 Topics in Quantum Information (Reading) 

A list of Quantum Information courses that are offered each term can be found on the Institute for Quantum Computing website.

For more information about the program, please contact the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Studies Office.