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Winter 2016
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The Graduate Calendar
 

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Programs

Master of Applied Science (MASc)
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Admission Requirements

The regular Master of Applied Science (MASc) program, may be pursued through a thesis option. The MASc - Software Engineering Program (ConGESE) may be completed with either a thesis or research/design paper. Admission requirements for students admitted to the MASc program are as follows:
  • An Honours Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with at least a B+ standing (78%).
  • Two letters of reference, at least one of which must be from academic sources.
  • Proof of competency in English (if applicable). See the English Language Proficiency page for acceptable tests of English.
  • A Supplementary Information form (available through the on-line application process).
    Note: This is not a requirement for the MASc - Software Engineering (ConGESE) program.
Students who do not meet the requirements outlined above may be considered for admission to a transitional, probationary or qualifying program depending on their academic backgrounds. Refer to the Categories of Admission page for additional information.

Degree Requirements

Regular MASc Program

The objective of the regular MASc degree program in Electrical and Computer Engineering is to demonstrate individual accomplishment of high professional and academic standard. The candidate, with the approval of the supervisor, must submit a research thesis as a portion of the requirements. 

The requirements for the MASc degree consist of at least five courses (0.50 unit weight per course) of graduate credit plus a thesis (Thesis Milestone), and a Graduate Seminar (Seminar Milestone). The thesis counts as four (0.50 unit weight) courses. At least 2 of the courses must be from the list of approved core courses (updated by the Department annually) in one of the 13 approved areas of specialization as specified in the student's letter of admission. The choice of courses must meet with the approval of the supervisor.

Core courses

Antennas, Microwaves, and Wave Optics

  • ECE 642 Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design
  • ECE 671 Microwave and RF Engineering
  • ECE 672 Optoelectronic Devices
  • ECE 675 Radiation and Propagation of Electromagnetic Fields
  • ECE 676 (QIC 750) Quantum Information Processing Devices
  • ECE 677 (QIC 885) Quantum Electronics and Photonics

Circuits and Systems

  • ECE 636 Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits
  • ECE 637 Digital Integrated Circuits
  • ECE 671 Microwave and RF Engineering

Communications and Information Systems

Computer Hardware

  • ECE 606 Algorithm Design
  • ECE 621 Computer Organization
  • ECE 627 Register-transfer-level Digital Systems
  • ECE 637 Digital Integrated Circuits

Computer Software

  • ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis
  • ECE 650 Methods and Tools for Software Engineering
  • ECE 653 Software Testing, Quality Assurance and Maintenance
  • ECE 654 Software Reliability Engineering
  • ECE 656 Database Systems

Nanotechnology

  • ECE 630 Physics and Models of Semiconductor Devices
  • ECE 633 Nanoelectronics
  • ECE 634 Organic Electronics
  • ECE 635 Fabrication in the Nanoscale: Principles, Technology and Applications
  • ECE 672 Optoelectronic Devices

PAMI - Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence

  • ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis
  • ECE 613 Image Processing and Visual Communication
  • ECE 657 Tools of Intelligent Systems Design
  • ECE 657A Data and Knowledge Modelling and Analysis
  • ECE 659 Intelligent Sensors and Sensor Networks

Power and Energy Systems

  • ECE 662 Power Systems Analysis and Control
  • ECE 663 Energy Processing
  • ECE 665 High Voltage Engineering Applications
  • ECE 666 Power Systems Operation
  • ECE 668 Distribution System Engineering

Quantum Information

Silicon Devices and Integrated Circuits

  • ECE 630 Physics and Models of Semiconductor Devices
  • ECE 631 Microelectronic Processing Technology
  • ECE 634 Organic Electronics
  • ECE 636 Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits
  • ECE 671 Microwave and RF Engineering
  • ECE 672 Optoelectronic Devices

Systems and Controls

  • ECE 602 (CO 602): Introduction to Optimization
  • ECE 604 (STAT 901): Stochastic Processes
  • ECE 682 Multivariable Control Systems
  • ECE 686 Filtering and Control of Stochastic Linear Systems
  • ECE 688 Nonlinear Systems

VLSI - Very Large Scale Integration

  • ECE 636 Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits
  • ECE 637 Digital Integrated Circuits
  • ECE 671 Microwave and RF Engineering

Wireless Communication

MASc - Software Engineering (ConGESE)

Note: The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is no longer accepting applications for the ConGEGE program.

In addition to satisfying all other requirements for the regular MASc degree, a student pursuing a specialization in software engineering must take courses to satisfy the Software Engineering (ConGESE) requirements which place emphasis on core software engineering material, project management material, software technology material, application engineering material, and related electives.

This program offers a thesis or research paper option. Thesis requirements are the same as those of the regular MASc program. The research paper option requires completion of at least 8 courses (0.50 unit weight per course) of graduate credit plus a research paper (Master's Research Paper Milestone). The research paper counts as two (0.50 unit weight) courses.

Master's Research Paper

The topic of the research paper is arranged by the student and the faculty supervisor for approval by the Graduatae Studies Committee. The work leading to the project report must be performed under the direction of the supervisor. The report must then be approved and accepted by the supervisor and one reader.

Thesis

The topic of the thesis and the choice of the required five courses of graduate coursework are arranged by students and their faculty supervisor. Each student's program is subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department. Students must maintain continuous active registration until the thesis requirements are completed. The research work leading to the thesis must be performed under the direction of the faculty supervisor(s) and is finally approved and accepted by at least three readers. The readers will consist of the supervisor(s) plus a minimum of two other faculty members.

The minimum period of registration for the Master's degree is two terms after an Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent. The maximum time limit is six terms for the regular program and fifteen terms for the part-time program.

Students are normally expected to take graduate courses at 600 or 700 level as noted in this calendar. One advanced undergraduate (400 level) Electrical or Computer Engineering course may be allowed for Graduate credit. It is expected that both the student and supervisor should provide adequate justification before any undergraduate course is approved for credit.

The advanced undergraduate courses must be at the 400 or 500 level as given in the Undergraduate Calendar and must be approved for graduate credit and confirmed in writing by the Department Associate Chair for Graduate Studies at the time of registration.

Students may be required at any time to withdraw from the program if they fail to maintain a cumulative average grade of at least 70% (B-) in the coursework portion of their approved study program or if they fail to receive satisfactory progress reports regarding their research activities.

The Department may recommend that credit be allowed for courses taken at other institutions. In special cases, one course (0.50 unit weight) may be approved.

Research Seminar Milestone

Students are required to present a seminar on their thesis topic as part of the regular MASc degree program requirements. The purpose of this seminar is to develop the student's ability to communicate the results of a research work in an organized and informative manner. The seminar is not an oral examination of the thesis. The seminar should be held during the term the thesis is submitted to the readers. The supervisor(s), plus one other Faculty member must be in attendance at the seminar in order for the student to receive credit.


Graduate Studies Office
Needles Hall, Room 2201
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
519 888 4567 x35411

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