Level 1: The seven background courses listed in Table 1 are all part of the normal core program for Mechanical Engineering students.
Level 2: Two of the four required option core courses listed in Table 2 (ME 269 and ME 321) are part of the normal core program for Mechanical Engineering students. The Level 2 Circuit Analysis and Design course (E&CE 241 or SYDE 292) and the Microprocessor Systems and Interfacing course (E&CE 325) must be taken in 3A and 3B. The order in which a student takes these courses depends on whether the student is in the 4-stream or the 8-stream sequence - E&CE 325 is only offered in the winter term. Students in 3A (in either stream) will be required to take an extra course, while students in 3B may defer the CSE course and replace this with a level 2 course. However, if the CSE is deferred in the 3B term, it must be made up by taking a CSE as an extra course before graduation, during a work term by distance education, or by taking a CSE (under a letter of permission) at another university.
Level 3: One of the Level 3 courses listed in Table 3 (ME 322 - Mechanical Design 1) is a 3B core course; the remaining courses may be taken as technical electives in 4th year. In the 4A term, Mechanical Engineering students must take ME 561 (in the Actuators and Sensors category) and E&CE 484 (in the Control Systems category), and ME 547 in the 4B term. Courses from other categories may be taken in 4A or 4B as required.
Mechatronics Project: Mechanical Engineering students are required to take the ME481 Mechanical Engineering Design Project in the 4A term. It is recommended (but not mandatory) that this be continued with ME482 in the 4B term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum grade average required ?
At present, there is no minimum required. However, you will have to take an extra course in 3A, so you should be confident that you will be able to cope with the (significantly) greater workload.
Is there any background preparation that would be useful?
The most significant hurdle faced by ME students is the relative lack of electric circuit theory when starting E&CE241 or SysDe292. You are expected to be familiar with chapters 1 to 5 of the E&CE100 text: ELECTRIC CIRCUITS (6th Edition) by J.W. Nillson & S.A. Reidel, published by Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0-13-057307-8 (UW library call number TK454.N54 2001), so getting a copy and reading up on this during the workterm is highly recommended. You could also check out the ECE241 course webpage for problems and prev. exams. Also, it is expected that you are familiar with the Laplace transform and its use in solving ODEs – this should have been covered in ME203.
Can I take any of the additional courses before 3A?
It is possible, but not at all recommended. Two of your 2B mechanical courses, ME203 and ME262, deal with topics that are requisite for E&CE241/SysDe292 and E&CE325.