Computer Engineering

O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses including Grade 12 U courses in: English, Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), Physics (SPH4U) and Chemistry (SCH4U).

Notes:

1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
   
2. The grade(s) required in the subject prerequisites (normally in the 70 percent range) will be determined subject to competition.
   
3. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.  

The Computer Engineering BEng degree program is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board.

The computer revolution has created vast industries and countless jobs that employ professionals educated in electrical and computer engineering, computer science and information technology- all closely related disciplines involving the understanding and design of computers and computational processes. Computer profession specialties constitute a continuum. At one pole is computer science, which is primarily concerned with theory, design and implementation of software- the product being a computer program. At the other pole is computer engineering, primarily concerned with firmware (the micro-code that controls processors), hardware (the processors themselves, as well as entire computers), software (system-level and user/application-level) and interfacing systems (both at hardware and software level) that will allow computer systems to communicate with the outside world as well as with each other. It is not possible, however, to draw a clear line between the two disciplines; many practitioners function to at least some extent as both computer engineers and computer scientists. Computer Engineers distinguish themselves with their versatile set of skills: they can design and build computers, interface them with the outside world and make them talk to each other, develop firmware and also create system-level and user/application-level software.

The Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering offers highly structured programs that emphasize not only the theoretical fundamentals but also the practical aspects of the engineering profession. The first-year courses will provide the students with grounding in engineering science fundamentals such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science and the theory of electric circuits. The second year of the program introduces discrete mathematics, data structures and engineering algorithms, and electrical engineering core subjects such as analog and digital electronic circuits and systems. In the third year, students will further study computer architecture, microcomputer systems, object-oriented analysis and design, digital electronics, communication systems and control theory.

In the final year of the program, students will take courses in data communications, digital systems engineering, real-time operating systems, VLSI design and numerical techniques. The fourth year curriculum also allows students further specialization in a variety of subject areas through an extensive technical electives list. During this final year of the program all students must complete a mandatory group design project. The key objective of the Design Project is to encourage students to plan, design and implement their project while developing the skills to make key decisions independently.

Software Engineering Option

Students entering the 5th semester will have a choice as to whether they would like to continue on the regular Computer Engineering curriculum or to enroll in the Software Engineering option. Students in this option will gain training in software engineering concepts through a set of seven software focused and intensive courses spread over 3rd and 4th year.

The Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering also offers graduate degree programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering. These graduate degree programs allow students to pursue advanced studies and independent research in the areas of signal processing and communications, computer systems engineering, and power engineering.

Further information about the program is available on the Department's website. (opens in new window) 

Rewarding career opportunities in the field of Computer Engineering will give graduates of this program a chance to work in research and development, design production engineering or quality control, health care systems or the electronic service industry. Computer engineers design computer chips, circuits equipment/systems, plan computer layouts, and formulate mathematical models of technical problems that can be solved by a computer. They design, develop, and test computer hardware and peripheral equipment, as well as, maintain software programs and systems.

First Year Transition Program: The objective of the first year transition program is to provide students, who may need more time to adapt to the demanding university curriculum, with an immediate opportunity to upgrade their Academic Standing. In the second semester, Phase I of the transition program offers all first semester core courses: CHY 102, MTH 140, MTH 141, and PCS 211 in parallel with the second semester regular program courses. Students who have failed and/or are missing any one of these courses at the end of the first semester are required to upgrade their Academic Standing through enrolling in the transition program. During the condensed Spring semester (May-July) Phase II of the transition program offers all second semester core courses: AER 222, BME 100, CHE 200, CHY 211, CPS 125, CPS 188, CVL 207, ELE 202, MEC 222, MTH 240, MTL 200, and PCS 125. These courses represent a repeat of the second semester regular program courses that were not taken by students enrolled in Phase I of the transition program. These courses will be offered subject to adequate enrolment.

Second Year: The second year transition program is intended to help students who have failed or dropped the second year Fall courses MTH 312 and/or ELE 302 to stay in-phase with their classmates and still have a chance to be promoted to third year in the following academic year. This is accomplished by allowing such students to enrol in MTH 312 and/or ELE 302 in the Winter semester and then be able to enrol in some courses dependent on those prerequisites in the spring transition.

Third Year: Similar to the second year transition program, the third year transition program is intended to help students who have failed or dropped the third year Fall courses MTH 514 and/or ELE 532 to still have a chance to be promoted to fourth year by allowing them to enrol in those courses in the Winter semester. The course MTH 514 will replace ELE 635 in the student's Winter timetable and ELE 532 will replace ELE 639. The student will then be able to take ELE 639 and/or ELE 635 in a condensed Spring semester (May-July).

Highly innovative and proactive retention strategies play an important role in helping students build the skills for success in a demanding engineering curriculum. Through the First-Year Engineering Office (opens in new window) , the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science has incorporated the Early Intervention Program into the first-year engineering experience. At the semester's mid-point, students who are failing courses in their core curriculum are identified and encouraged to attend an interview with a member of our academic support team (Program Director/Academic Advisor and/or the Student Counsellor). Together, they discuss options to help reduce the chances of academic failure.

All new engineering students are automatically enrolled in CEN 199: Writing Skills.

CEN 199 is graded on a Pass/Fail basis, and is used to track the results of the Writing Skills Test (WST).

All students admitted into engineering are required to write the mandatory Writing Skills Test (WST) during Orientation Week. Students who pass the WST (by achieving a grade of ‘B' or higher) will receive a PASS in CEN 199 and therefore may enrol in the lower level liberal studies course of their choice (subject to availability).

Students who do not pass the WST will receive an INP (In Progress Grade) in CEN 199 and will be required to enrol in one of LNG 111, LNG 112, LNG 113, or LNG 121 as their first-year lower level liberal studies course. These courses, which count toward lower level liberal studies requirements, are writing-intensive humanities and social science courses designed to give students the opportunity to strengthen their foundations in communication. These students will then have three additional opportunities to write and pass the WST:

• In May, following 2nd Semester.
• During Orientation Week before 3rd Semester.
• In May, following 4th Semester.

A PASS in CEN 199: Writing Skills is required to enrol in all third-year engineering courses. Students with a grade of INP in CEN 199 will not be allowed to enrol in any third-year engineering course.

Detailed information is available from the First-Year Engineering Office (opens in new window) . Room ENG 377 Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 4261.

After completing the first three years of the regular curriculum, a student in the Computer Engineering Program with CLEAR academic standing has options of continuing with the regular program or enrolling in the Computer Engineering Co-operative program after obtaining a 12 to 16-month Co-op job offer. After completing their co-operative job placement, a student in the Computer Engineering Co-operative program will return to the program to complete their degree requirements. The length of the Computer Engineering Co-operative Program is five years.

After completing the first three years of the regular curriculum, students in the Computer Engineering Program with CLEAR Academic Standing may be eligible to enrol in the Optional Internship Program. If they are selected by one of the partner corporations, they spend a period of 8 months as engineering interns at the corresponding corporations. After the completion of the Internship, students return to the academic program to complete their final year of studies. Enrolment in the Internship Program extends the program length to five years.

This option provides students with a solid foundation in innovation and entrepreneurship theory as well as the immersive experience of advancing and shaping an idea into a business. The lecture courses cover principles of engineering economics, entrepreneurship and innovation management, and technology based new venture creation. The practicum will guide students through the process of identifying a new business concept, developing their technology, and preparing their business for market readiness. For eligibility, registration and course information see Optional Specialization in Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OS EIE).

Students can enrich their studies and hone their management skills with the Optional Specialization in Management Sciences. Courses within the optional specialization cover four major areas in management sciences: Strategic Engineering Management, Operations Management/Operations Research, Finance, and Organizational Behaviour. For eligibility, registration, and course information see Optional Specialization in Management Sciences (OS MS).

Applicants approved into an Engineering program cannot expect to receive any transfer credits in Engineering discipline or Engineering related discipline courses if their applicable post secondary education was not completed at a program accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (external link, opens in new window)  (CEAB). Refer to Engineers Canada (external link, opens in new window)  for a listing of CEAB accredited institutions.

Core and professional engineering course transfer credits will ONLY be granted at the time of admission. An Offer of Admission will notify the applicant of transfer credit decision(s) subject to acceptance of their Offer.

Liberal studies discipline courses taken at CEAB accredited or non-accredited schools will be considered for either lower- or upper-level liberal studies transfer credit. College courses, in general, are not eligible for transfer credit except in the case of lower-level liberal studies courses.

Students must take two lower level liberal studies courses and two upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Toronto Met (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window)  for complete details.

The Accelerated Master of Applied Science (MASc) Pathway is open to undergraduate engineering students who have demonstrated academic excellence and/or research potential by the end of the third year of their undergraduate program. Students can enrol in a maximum of two graduate level courses in addition to their regular undergraduate course requirements in the final year of their undergraduate program and commence their Master’s research such that the MASc program can be completed in approximately one year. The Accelerated MASc Pathway does not change the degree requirements for the existing BEng or MASc programs. For more information about and application to this pathway, please contact the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science.  

Common to all students in Computer Engineering.

NOTE: Students after the 6th semester have options of continuing with the regular program (including, if eligible enrolling in the Optional Internship Program) or, if eligible, enrolling in the Computer Engineering Co-operative Program.

* COE 70 A/B is a two-term course with a GPA Weight of 2.0.

Note: Students after the 6th semester have options of continuing with the regular program (including, if eligible, enrolling in the Optional Internship Program) or, if eligible, enrolling in the Computer Engineering Co-operative Program - Software Engineering option

* COE 70 A/B is a two-term course with a GPA Weight of 2.0.

In addition to the regular Computer Engineering curriculum, students can choose to pursue the Computer Engineering Co-operative Program. The following table shows the sequence of academic and work terms for this program. Students are expected to follow the sequence prescribed for their program. Graduation with the co-op designation requires successful completion of a minimum of three work terms.

Students obtaining extensions to placements not previously eligible for co-op may be granted department permission to use WKT 292 towards co-op WKT requirements.

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

Shahrzad Esmaili, MEng, MASc
Patent Agent
Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh

Tarek Khan, MASc
Product Development Engineer
AMD

Hassan Kojori, PhD, PEng, FIEEE
Senior Principal Engineer
Honeywell

Tom Murad, PhD, PEng, FEC, SMIEEE
Head, Engineering & Technology Academy
Siemens Canada

Mario Ramirez, MASc, PEng, CCE
Director, Medical Engineering
Sick Kids Hospital

Adel Sedra, PhD, PEng, FCAE, FRSC, FIEEE
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
University of Waterloo

Please see the department website (opens in new window)  for updates to the Advisory Council.

In addition to the general criteria used to determine Academic Standing, students in this
program must also meet the following conditions:

All students in undergraduate Engineering programs have an additional condition for Clear
academic standing. In addition to students needing a cumulative grade point average
(CGPA) of 1.67 or higher, students also need to have a term grade point average (TGPA)
of 1.33 or higher, based on at least two reported grades for that term (not including Pass,
DEF, INP or AEG grades). Students who have a TGPA less than 1.33 will be given
PROBATIONARY Academic Standing. Students with only one reported grade for that
term will be evaluated based on CGPA only.

Students with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) less than 1.67 will be assigned a
Probationary or Required to Withdraw (RTW) standing. See Academic Standings (opens in new window)  for
information about the process and consequences.