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 and Computer Engineering offers highly structured programs that emphasize not only the theoretical fundamentals but also the practical aspects of the engineering profession. The curriculum in the first two years of the Computer Engineering and the Electrical Engineering programs are identical. 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.
The Department of Electrical and Computer 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 home page at www.ee.ryerson.ca.
First Year: 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 to the second semester regular program courses. Students who have failed 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 term (May-July). Phase II of the transition program offers all second semester core courses: BME 100, CHE 200, CHY 211, CPS 125, EES 512, ELE 202, MEC 222, 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.
Attention: Students are also given the opportunity to complete the following courses through The Chang School of Continuing Education during both the Spring and Summer terms: CECN 801, CCMN 432, and appropriate lower- and upper-level liberal studies courses. Only these Chang School courses will be counted towards the student's full-time Engineering degree program.
At the completion of any transition program, successful transition program students will be able to join their classmates who have been promoted to the second year of the Computer Engineering program, without losing an academic year.
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 enroll in MTH 312 and/or ELE 302 in the Winter semester. The course MTH 312 will replace ELE 401 on the student's Winter timetable and ELE 302 will replace ELE 404. The student will then be able to take ELE 401 and/or ELE 404 in a condensed Spring semester (May-July).
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 enroll 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).
Early Intervention Program
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 and Common Engineering Office, the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and 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 (First-Year and Common Engineering Program Director/Academic Advisor and/or the Student Counsellor). Together, they discuss options to help reduce the chances of academic failure.
Communications Proficiency Resource Path
All students admitted into first year engineering are required to write a mandatory Writing Skills Test (WST) or the diagnostic Ryerson Test of English Proficiency (RTEP). The WST is conducted annually during Orientation Week before the beginning of the first semester. Students who pass the WST, by achieving a grade of 'B' or higher, may enroll in their chosen Liberal Studies courses. Those students who do not pass the WST and those students who achieve a 'C-' level remedial pass on the RTEP, will be required to enroll in LNG 100, LNG 101, LNG 200 or LNG 300 courses as lower level liberal studies, depending on the outcome of the WST assessment. Students who do not pass the first WST or who achieve a 'C-' level remedial pass on the RTEP, will have three additional chances to pass the WST. The second test will be available in May following the completion of the First-Year Engineering curriculum. The third and fourth WST will be conducted during the following Orientation Week, and in May of the following year, for the next cohort of engineering students.
Students who fail the second WST may benefit from a four to six-week intensive ESL/writing program, which will be available during the Spring term. Students may not proceed into the third year of their engineering program without passing the WST. Engineering students who need to further develop their language and writing skills, will have access to additional writing-intensive Liberal Studies courses. Students who are required to take the LNG 100, LNG 200, LNG 300 or LNG 101 are strongly encouraged and expected to take these writing-intensive humanities and social science courses. Detailed information is available from the First-Year and Common Engineering Office.
For additional information, please refer to the specific engineering program within this calendar or contact the First-Year and Common Engineering Office, Room ENG 377 Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 4261.
OPTIONAL INDUSTRIAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (IIP): Third year students with CLEAR Academic Standing may opt to enroll in the IIP. If hired by one of the corporations who intend to provide such internship placements, IIP students will spend a period of 16 consecutive months, from May to September of the following year, as engineering interns at the corresponding corporations. After the completion of the industrial internship, students return to the academic program to complete their final year of studies. Enrollment in the IIP extends the program length to five years.
The IIP students enroll in the course WKT 99A/B: Industrial Internship Program for Electrical and Computer Engineering Students during the academic year in which they work as interns. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis. Completion of the Industrial Internship program (IIP) will be identified on the student's transcript as WKT 99A/B: Industrial Internship Program, with the appropriate grade achieved.
Optional Specialization in Management Sciences (OSMS)
Students who opt for this specialization will gain a solid foundation in management science courses, specifically tailored to better prepare them for a career in engineering or applied science management or for graduate studies in management related specializations (e.g. MBA). Students must complete all first year courses and obtain a CLEAR Standing to be eligible to enroll in this specialization.
Furthermore, in order to continue taking courses within the specialization, students must maintain their CLEAR Standing. Students' CGPAs will continue to be calculated based only on their required program courses and separate CGPAs will be computed for courses in the specialization. In order to have the specialization designation reflected on their degrees, students must successfully complete all six courses in the specialization and achieve a CGPA of 2.00 or more before graduation.
Courses within the optional specialization cover four major areas in management science: Strategic Engineering Management, Operations Management/Operations Research, Financial Sciences, and Organizational Sciences. Required courses include: Managerial Accounting, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management, Operations Management, and Organization Design & Dynamics. Elective courses span the following: Investment Analysis, Management Information Systems, Operations Research, and Project Management.
Required courses: EMS 201, EMS 202, EMS 204, EMS 303, ECN 801.
Elective courses (select one): EMS 203, EMS 301, EMS 302, EMS 304.
Students approved prior to Fall 2008 will follow the previous requirements.
Courses are only offered in the Spring (May-July) term. All required courses are prerequisite to the corresponding elective courses. For example, EMS 201 is a prerequisite to EMS 301. Additional prerequisites may be required. See the course description pages for details.
Career Opportunities
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.
Engineering Transfer Credits
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 (CEAB). Refer to www.ccpe.ca/e/index.cfm 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.
Liberal Studies
Students must take two lower level liberal studies courses and two upper level liberal studies courses to graduate.
Liberal Studies - Students Approved Prior to Fall 2008
Students must take three lower level liberal studies courses and three upper level liberal studies courses to graduate.
Minors
Students may pursue any Minor offered by Ryerson (with exceptions), and are eligible for only one Minor. Please refer to the Minors Policy section of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and restrictions.
The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Certificates
Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible restrictions. Please refer to the Curriculum Advising website at www.ryerson.ca/curriculumadvising for complete details.
