Electrical and Computer Engineering (ELCE) is a profession that is constantly changing to meet societal needs. The ELCE discipline has created significant impact on human life in the past 50 years or so, and some of the key impacts of the field in our day to day living include: electrification, telephony, television, computers, internet, imaging, media devices, home appliances, and medical technologies. 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.

Rewarding career opportunities in the field of Electrical 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. As an electrical engineer, you focus on the transfer of both electrical energy and information.

The first-year courses of the Electrical Engineering program 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 of the Electrical Engineering program, the emphasis will shift to advanced subjects such as communication systems, electromagnetics, microcomputer systems, electrical devices and systems, and control theory. The fourth year curriculum provides a wide range of technical elective courses. Students can further specialize in Digital Hardware Design, Communication Systems, Control Systems and Power Systems by selecting appropriate courses in the fourth year of the program. During this final year of the program, all students complete a mandatory group design project.

To educate, train, and prepare the next generation engineers to address the technical issues and challenges raised by the emerging technologies, the undergraduate curriculum offered should be adaptable, dynamic, relevant, and efficient. With this emerging trend in mind, and considering the faculty expertise and the laboratory facilities in place, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ryerson offers modern, relevant, and efficient curriculum with four program options in the BEng Electrical Engineering program. They are:

Energy Systems Option – One of the most important areas of engineering where topics such as alternative fuels, energy conversion, efficiency and green power take centre stage.

Microsystems Option – This important option focuses on electronics and integrated circuit design in the nanoscale era which enables the creation of System-on-Chip where hundreds of millions of transistors can be integrated on a single chip. Theory will be supported by laboratory work using industry-class software and equipment.

Multimedia Systems Option – This option will deal with issues such as digital images, video, audio and multimedia, and will focus on theory, implementation, impact and convergence which is evident in current cutting edge digital technologies and consumer products.

Robotics and Control Systems Option – Control systems are found in a broad range of applications, from aircraft to spacecraft to automobiles to robots. This option will focus on the design and implementation of control systems and its application to robotics.

These program options are in addition to the regular BEng in Electrical Engineering accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB), and became effective for students entering their sixth semester from Winter 2009 onwards.

It should be noted that the first five semesters of the program are common. It is only in the sixth semester that a student will decide on an option, if he or she wishes to pursue one. In the sixth semester, students decide on one of the four courses for an option. This flexibility also ensures that even at the end of the sixth semester if a student is planning to switch an option, he or she can do so without taking any additional courses or spending an additional semester. Another notable thing with the structure of the sixth semester is that the students are exposed to some key subject areas, and the exposure to these materials will help the students to be better prepared to participate in the optional Industrial Internship Program offered by the department, in which the student will spend 8 to 16 months in industry designing and working with electrical, electronics, telecommunications, and computer products. The restructuring of the courses in the sixth semester also makes the students well positioned for the many summer research work employment opportunities available to them. The options will also lead to a better informed Capstone design project by the students in their 4th year of study.

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 computer networks, computer systems and applications and power electronics.

For further information about the program please refer to the Department's home page at www.ee.ryerson.ca.

TRANSITION PROGRAMS

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, 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 enroll in MTH 312 and/or ELE 302 in the Winter semester. The course MTH 312 will replace ELE 401 in 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/Summer 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/Summer 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 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 (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 and Writing Skills

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) and/or Ryerson Test of English Proficiency (RTEP).

All students admitted into engineering, except those who wrote the RTEP and achieved a grade of ‘B' or higher, 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) or the RTEP (by achieving a grade of ‘B' or higher) will receive a PASS in CEN 199 and therefore may enroll in the lower level Liberal Studies course of their choice (subject to availability).

Students who do not pass the WST, or achieved a ‘C' level remedial pass on the RTEP, will receive an INP (In Progress Grade) in CEN 199 and will be required to enroll 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 towards 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 Semester 2.
• During Orientation Week prior to Semester 3.
• In May, following Semester 4.

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

Detailed information is available from the First-Year and Common Engineering Office. Room ENG 377 Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 4261.

OPTIONAL INDUSTRIAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (IIP)

In order to submit an application to participate in the industrial internship (IIP), a student must:

• Be full-time undergraduate student enrolled in Electrical, Computer or Biomedical Engineering

• Have a CLEAR academic standing with a CGPA of 2.67 (B-) or higher after completing all 2nd year courses

Students must complete all required 3rd year courses in order to participate in IIP. Students who are in 4th Year (who have completed the 3rd year of the program) are not eligible to participate in IIP.

If hired by one of the corporations who intend to provide such internship placements, IIP students will spend a period of 8 to 16 consecutive months, from May to September of the following year, as engineering interns at the corresponding corporations. After completing the IIP, students return to Ryerson and complete their 4th year of study. Enrolment in the IIP extends the program length from four to five years.

After securing an internship position the IIP students will be enrolled in the course WKT 99A/B Industrial Internship Program during the academic year in which they work as interns. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis. Completion of the Industrial Program (IIP) will be identified on the student's transcript as WKT 99A/B: Industrial Internship Program, with the appropriate grade received.

Optional Specialization in Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship
 
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).

Optional Specialization in Management Sciences (OSMS)

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 (OSMS).

Career Opportunities