Undergraduate Calendar 2003-2004

The preparation for an engineering career includes both formal academic studies at a university and intensive training in the practice of engineering. A similar pattern is to be found in preparation for careers in medicine or law, and is characteristic of any development of professional competence. Co-operative Engineering at the University of Waterloo provides a completely integrated pattern of academic study and industrial experience in various phases of engineering with ultimate graduation requiring satisfactory performance in both areas. The degree program covers almost five calendar years, comprising eight terms each of about four months' duration of university work on campus which are pursued alternately with six four-month terms of supervised training in the practical experiences fundamental to the development of the graduate engineer. The total time spent in academic study is the same as that encountered in the usual course of four 'academic years'.

The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo is involved in two undergraduate degrees.  The BASc (Bachelor of Applied Science) is the degree earned by all graduating undergraduates from: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering and Systems Design Engineering.  The BSE (Bachelor of Software Engineering) degree is earned by graduating undergraduates from the Software Engineering program.  The Software Engineering program is jointly administered by the Faculties of Mathematics and Engineering. The program is described in both the Engineering and Mathematics chapters of the calendar. There is only one program and these descriptions are identical. Except for the specific differences noted in the Software Engineering program description or in the introduction, the various items described in this chapter apply to both the BSE and the BASc students. It should also be noted that in this chapter, reference to an Engineering student refers to students enrolled in either the BASc or BSE degree.

The Engineering curricula at the University of Waterloo provide a sound basis in Mathematics and Pure Science and in Engineering Science and Design. A substantial part of the work of the first and second years is common to all Engineering Programs (Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Enivronmental, Geological, Mechanical, Mechatronics and Systems Design) within the BASc degree¹. The curriculum for each of the programs combines required 'core' subjects essential to the field, and 'elective' subjects permitting considerable diversity. An important part of the curriculum is a series of electives in Complementary Studies. It should be noted that although the BSE program has courses in common with the BASc program, there are significant differences.

A more detailed explanation of the Co-operative system of study is given in 'Co-operative Education and Career Services', as well as specific requirements as noted under the examinations and promotions section of this chapter.

Students are introduced to the operation and requirements of the Co-operative system of study in GENE 10, taken in the academic term prior to their first work term.

¹ Effective Fall 2001, the University of Waterloo will provide students with on-line services such as elective drop/add and degree status information.  When dealing with the on-line system, students will need to be familiar with the following terms:  your program is Engineering, and your Academic Plan is Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, etc.  In the Engineering section of the calendar the term program is used to refer to your program of study (Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering etc.).  In other sections of the calendar this concept may be referred to as the Academic Plan.

Engineering -- A Regulated Profession

In the professional programs in engineering (BASc and BSE), each student's course of study must satisfy the curriculum-content requirements of the CEAB; accreditation of the degree by the CEAB is the mechanism by which graduates qualify for registration as Professional Engineers without the need to undertake additional examinations in specific technical subject areas. No Student will be permitted to graduate who does not meet these requirements because this would jeopardize accreditation for the program. The department/board responsible for the appropriate program will use these curriculum content requirements in determining the suitability of student elective course selections.

Degrees

Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Geological Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronics Engineering
Systems Design Engineering

The University of Waterloo also awards the degree of Bachelor of Software Engineering (BSE).

The Degrees of Master of Applied Science (MASc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are also awarded in Engineering. For further details, consult the Graduate Studies Calendar and the list of the particular courses in graduate work in the various departments.

Dean's Honours List

Students with outstanding records throughout their undergraduate careers in Engineering will 'Graduate on the Dean's Honours List' if they have been on the 'Dean's Honours List' for at least two terms of the six academic terms preceding graduation, and have a cumulative average over these last six academic terms of their program (i.e. Computer Engineering, etc.) of at least 80%. An appropriate notation will appear on the student's official university transcript.

Students enrolled in the BSE degree program may also qualify for a Dean's Honours List using rules specified by the Dean of Mathematics.  This is described in detail in the Software Engineering Section of this chapter.

An Alumni Gold medal is awarded annually to recognize the academic excellence of the top undergraduate in Engineering.

WHMIS Requirements

For students in their 1A term in an Engineering program, the WHMIS requirement will normally be met as part of their instruction during the 1A term. It is the student's responsibility, however, to obtain this training. For students who are admitted at an advanced level, a condition of admission will be that the WHMIS credit be obtained by the end of the first week of lectures for the first term of study in the program; the credit can be obtained as described in the above paragraph.

English Language Proficiency Requirement

1. All students with an initial registration in the BASc or BSE programs must satisfy the English Language Proficiency Requirement by the end of their 2A academic term or, if admission to the program occurs after the 2A term, before the end of their first academic term in their program.
2. The English Language Proficiency Requirement may be satisfied by one of the following:
• writing and obtaining a grade of 60 out of 90 or better in the English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE). (The ELPE is graded out of 90.)
• taking an approved English course and obtaining a grade of 60% (C-) or better. A list of approved courses is provided below.
• in the case of admission to the program after the 2A term, providing evidence of proficiency in the form of courses successfully taken elsewhere, etc. that is acceptable to the home department in which the student is enrolled.
Students who have not satisfied the English Language Proficiency Requirement by the end of the appropriate term as specified in item one above will have their Academic Decision Deferred for that term. Continuation in the program is then contingent upon first satisfying this requirement.
3. Students who obtain a grade of less than 60 in the ELPE must, at the first available opportunity after their unsuccessful attempt at the ELPE, either attend the Writing Clinic or pass one of the following approved English courses with a grade of 60% or better:

ENGL 109	Introduction to Academic Writing
ENGL 129R	Introduction to Written English
ENGL 210C	Report Writing

Refer to Course Offerings Lists to verify terms of offering for the above courses.

Satisfaction of the English Language Proficiency Requirement will be displayed on the student's transcript when the student completes the requirement by passing the ELPE examination, or successfully fulfilling the requirements of the Writing Clinic.

Note

Students who arrange a special sitting of the ELPE outside the scheduled dates will be assessed an administrative charge.  

Incompatibility of Full-time Study with Full-time Employment

Complementary Studies Requirements, Options, and Combined BASc-MASc Program

There are many Faculty Options available to BASc students that recognize an element of specialization within Engineering beyond that implied by the program name (i.e. Civil Engineering) itself. These are described in the Options and Electives for Engineering Students section of this chapter. At this time these options are not available to BSE students.

A further form of enrichment which leads to a MASc degree in addition to the BASc degree is provided by the Combined BASc-MASc Program described in the corresponding section of this chapter.

Challenge for Credit

Joint Honours Plans in Engineering

A joint honours plan requires meeting all requirements of both plans. Engineering students who choose a joint honours plan may require extra courses. However, often courses required by the other plan can be used to satisfy some of the requirements of the technical electives or complementary studies course groups in the Engineering program.

International Exchange Opportunities

UW  HOME

CALENDAR  CONTENTS

ENGINEERING  INDEX

The Undergraduate Calendar is published by the
Office of the Registrar, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 Canada
Inquiries: infoucal@www.adm.uwaterloo.ca
Revised February 2003