Program Curriculum


Core engineering program (Years 1 & 2)

A substantial part of the work in first and second year is made up of core classes common to all engineering disciplines. You will apply to your preferred discipline in the winter term of first year and the elective classes taken in second year will depend on your selected discipline.

Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculum (Years 3, 4 & 5)

For students entering the Electrical and Computer Engineering program (Year 3/Term 5) effective Fall 2024, the standard course schedule will follow th new 9-term curriculum found in the 2024/2025 Academic Calendar.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculum is built upon the enduring physical and mathematical principles that serve as the unchanging foundation of the discipline. Courses withink the program apply these foundational principles to cutting-ende applications in specialized areas, ensuring that students are equipped with both timeless knoweldge and contemporary skills. 

Technical Elective courses are included in the curriculum to enable the student to obtain a deeper, more detailed understanding of current technology in a field of interest. Additionally, these electives may be chosen from a selection of courses offered by other Departments, fostering interdisciplinary perspectives and expertise.

During the final two terms students complete a Senior Year Project in a small team. This project requires students to analyze, design, and implement solutions to real-world electrical or computer engineering problems. These projects are sources from professionals in local industries or research facilities who actively supervise the students in collaboration with assigned Faculty Advisors.

Laboratory sessions form an integral part of most Electrical and Computer Engineering courses. These hands-on sessions take place in on-campus laboratories, providing students with practical exposure and reinforcing theoretical concepts in a tangible and applied manner.

Program Options

Upon completion of the core engineering program, the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering offers two program options.

  • Electrical Engineering Option in the accredited Electrical Engineering Program or
  • Computer Engineering Option* in the accredited Electrical Engineering Program

*Please note that the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department does not currently offer a separate accredited Computer Engineering Degree Program.

Within the above two programs, a student is required to choose one of the following three schedules.

  • Co-operative Program Schedule
  • Non-Co-operative Program Schedule
  • Accelerated Non-Co-operative Program Schedule

*Course Schedules differ for each of these three options. Please see the detailed per term course schedules listed below for more details.

Students who choose Co-Operative Program Schedule can apply for and are required to take three four-month work placements in industry. They need two years and eight months to complete their degree. Students in the Non-Co-operative Program Schedule can finish in two years and four months. Students in the Non-Co-operative Program Schedule may complete their degree in one year and eight months.

Students registered in our program may pursue either the Electrical or Computer options  listed below.  Additionally, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department offers a Certificate in Biomedical Engineering. See the Certificates section of the calendar for details.

Core Engineering Program - Years 1 & 2

See requirements listed in: Diploma of Engineering

Fall 2024 Electrical Engineering Options

Fall 2024 Electrical Engineering Option (Co-op) - Years 3, 4, 5

Study Term 5 (Fall)

Study Term 6 (Winter)

Work Term 1 (Summer)

 

Study Term 7 (Fall)

Work Term 2 (Winter)

 

Work Term 3 (Summer)

 

Study Term 8 (Fall)

  • CPST 3030.03: Engineering in Society II
  • ECED 4900.03: Senior Year Project I
  • Technical Elective I
  • Technical Elective II

Study Term 9 (Winter)

  • ECED 4601.03: Digital Control Systems
  • ECED 4901.03: Senior Year Project II
  • Technical Elective III
  • Technical Elective IV

**Humanities Elective
Refer to general Engineering section for details.

Fall 2024 Electrical Engineering Option (Non-Co-Op) - Years 3, 4, 5

Study Term 5 (Fall)

Study Term 6 (Winter)

Free Term (Summer)

 

Study Term 7 (Fall)

Study Term 8 (Winter)

  • ECED 4601.03: Digital Control Systems
  • ECED 4900.03: Senior Year Project I
  • Technical Elective I
  • Technical Elective II

Free Term (Summer)

 

Study Term 9 (Fall)

  • CPST 3030.03: Engineering in Society II
  • ECED 4901.03: Senior Year Project II
  • Technical Elective III
  • Technical Elective IV

**Humanities Elective
Refer to general Engineering section for details.

Fall 2024 Electrical Engineering Option (Accelerated) - Years 3 & 4

Study Term 5 (Fall)

Study Term 6 (Winter)

Free Term (Summer)

 

Study Term 7 (Fall)

Study Term 8 (Winter)

  • ECED 4601.03: Digital Control Systems
  • ECED 4901.03: Senior Year Project II
  • Technical Elective II
  • Technical Elective III
  • Technical Elective IV

**Humanities Elective
Refer to general Engineering section for details.

Fall 2024 Computer Engineering Options

Fall 2024 Computer Engineering Option (Co-Op) - Years 3, 4, 5

Study Term 5 (Fall)

Study Term 6 (Winter)

Work Term 1 (Summer)

 

Study Term 7 (Fall)

Work Term 2 (Winter)

 

Work Term 3 (Summer)

 

Study Term 8 (Fall)

  • ECED 4402.03: Real Time Systems
  • ECED 4404.03: Computer Networks & Communications
  • ECED 4900.03: Senior Year Project I
  • Technical Elective I

Study Term 9 (Winter)

**Humanities Elective
Refer to general Engineering section for details.

Fall 2024 Computer Engineering Option (Non-Co-Op) - Years 3, 4, 5

Study Term 5 (Fall)

Study Term 6 (Winter)

Free Term (Summer)

 

Study Term 7 (Fall)

Term 8 (Winter)

Free Term (Summer)

 

Study Term 9 (Fall)

  • ECED 4402.03: Real Time Systems
  • ECED 4404.03: Computer Networks & Communications
  • ECED 4901.03: Senior Year Project II
  • Technical Elective II

**Humanities Elective
Refer to general Engineering section for details.

Fall 2024 Computer Engineering Option (Accelerated) - Years 3 & 4

Study Term 5 (Fall)

Study Term 6 (Winter)

Free Term (Summer)

 

Study Term 7 (Fall)

Term 8 (Winter)

  • ECED 4406.03: Cybersecurity
  • ECED 4602.03: Control Systems
  • ECED 4901.03: Senior Year Project II
  • Technical Elective I
  • Technical Elective II

**Humanities Elective
Refer to general Engineering section for details.

Technical Electives

Electrical Engineering Option Technical Electives:

Students may use any 3rd or 4th year engineering course that doesn’t duplicate an ECED core course as a technical elective. Only one course outside the department is allowed.

Electrical Engineering Option students can also use courses below as Technical Electives with Instructors' Approval.

Computer Engineering Option Technical Electives:

Students may use any 3rd or 4th year engineering or CSCI course that doesn't duplicate an ECED core course (excluding project courses: CSCI 3101CSCI 3120CSCI 3130CSCI 3171CSCI 3190CSCI 3691CSCI 4171). Up to two courses outside the department are allowed.

Computer Engineering Option students can also use the course below as a Technical Elective with the Instructors' Approval.

Program Start Date 2023 or Earlier

Electrical Engineering Option (Co-op) - Start date 2023 or earlier

Year 3, Study Term 5 (Fall)

  • ECED 3003 Networks & Systems
  • ECED 3102 Electro-mechanics
  • ECED 3201 Introduction to Electronics
  • ECED 3204 Microprocessors
  • ECED 3300 Electromagnetic Fields
  • ECED 3500 Signal Analysis

Year 3, Work Term 1 (Winter)

Year 3, Study Term 6 (Summer)

  • ECED 3101 Power Systems I
  • ECED 3202 Analog Electronics
  • ECED 3301 Electromagnetic Waves and Propagation
  • ECED 3511 Communication Systems
  • ECED 3901 Electrical Engineering Design II

Year 4, Work Term 2 (Fall)

Year 4, Study Term 7 (Winter)

  • ECED 4502 Digital Signal Processing
  • ECED 4513 Communication Networks
  • ECED 4602 Modern Control Systems
  • ECED 4900 Senior Year Project I
  • Technical Elective
  • Technical Elective

Year 4, Work Term 3 (Summer)

Year 5, Study Term 8 (Fall)

  • CPST 3030 Engineering in Society II
  • ECED 4601 Digital Control Systems
  • ECED 4901 Senior Year Project II
  • Technical Elective
  • Technical Elective
  • Humanities Elective

Recommendations for the selection of Humanities Electives are included here: Humanities Recommendations

 

Electrical Engineering Option (Non Co-op, Reduced Load) - Start date 2023 or earlier

Year 3, Study Term 5 (Fall)

  • ECED 3003 Networks & Systems
  • ECED 3201 Introduction to Electronics
  • ECED 3204 Microprocessors
  • ECED 3300 Electromagnetic Fields
  • ECED 3500 Signal Analysis

Year 4, Study Term 7 (Winter)

  • ECED 4502 Digital Signal Processing
  • ECED 4602 Modern Controls
  • Humanities Elective
  • Technical Elective

Year 3, Study Term 6 (Summer)

  • ECED 3101 Power Systems 1
  • ECED 3202 Analog Electronics
  • ECED 3301 EM Waves and Propagation
  • ECED 3511 Communication Systems
  • ECED 3901 Electrical Engineering Design II

Year 4, Study Term 8 (Fall)

  • ECED 4601 Digital Control Systems
  • ECED 4900 Senior Year Project I
  • ECED 3102 Electromechanics
  • Technical Elective
  • Technical Elective

Study Term 9 (Winter)

  • ECED 4513 Communications Networks
  • CPST 3030 Engineering in Society II
  • ECED 4901 Senior Year Project II
  • Technical Elective

 

Recommendations for the selection of Humanities Electives are included here: Humanities Recommendations

 

Computer Engineering Option (Co-op) - Start date 2023 or earlier

Note: You will follow the Electrical Engineering program for Terms 1 to 3. In Year 2, Term 4, you will start the Computer Engineering program.

Year 3, Study Term 5 (Fall)

  • ECED 3003.03 Networks & Systems
  • ECED 3102.03 Electro-Mechanics
  • ECED 3201.03 Introduction to Electronics
  • ECED 3204.03 Microprocessors
  • ECED 3401.03 System Analysis
  • ECED 3500.03 Signal Analysis

Year 3, Work Term 1 (Winter)

Year 3, Study Term 6 (Summer)

  • CSCI 3120.03 Operating Systems
  • ECED 3202.03 Analog Electronics
  • ECED 3403.03 Computer Architecture
  • ECED 3511.03 Communication Systems
  • ECED 3901.03 Electrical Engineering Design II

Year 4, Work Term 2 (Fall)

Year 4, Study Term 7 (Winter)

  • ECED 4404.03 Computer Networks & Communications
  • ECED 4502.03 Digital Signal Processing
  • ECED 4513.03 Communication Networks
  • ECED 4602.03 Control Systems
  • ECED 4900.03 Senior Year Project I
  • Technical Elective

Year 4, Work Term 3 (Summer)

Year 5, Study Term 8 (Fall)

  • CPST 3030.03 Engineering in Society II
  • ECED 4402.03 Real Time Systems
  • ECED 4406.03 Cybersecurity
  • ECED 4901.03 Senior Year Project II
  • Technical Elective
  • Humanities Elective 

Recommendations for the selection of Humanities Electives are included here: Humanities Recommendations

 

Computer Engineering Option (Non Co-op, Reduced Load) - Start date 2023 or earlier

Note: You will follow the Electrical Engineering program for Terms 1 to 3. In Year 2, Term 4, you will start the Computer Engineering program.

Year 3, Study Term 5 (Fall)

Year 4, Study Term 7 (Winter)

  • ECED 4502 Digital Signal Processing
  • ECED 4602 Modern Controls
  • Humanities Elective
  • Technical Elective

Year 3, Study Term 6 (Summer)

Year 5, Study Term 8 (Fall)

Year 5, Study Term 9 (Winter)

Recommendations for the selection of Humanities Electives are included here: Humanities Recommendations

 

 

3rd & 4th Year Prerequisite Tree [PDF]

Calendar description of the courses are found here: Academic Calendar

Questions?

Years 3 & 4
ECED Undergraduate Advisor
Email: eceugrad@dal.ca