Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Electrical and Computer Engineering

The program information below was valid for the fall 2023 term (September 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Spring
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Length of program 
  • The minimum period of registration for the Master's degree is two terms after an Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent. The maximum time limit is six terms for the regular program and fifteen terms for the part-time program. Extensions beyond six terms must be approved by the Faculty Graduate Studies Office.
• Program type 
  • Master's
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Thesis

• Minimum requirements 
  • The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering requires either (i) a 75% overall standing in the last two years, or equivalent, in a relevant four-year Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent or (ii) a 75% overall standing or equivalent, in a relevant four-year Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent, as the minimum requirement for admission to a Master's program for applicants educated at a Canadian institution. A 75% overall standing or equivalent, in a relevant four-year Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent is the minimum requirement for admission to a Master's program for applicants educated outside of Canada.
  • At the time of admission, each student must have a faculty supervisor who has endorsed the recommendation for admission.
• Application materials 
  • Résumé
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  2
  • Type of references: 

    at least 1 academic

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Thesis option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• The requirements for the program consist of at least 5 courses (0.50 unit weight per course) of graduate credit. A minimum of 3 courses must be taken from within the Faculty of Engineering. A maximum of 2 courses may be taken from outside the Faculty but must be from the Faculties of Math and/or Science. At least 2 of the courses must be from the list of approved core courses (updated by the Department annually) in one of the approved areas of specialization as specified in the student's letter of admission. All MASc students are required to take a minimum of 2 ECE courses toward their degree requirements. Core courses may count towards this 2 course minimum. The choice of courses must meet with the approval of the supervisor.
• Core courses:
  • Antennas, Microwaves, and Wave Optics
    • ECE 642 Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design
    • ECE 671 Microwave and RF Engineering
    • ECE 672 Optoelectronic Devices
    • ECE 675 Radiation and Propagation of Electromagnetic Fields
  • Biomedical
    • ECE 601 Foundations of Biology in Engineering
    • ECE 607 Fundamentals of Ultrasonics
    • ECE 608 Quantitative Methods in Biomedical Engineering
    • ECE 609 Engineering Analysis of Living Cells
  • Circuits and Systems
    • ECE 636 Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits
    • ECE 637 Digital Integrated Circuits
    • ECE 642 Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design
    • ECE 671 Microwave and RF Engineering
  • Communications and Information Systems
    • ECE 602 Introduction to Optimization or CO 602 Fundamentals of Optimization (cross-listed with CM 740 and CS 795)
    • ECE 603 Statistical Signal Processing
    • ECE 604 Stochastic Processes
    • ECE 610 Broadband Communication Networks
    • ECE 611 Digital Communications
    • ECE 612 Information Theory
    • ECE 613 Image Processing and Visual Communication
  • Computer Hardware
    • ECE 606 Algorithm Design
    • ECE 621 Computer Organization
    • ECE 627 Register-transfer-level Digital Systems
    • ECE 637 Digital Integrated Circuits
  • Computer Software
    • ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis or CO 602 Fundamentals of Optimization (cross-listed with CM 740 and CS 795) or CS 666 Algorithm Design and Analysis
    • ECE 652 Methods and Principles of Safety-critical Embedded Software
    • ECE 653 Software Testing, Quality Assurance and Maintenance or CS 647 Software Testing, Quality Assurance, and Maintenance
    • ECE 654 Software Reliability Engineering
    • ECE 656 Database Systems
    • ECE 657A Data and Knowledge Modelling and Analysis or CS 680 Introduction to Machine Learning or CS 686 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
    • CO 685 The Mathematics of Public-Key Cryptography or CS 658 Computer Security and Privacy or CO 687 Applied Cryptography
  • Nanotechnology
    • ECE 630 Physics and Models of Semiconductor Devices
    • ECE 633 Nanoelectronics
    • ECE 634 Organic Electronics
    • ECE 635 Fabrication in the Nanoscale: Principles, Technology and Applications
    • ECE 672 Optoelectronic Devices
  • PAMI - Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence
    • ECE 606 Algorithm Design and Analysis
    • ECE 613 Image Processing and Visual Communication
    • ECE 657 Tools of Intelligent Systems Design
    • ECE 657A Data and Knowledge Modelling and Analysis
    • ECE 659 Intelligent Sensors and Sensor Networks
  • Power and Energy Systems
    • ECE 662 Power Systems Analysis and Control
    • ECE 663 Energy Processing
    • ECE 665 High Voltage Engineering Applications
    • ECE 666 Power Systems Operation
    • ECE 668 Distribution System Engineering
    • ECE 760 Special Topics in Power Systems and High Voltage Engineering (topic 11 Power System Protection and Relaying) or ECE 765 Power System Protection and Relaying
  • Quantum Information
    • ECE 676 Quantum Information Processing Devices (cross-listed with QIC 750)
    • ECE 677 Quantum Electronics and Photonics (cross-listed with QIC 885)
    • QIC 710 Quantum Information Processing
  • Silicon Devices and Integrated Circuits
    • ECE 630 Physics and Models of Semiconductor Devices
    • ECE 631 Microelectronic Processing Technology
    • ECE 634 Organic Electronics
    • ECE 636 Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits
    • ECE 642 Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design
    • ECE 672 Optoelectronic Devices
  • Systems and Controls
    • ECE 602 Introduction to Optimization or CO 602 Fundamentals of Optimization (cross-listed with CM 740 and CS 795)
    • ECE 604 Stochastic Processes
    • ECE 682 Multivariable Control Systems
    • ECE 686 Filtering and Control of Stochastic Linear Systems
    • ECE 688 Nonlinear Systems
  • VLSI - Very Large Scale Integration
    • ECE 636 Advanced Analog Integrated Circuits
    • ECE 637 Digital Integrated Circuits
    • ECE 642 Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design
    • ECE 671 Microwave and RF Engineering
  • Wireless Communication
    • ECE 602 Introduction to Optimization or CO 602 Fundamentals of Optimization (cross-listed with CM 740 and CS 795)
    • ECE 603 Statistical Signal Processing
    • ECE 604 Stochastic Processes
    • ECE 610 Broadband Communication Networks
    • ECE 611 Digital Communications
    • ECE 612 Information Theory
    • ECE 613 Image Processing and Visual Communication
• Students are normally expected to take graduate courses at the 600 or 700 level. 1 advanced undergraduate (400 level) Electrical or Computer Engineering course may be allowed for graduate credit. It is expected that both the student and supervisor should provide adequate justification and complete the required paperwork before any undergraduate course is approved for credit.
• The advanced undergraduate courses must be at the 400 or 500 level as given in the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar and must be approved for graduate credit and confirmed in writing by the Department Associate Chair for Graduate Studies at the time of registration.
• Students may be required at any time to withdraw from the program if they fail to maintain a minimum grade of 65% in each of the 5 courses and a cumulative average of at least 70% in the coursework portion of their approved study program or if they fail to receive satisfactory progress reports regarding their research activities.
• The Department may recommend that credit be allowed for courses taken at other institutions. In special cases, 2 courses (0.50 unit weight) may be approved.

Link(s) to courses

• Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) courses

Master's Seminar

• Students are required to present a seminar on their thesis topic as part of the degree requirements. The purpose of this seminar is to develop the student's ability to communicate the results of a research work in an organized and informative manner. The seminar is not an oral examination of the thesis. The seminar should be held during the term the thesis is submitted to the readers. The supervisor(s), plus one other Faculty member must be in attendance at the seminar in order for the student to receive credit.

Master’s Thesis

• The topic of the thesis and the choice of the required 5 courses of graduate coursework are arranged by students and their faculty supervisor. Each student's program is subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department. Students must maintain continuous active registration until the thesis requirements are completed. The research work leading to the thesis must be performed under the direction of the faculty supervisor(s) and is finally approved and accepted by at least three readers. The readers will consist of the supervisor(s) plus a minimum of two other faculty members.