Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Note

For the complete list of faculty members, please consult the Department website.

Department Objectives

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers three distinct undergraduate programs: BEng in Electrical Engineering, BEng in Computer Engineering, and BEng in Aerospace Engineering.

Electrical Engineering is concerned primarily with energy and information, their conversion and transmission in the most efficient and reliable manner. This vast field of endeavour includes many specialties and electrical engineers may be involved in one or more of these throughout their careers. A partial list includes electronics, integrated circuit design, very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit design, layout and testing, controls, robotics, system simulation, telecommunications, signal processing, computer hardware design, software design, power devices, power and control systems, electromechanical systems, micro electromechanical devices, electromagnetics, antennas, waveguides, lasers, and optoelectronics.

Computer Engineering is the driving force of the information revolution and its transformation of society. Over the course of their careers, computer engineers will be called upon to meet a number of challenges, most of which cannot be imagined today. A partial list of current specialties includes computer architecture, digital electronics, digital circuits, very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit design, layout and testing, digital circuit testing and reliability, software systems engineering, embedded systems, digital communication and computer networks.

The BEng in Aerospace Engineering is offered jointly with the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering. It is concerned with the engineering science that governs the design and construction of aircraft and spacecraft. This includes the mechanisms behind flight and propulsion in the atmosphere and space, including aerodynamics, lift and draft, as well as the design and control of aircrafts. Aerospace systems rely significantly on electrical and computer engineering content, including topics such as avionic navigation systems, communication networks, and flight control systems. More details about the Aerospace Engineering program can be found in Section 71.55 Aerospace Engineering.

The four‑year programs consist of the Engineering Core, taken by all Engineering students, program cores and electives. The Electrical Engineering Core provides a solid introduction to all aspects of the discipline, to programming methodology and to the design of large software systems. Technical electives are scheduled to enable students to register for sets of related technical courses. Current sets of electives include:

• Telecommunication Networks and Signal Processing Electives: Electrical Engineering

• Microdevices, Electronics and VLSI Electives: Electrical Engineering

• Power and Renewable Energy Systems Electives: Electrical Engineering

• Controls, Robotics and Avionics Electives: Electrical Engineering

• Waves and Electromagnetics Electives: Electrical Engineering

• Computer Systems Electives: Electrical Engineering

• Biological and Biomedical Engineering Electives: Electrical Engineering

The Computer Engineering Core provides a thorough grounding in all aspects of computer hardware and software. Technical electives allow students to acquire further knowledge in various aspects of hardware or software. The Aerospace Engineering Core provides a solid introduction to Flight and Aerospace Systems, Modelling and Control Systems, Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics, and Fluid Mechanics. Technical electives allow students to gain more knowledge in a variety of topics related to flight control and navigation systems. A mandatory final‑year design project gives students in all three programs the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have acquired to the design and testing of a working prototype.

Nine Quebec universities have joined together with Hydro‑Québec to create the Institute for Electrical Power Engineering whose primary mission is to meet the anticipated shortfall in this area. Students accepted by the Institute are expected to complete six courses offered by participating universities. Some of these courses are offered in English and others in French. Students register for courses at their home universities.