Undergraduate Calendar 1998-1999

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. The Co-operative Engineering program 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 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 programs. The curriculum for each of the eight basic programs combines required 'core' subjects essential to the field, and 'elective' subjects permitting considerable diversity in individual programs of study. An important part of the curriculum is a series of electives in Complementary Studies.

A more detailed explanation of the Co-operative program 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.

Engineering -- A Regulated Profession

The practice of engineering is regulated, by statute, in all Canadian provinces and territorities; to become a Professional Engineer you must satisfy the requirements of the licensing bodies. These requirements include a degree from an accreditated program, successful completion of a professional practice (law and ethics) examination, and suitable experience. The BASc programs described in this calendar have been specifically designed to satisfy the criteria of the Profession and are evaluated regularly by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).

In the Faculty of Engineering, all student programs must satisfy the curriculum-content requirements of the CEAB; accreditation of the degree programs 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. The Faculty will not graduate any student 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

The Degree of Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) is awarded by the University in the following undergraduate programs:

Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering (Chemical)
Environmental Engineering (Civil)
Geological Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Systems Design Engineering

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

To recognize outstanding academic achievement each term, the designation 'Dean's Honours List' will be awarded to exceptional undergraduate Engineering students in each program. To achieve this standing, students must be unconditionally promoted, and have their term average minus their percentile rank from the top for that academic term greater than or equal to 80. This designation will be reflected on the student's mark report and official university transcript. Students not in the top 10% of their class are normally not eligible.

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 terms of their program of at least 80%. An appropriate notation will appear on the student's official university transcript.

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

WHMIS Requirements

All students in the Faculty of Engineering, indeed all students taking courses offered by the Faculty of Engineering, must have appropriate instruction on issues of safety. The Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) training satisfies this requirement. Except for students in the 1A term registered in the Faculty of Engineering, this requirement must be satisfied by the end of the first week of lectures of the term, or the registration of the student in Engineering courses will be cancelled. The requirement is satisfied by obtaining a credit for WHMIS training, which only need be obtained once. Credit may be granted upon producing evidence that appropriate training has been undertaken elsewhere. For those who do not have a WHMIS credit, they must arrange for the necessary instruction and evaluation.

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 Faculty of Engineering 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 the program.
   
2. The English Language Proficiency Requirement may be satisfied by one of the following:
   
• writing and obtaining a grade of 60% or better in the English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE).
  
• 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 take one of the approved English courses:
   

ENGL 109	Introduction to Academic Writing	F,W,S
ENGL 129R	Introduction to Written English	F,W
ENGL 210C	Report Writing	F,W,S

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

The entry ARTS 000 will appear on the Student Examination Report with a CR grade if 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.

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

Complementary Studies form a part of the profession-related requirements of all Engineering programs and comprise several distinct components. These are described in the Complementary Studies section of this chapter.

There are many Faculty Options available to Engineering students that recognize an element of specialization within Engineering beyond that implied by the program name itself. These are described in the Options and Electives for Engineering Students section of this chapter.

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

When students are able in their own time, or through experience in a work term job, to study the material of a course that they would normally be required to take in their program, they may show evidence as to why they should be excused from taking the course and demonstrate their competence in a manner acceptable to the department offering the course. This process is known as 'Challenge for Credit'. Additional information may be obtained from the student's department. Where a Challenge for Credit is successful, the student is still expected to carry a full course load for the corresponding term; Challenge for Credit cannot be used to reduce the course load from the normal course load for any term.

Joint Honours Program in Engineering

Engineering does not offer joint honours programs to non-engineering students. However, engineering students may undertake a joint honours program with non-engineering departments.

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

International Exchange Opportunities

The Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, has student exchange programs with Engineering schools in other countries. These permit Waterloo students to experience study in different cultural environments, and to receive academic credit towards their program requirements. Such exchanges are currently active with:

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 1998