UofC

Department Office (MSc and PhD)
Location: ICT Building, Room 402
Program number: 403.220.5806
Email address: ese.gradstudies@ucalgary.ca

MEng Graduate Program Office
Location: Schulich School of Engineering Block C, Room 205
Phone number: 403.220.2001
Email address: MEng@ucalgary.ca

Web page URL: schulich.ucalgary.ca/electrical-software

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Specializations:

• Software Engineering (offered jointly through the Department of Electrical and Software Engineering and the Department of Computer Science
• Energy and Environment (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)
• Environmental Engineering (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)
• Energy and Environmental Systems (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)
• Wearable Technology (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)

The PhD program may be completed on a full-time or a part-time basis. For details, see Engineering Programs.

Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based

Specializations:

• Software Engineering (offered jointly through the Department of Electrical and Software Engineering and the Department of Computer Science)
• Energy and Environment (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)
• Environmental Engineering (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)
• Energy and Environmental Systems (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)
• Wearable Technology (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)

The MSc program may be completed on a full-time or a part-time basis. For details, see Engineering Programs.

Master of Engineering (MEng), course-based

Specializations:

• Software Engineering*
• Energy and Environment (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)
• Environmental Engineering (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)
• Energy and Environmental Systems (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)

*The Software Engineering specialization is a 12-month intensive program with no scheduled break.

Master of Engineering (MEng), thesis-based*

Specializations:

• Energy and Environment (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)
• Environmental Engineering (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)
• Energy and Environmental Systems (see Interdisciplinary Specializations)

The MEng (thesis-based) program may be completed on a full-time or a part-time basis. For details, see Engineering Programs.

*The Department is not currently accepting applications for the thesis-based MEng.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Schulich School of Engineering requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Engineering and Master of Science

A four-year bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or computer or software engineering.

Applicants with a four-year bachelor’s degree in other disciplines may be considered but additional undergraduate courses in electrical engineering or computer or software engineering (as determined by the Graduate Program Director) may be required.

Master of Engineering (course-based), Specialization in Software Engineering

A four-year bachelor’s degree in engineering from a recognized institution.

Applicants with a four-year bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering or equivalent from a recognized institution may be exempt from taking the 9 units of foundation courses.  This exemption will be determined at the time of admission.

Master of Science, Specialization in Software Engineering

A four-year bachelor’s degree in software engineering or equivalent from a recognized institution. In addition, applicants must have:

a) At least one year of experience in software development.

b) Background knowledge in software engineering methods and concepts, and their wide range of applications.  Applicants should be able to design and develop software systems in either an academic or industrial setting.

c) Knowledge of object-oriented design and human-computer interaction.

Applicants with a four-year bachelor's degree in other disciplines may be considered, but additional undergraduate courses in software engineering (as determined at admission by the Graduate Program Director) may be required.

Doctor of Philosophy

A master’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or software engineering.

Note: Transfer to the doctoral program without completing the master’s degree may be approved for exceptional students whose BSc degrees are in electrical engineering, computer engineering or software engineering.

Deadlines for submission of complete applications are available on the Future Students website:

MEng (thesis-based): ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/electrical-computer-engineering-master-engineering-thesis-based

MEng (course-based): ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/electrical-computer-engineering-master-engineering-course-based

MEng (course-based) with specialization in Software Engineering: ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/electrical-computer-engineering-master-engineering-software-course-based.

MSc (thesis-based): ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/electrical-computer-engineering-master-science-thesis-based

PhD: ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/electrical-computer-engineering-doctor-philosophy-thesis-based

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission or for grades below "B".

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Schulich School of Engineering requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Engineering (course-based)

Students must complete 30 units of coursework as follows:

• Engineering 683
• Engineering 684
• Engineering 686

• Electrical Engineering 684
• Electrical Engineering 686

Master of Engineering (course-based), with an Interdisciplinary Specialization

The MEng (course-based) students taking an interdisciplinary specialization must take a minimum of 30 units of coursework.

a) Engineering 687 or alternate, with approval from the Graduate Program Director, chosen from:

• Engineering 683
• Engineering 684
• Engineering 686

b) 15 units of required Department courses:

• Electrical Engineering 670
• Electrical Engineering 672
• Electrical Engineering 676
• Electrical Engineering 678
• Electrical Engineering 682

c) 12 units of courses from the approved list of courses meeting the requirements for the Interdisciplinary Specialization, with approval from the Graduate Program Director. See Interdisciplinary Specialization Energy and Environment or Environmental Engineering, or Energy and Environmental Systems.

Master of Engineering (course-based), Specialization in Software Engineering

The MEng (course-based), Specialization in Software Engineering consists of 39 units of coursework. Students may be granted course exemptions from the 9 units of foundation courses based upon prior academic background (as determined at admission). Students who meet the criteria for course exemptions from the foundation courses must complete 30 units of courswork to complete the program.

9 units of foundation courses:

• Software Engineering for Engineers 692
• Software Engineering for Engineers 693
• Software Engineering for Engineers 694
  

Successful completion of all three foundation courses is required to continue in the program.

All students must complete 30 units as follows:

• Software Engineering for Engineers 607
• Software Engineering for Engineers 608
• Software Engineering for Engineers 609
• Software Engineering for Engineers 610
• Software Engineering for Engineers 611
• Software Engineering for Engineers 612
• Software Engineering for Engineers 614

• Engineering 681
• Engineering 683
• Engineering 684
• Engineering 687

• Software Engineering 637
• Electrical Engineering 645

Master of Engineering (thesis-based)

Normally, 12-21 units of coursework at the graduate level.

Master of Science

Normally, 12-21 units of coursework at the graduate level of which at least 9 units must be in the area of specialization.

Master of Science, Specialization in Software Engineering

a) 12 units selected from:

• Software Engineering for Engineers 603, 604, 606, 619; 
• Software Engineering 622, 627, 629, 637, 643, 696; and 
• Electrical Engineering 602, 645.

b) An applied software engineering project written up as a Master of Science thesis and examined by an examination committee as specified in the Faculty regulations.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) Normally, 18 to 27 units at the graduate level beyond the bachelor's degree, or 6 to 15 units at the graduate level beyond the master's degree with no fewer than half the courses in the Departmental program.

b) A grade of at least a "B+" in each graduate course with a grade point average of at least 3.30 and a grade of CR in Engineering 601 and 603.

c) All Doctoral students are required to successfully complete the candidacy requirements, which consist of four components: PhD coursework, a written Field of Study examination in Electrical, Computer, and Software Engineering, a written thesis proposal, and an oral thesis proposal examination. Specific details of the candidacy requirements can be found on the Departmental website.

While studying full-time in the MSc or PhD program:

a) Students will be required to complete Engineering 601 and 603 at the beginning of their graduate studies program.

b) Students in the PhD program who completed the course in the MSc program will not be required to take Engineering 601 and 603 for the second time.

c) Students who are required to take Engineering 601 and 603 must successfully present two seminars.

Where appropriate, MSc and PhD students may take 500-level undergraduate courses for credit with approval of the supervisor and the Department (a maximum of 6 units for MSc and 3 units for PhD). Undergraduate courses will not count toward the MSc and PhD program requirements (see section 5).

MEng (course-based), Specialization in Software Engineering students may not take any undergraduate courses for credit as part of their program.

Expected completion time is 20 months of full-time study for the Master of Science.

The MEng (course-based) program is typically completed full-time in two years, with academic sessions in Fall and Winter and a scheduled break from May to August. The exception is the specialization in Software Engineering, which is an intensive 12-month program and must be completed on a full-time basis.

Expected completion time is four years for the Doctor of Philosophy.

The maximum completion time is four years for the Master of Science and the Master of Engineering (thesis-based) and six years for the Master of Engineering (course-based) and the Doctor of Philosophy.

In the Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science (thesis-based), and Master of Engineering (thesis-based) programs, a supervisor to provide guidance to the student is normally selected at the time of admission.

In the Master of Engineering (course-based) programs, a supervisor is not required.

Candidacy

All Doctoral students are required to pass a written Field of Study examination in Electrical, Computer, and Software Engineering and an oral thesis proposal examination. Specific details of the examination format and other candidacy requirements can be found on the Departmental website.

Thesis Examination

For details on required Thesis Examinations, see "Engineering Programs", section 10. In addition, the program requires:

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The internal examiner may be internal to the home program.

Master of Science and Master of Engineering (thesis-based)
As required by the supervisor.

Doctor of Philosophy
The written thesis proposal is evaluated and approved by the candidacy examination committee as part of the candidacy requirements. Specific requirements for the proposal and the format of its evaluation can be found on the Departmental website.

See Engineering Programs.

Students enrolled in any of the engineering graduate programs may opt, in addition to their normal required course load, to undertake an international project outside Canada. The duration of the project should be between four and six months. See Engineering Programs.