Approved Technical Electives

The Engineering Physics curriculum requires at least 12 credits (15 credits for students entering Eng Phys prior to 2018) of additional courses (“technical electives”) beyond the mandatory core courses. This requirement can be met in several ways:

  • Students pursuing a dual degree or an approved APSC Minor (Math, Science, Commerce, or Entrepreneurship) may count additional courses taken in their studies against their credit requirement. For example, a student who completes 9 credits of additional MATH courses (beyond the Eng Phys core courses) as part of the Math minor will only be required to take an additional 3 credits of technical electives. This supersedes the limitation that minor courses cannot be counted as tech electives in the faculty, as we are instead waiving the tech elective requirement credit by credit for additional courses completed by the student as part of the minor.  Students who wish to apply waivers for technical elective requirements should notify the Program Office of the courses they will be using waivers for.
  • Students who complete courses at other universities as part of an exchange program may count those courses as technical electives if approved by the Director. Please seek approval prior to enrolling in such courses.
  • Students may take technical electives to fulfill the technical elective credit requirement from the list below. Courses on this list are pre-approved and can be taken without the Director’s approval.
  • Students may also take courses not on the list below, as long as they receive prior approval from the Director. To seek such approval, please email the Director (Andre Marziali), and cc the Program Coordinator (Eileen Campbell). Include your student number in the email to allow us to record the approval. Each student must seek approval for unlisted courses independently regardless of whether a specific course has been approved previously for others.

Please note that not all the approved courses may be available for registration.  Departments may control or limit enrollment to different degrees.  Courses may not all be offered in every academic term / session.

A few items to note:

  • Departments will generally enforce pre-requisites. If you do not have the required pre-requisites, you may contact the professor in charge of the course or the undergraduate office of the department offering the course to seek permission to enroll. This is between you and the relevant department, as we have no jurisdiction over other department’s courses.
  • Some courses may require special permission from the instructor or department offering the course to enroll.
  • Graduate courses may be taken with appropriate permission.
  • Only one 200-level course will normally be counted for technical elective credit – the Eng Phys director may waive this restriction on a case by case basis. Specifically, MATH 220 and CPSC 221 are both allowed to count simultaneously as technical electives due to their status as pre-reqs for CPSC courses.
  • Students should check pre-requisites, credits, and scheduling to ensure the courses will fit within their program.
  • As stated in the calendar, completion of certain technical electives can allow students to qualify for official designation as “Electrical Specialization” or “Mechanical Specialization”. These do not need to be declared in advance, but the designation should be requested prior to graduation if the requirements have been met. Please inform the Program Coordinator if you believe you have completed the requirements for one of these specializations prior to graduation.

If you need additional information or guidance on which technical electives to pursue, please arrange a meeting with the Director.

GENERAL TECH ELECTIVES – Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering APPROVED COURSES

AUTOMATION specialization – suggested courses

COMPUTER specialization – suggested courses

Other electives

COMMUNICATION specialization – suggested courses

HARDWARE specialization – suggested courses

POWER specialization – suggested courses

MECH ALLOWED COURSES

PROJECT MANAGEMENT / ENTREPRENEURSHIP specialization – suggested courses

SUSTAINABILITY specialization – suggested courses

APPLIED PHYSICS specialization – suggested courses

APPLIED MATH specialization – suggested courses

BIOPHYSICS / MEDICAL PHYSICS specialization – suggested courses

EARTH AND OCEAN SCIENCES specialization – suggested courses

MATERIALS specialization – suggested courses

SPACE/ASTRONOMY specialization – suggested courses

Other electives – by permission

Electrical GENERAL TECH ELECTIVES
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering APPROVED COURSES
Course Name
CPEN 321 Software Engineering
CPEN 411 Computer Architecture
CPEN 412 Microcomputer Systems Design
CPEN 441 Human Computer Interfaces in Engineering Design
CPEN 442 Computer Security
ELEC 401 Analog CMOS Integrated Circuit Design
ELEC 411 Antennas and Propagation
ELEC 412 Optical Waveguides and Photonics
ELEC 413 Semiconductor Lasers
ELEC 415 Semiconductor Devices: Physics, Design and Analysis
ELEC 421 Digital Signal Processing Systems
ELEC 432 Digital Communications
ELEC 434 Introduction to Optical Networks
ELEC 441 Control Systems
ELEC 453 Power System Analysis
ELEC 454 Computer Applications in Power Systems
ELEC 461 Nanotechnology in Electronics
ELEC 463 Micro/Nanofabrication and Instrumentation Laboratory
ELEC 473 Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems
Electrical AUTOMATION specialization – suggested courses Table of contents 
Course Name
CPSC 425 Computer Vision
ELEC 441 Control Systems
ELEC 442 Introduction to Robotics
ENDS 482 Mechatronics and Kinetic Structures in Architecture
MECH 325 Machine Design
MECH 360 Mechanics of Materials
MECH 426 Mechanical Design
Graduate courses may be taken with appropriate permission.
MECH 555 Fundamentals of Microelectromechanical Systems
MECH 563 Robotics: Kinematics, Dynamics and Control
Electrical COMPUTER specialization – suggested courses Table of contents 
Course Name
CPEN 321 Software Engineering
CPEN 411 Computer Architecture
CPEN 412 Microcomputer Systems Design
CPEN 441 Human Computer Interfaces in Engineering Design
CPEN 442 Introduction to Computer security
CPEN 455 Deep Learning
CPSC 304 Introduction to Relational Databases
CPSC 317 Internet Computing
CPSC 320 Intermediate Algorithm Design and Analysis
CPSC 405 Modeling and Simulation
CPSC 406 Computational Optimization
CPSC 416 Distributed Systems
CPSC 417 Computer Networking
CPSC 420 Advanced Algorithms Design and Analysis
CPSC 425 Computer Vision
ELEC 331 Computer Communications
ELEC 457 Optimization of Power System Operation
ELEC 462 Sensors and Actuators in Microsystems
PHYS 410 Computational Physics
Other electives – may require permission of instructor or department Table of contents 
Course Name
CPEN 311 Digital Systems Design
CPEN 331 Operating Systems
CPEN 333 System Software Engineering
CPEN 421 Soft Project Management
CPEN 422 Software Testing and Analysis
CPEN 423 Software Architecture
CPEN 431 Design of Distributed Software Applications
CPEN 492 Software Engineering Capstone Design Project
CPSC 221 Basic Algorithms and Data Structures
CPSC 313 Computer Hardware and Operating Systems
CPSC 314 Computer Graphics
CPSC 330* Applied Machine Learning
CPSC 340* Machine Learning
CPSC 344 Introduction to Human Computer Interaction Methods
ELEC 342 Electro-Mechanical Energy Conversion and Transmission
ELEC 371 Biomed Instruments
ELEC 400M* Machine Learning Fundamentals for Engineers
ELEC 402 Introduction to VLSI Systems
ELEC 403 Advanced Digital VLSI Systems
ELEC 404 RF Integrated Circuits
ELEC 422 Biosignals and Systems
ELEC 451 Power Electronics
ELEC 455 Power Systems Protection
ELEC 457 Optimization of Power System Operation
ELEC 471 Biomedical Imaging
EECE 571T Advanced Machine Learning Tools for Engineers
MATH 220 Mathematical Proof
MATH 342 Algebra and Coding Theory
MATH 344 Mathematical Game Theory
MECH 488 Introduction to Ship Hydrodynamics
* Only one can count towards technical elective credit.
Electrical COMMUNICATION specialization – suggested courses – permission of instructor or department may be required Table of contents 
Course Name
CPSC 417 Computer Networking
ELEC 342 Electro-Mechanical Energy Conversion and Transmission
ELEC 343 Electromechanics
ELEC 411 Antennas and Propagation
ELEC 412 Optical Waveguides and Photonics
ELEC 422 Biosignals and Systems
ELEC 431 Communication Systems I
ELEC 432 Communication Systems II
ELEC 433 Error Control Coding for Communications and Computers
ELEC 434 Introduction to Optical Networks
MATH 342 Algebra and Coding Theory
Electrical HARDWARE specialization – suggested courses Table of contents 
Course Name
CPEN 411 Computer Architecture
CPEN 412 Microcomputer Systems Design
ELEC 401 Analog CMOS Integrated Circuit Design
ELEC 402 Introduction to VLSI Systems
ELEC 403 Digital Integrated Circuit Design
ELEC 415 Semiconductor Devices:  Physics, Design and Analysis
ELEC 421 Digital Signal Processing Systems
Electrical POWER specialization – suggested courses Table of contents 
Course Name
ELEC 441 Control Systems
ELEC 453 Power System Analysis
ELEC 454 Computer Applications in Power Systems
Electrical – other electives – by permission of instructor or department Table of contents 
COURSE NAME
ELEC 402 Introduction to VLSI Systems
ELEC 403 Digital Integrated Circuit Design
ELEC 451 Power Electronics
ELEC 455 Power Systems Protection
Mechanical – GENERAL TECH ELECTIVES Table of contents 
Course Name
ELEC 342 Electro-Mechanical Energy Conversion and Transmission
ELEC 343 Electromechanics
Mechanical – ALLOWED COURSES Table of contents 
Course Name
APSC 461 Global Engineering Leadership
MECH 329 Materials for Mechanical Design
MECH 340 Marine Vehicle Statics
MECH 341 Ship Resistance and Propulsion
MECH 375 Heat Transfer
MECH 380 Fluid Dynamics
MECH 386 Industrial Fluid Mechanics
MECH 392 Manufacturing Processes
MECH 405 Acoustics and Noise Control
MECH 410E Global Engineering Leadership
MECH 410M Introduction to Mechatronics
MECH 435 Orthopaedic Biomechanics
MECH 436 Fundamentals of Injury Biomechanics
MECH 441 Computer-Aided Ship Design
MECH 445 Fuel Cell Systems
MECH 460 Advanced Mechanics of Materials
MECH 462 Finite Element Analysis
MECH 463 Mechanical Vibrations
MECH 464 Industrial Robotics
MECH 468 Modern Control Engineering
MECH 473 Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
MECH 474 Clean Energy Materials
MECH 477 Aerospace Propulsion
MECH 479 Computational Fluid Dynamics
MECH 481 Aerodynamics of Aircraft I
MECH 484 Aircraft Design: Aerodynamics
MECH 485 Aircraft Design: Structures
MECH 489 Experimental Thermofluids
MECH 490 Production Engineering
MECH 491 Computer-Aided Manufacturing
MECH 495 Industrial Engineering
MECH 496 Engineering Management
MECH 520 Control Sensors and Actuators
PROJECT MANAGEMENT / ENTREPRENEURSHIP specialization – suggested courses Table of contents 
Course Name
APSC 440 Management Fundamentals for Technology-Based Product Marketing and Development
APSC 486 New Venture Design
APSC 498F Conflict Management
COMM 280 Entrepreneurship
COMM 292 Management and Organizational Behaviour
COMM 329 Principles of Organizational Behaviour
COMM 382 Economics of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
COMM 383 Innovation Leadership
COMM 386D Innovation Leadership
COMM 386I Innovation and Sustainability
COMM 386L Impact Investing: Social Finance in the 21st Century
COMM 386P Prototyping
COMM 387 Entrepreneurial Finance
COMM 388 Design Methods for Business Innovation
COMM 389 Creativity in Business
COMM 398 Introduction to Business Processes and Operations
COMM 412 Negotiation
COMM 457 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
COMM 473 Business Finance
COMM 482 New Product Development
COMM 485 Social Entrepreneurship
COMM 486A Entrepreneurship
COMM 486B Emerging Technologies and Business
COMM 486D Innovation Leadership
COMM 486G Intrapreneurship
COMM 486W Creative Destruction Lab Venture Program
COMM 486Y Business Plan
COMM 493 Strategic Management in Business
CPEN 421 Software Project Management
ENPH 480 Engineering Physics Project III
ENPH 481 Entrepreneurial Projects I
MECH 392 Manufacturing Processes
MECH 496 Engineering Management
Other COMM courses with permission of the director
ECON courses with permission of director
Graduate courses may be taken with appropriate permission
APSC 512 IP Management and Tech. Commercialization
APSC 540 Business Decisions for Engineering Ventures
APSC 541 Technology Entrepreneurship for Engineers
SUSTAINABILITY specialization – suggested courses Table of contents 
Course Name
EOSC 217 The Science and Practice of Sustainability
CHBE 241 Material and Energy Balance
CHBE 242 Chemical and Biological Process Technology
CHBE 373 Water Pollution Control
CHBE 477 Fuel Cell and Electrochemical Engineering
CHBE 480 Hazardous Waste Processing Technology
CHBE 483 Energy Engineering
CHBE 484 Green Engineering Principles and Applications for Process Industries
CHBE 485 Air Pollution Prevention and Control
CHBE 489 Pollution – Pulp and Paper
CHBE 490 Waste Management
ENDS 440 Environment and Urban Form
MECH 445 Fuel Cell Systems
MECH 474 Clean Energy Materials
Graduate courses may be taken with appropriate permission
Courses from other depts (EOSC, CONS, others) may be taken by permission of the director
APPLIED PHYSICS specialization – suggested courses Table of contents 
Course Name
MATH 345 Applied Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
PHYS 305 Introduction to Biophysics
PHYS 314 Fluids
PHYS 318 Experimental Acoustics
PHYS 400 Introduction to Elementary Particles
PHYS 402 Applications of Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 404 Introduction to Medical Physics
PHYS 405 Radiation Biophysics
PHYS 407 Introduction to General Relativity
PHYS 410 Computational Physics (if not already used as core)
PHYS 437 Physics of Cell structures
PHYS 473 Applied Nuclear Physics
PHYS 474 Applied Solid State Physics
Graduate courses may be taken with appropriate permission
APPLIED MATH specialization – suggested courses Table of contents 
Course Name
MATH 308 Euclidean Geometry
MATH 312 Introduction to Number Theory
MATH 320 Real Variables 1
MATH 321 Real Variables 2
MATH 322 Introduction to Group Theory
MATH 340 Introduction to Linear Programming
MATH 342 Algebra and Coding Theory
MATH 345 Applied Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
MATH 361 Introduction to Mathematical Biology
MATH 401 Green’s Functions and Variational Methods
MATH 402 Calculus of Variations
MATH 403 Stabilization and Optimal Control of Dynamical Systems
MATH 405 Numerical Methods for Differential Equations
MATH 407 Applied Matrix Analysis
MATH 412 Advanced Linear Algebra
MATH 415 Introduction to Mathematical Logic
MATH 419 Stochastic Processes
MATH 420 Real Analysis I
MATH 421 Real Analysis II
MATH 422 Groups and Fields
MATH 424 Classical Differential Geometry
MATH 425 Introduction to Modern Differential Geometry
MATH 426 Introduction to Topology
MATH 437 Number Theory
MATH 440 Complex Analysis
MATH 441 Mathemetical Modeling
MATH 443 Graph Theory
MATH 450 Asymptotic and Perturbation Methods
MATH 462 Project in Mathematical Biology
STAT 335 Statistics in Quality Assurance
Graduate courses may be taken with appropriate permission
BIOPHYSICS / MEDICAL PHYSICS specialization – suggested courses – *DIRECTOR APPROVAL REQUIRED* Table of contents 
Some courses on this list may require special permission from the home department
Course Name
PHYS 305 Introduction to Biophysics
PHYS 404 Intro Medical Physics
PHYS 405 Radation Biophysics
PHYS 410 Computational Physics
PHYS 437 Physics of Cell Structures
BIOL 200 Fundamentals of Cell Biology
BIOL 201 Introduction to Biochemistry
BIOL 437 Laboratory in Animal Cell Molecular Biology
BMEG 230 Biomechanics
BMEG 310 Introduction to Bioinformatics
BMEG 330 Biomechanics II
BMEG 371 Transport Phenomena within Cells and Tissues
BMEG 373 Microfluids
MICB 324 The Molecular Basis of Bacterial Growth Regulation
MICB 405 Bioinformatics
MICB 409 Microbial Genetics
MATH 361 Introduction to Mathematical Biology
CHEM 233 Organic Chemistry for the Biological Sciences
CHEM 235 Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 260 Organic Chemistry for Engineers
BIOC 301 Biochemistry Laboratory
BIOC 302 General Biochemistry
BIOC 303 Molecular Biochemistry
CHBE 241 Material and Energy Balances
CHBE 242 Chemical and Biological Process Technology
CHBE 381 Bioprocess Engineering I
CHBE 357 Interfacial Phenomena
MEDG 420 Human Biochemical and Molecular Genetics
Courses from other depts may be taken by permission of the director
Graduate courses may be taken with appropriate permission
PHYS 505 Introductory Nuclear Physics
PHYS 534 Radiotherapy Physics I
PHYS 536 Advanced Radiation Biophysics
PHYS 540 Radiological Imaging
PHYS 542 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PHYS 560 Physics and Engineering of Particle Accelerators
MATH 612 Mathematical Cellular Biology
CHEM 507a Molecular Modeling
CHEM 516 Mass Spec in Life Science
EARTH AND OCEAN SCIENCES specialization – suggested courses Table of contents 
Course Name
BIOL 420 Ocean Conservation and Sustainability
EOSC 220 Introductory Mineralogy
EOSC 221 Introductory Petralogy
EOSC 270 Marine Ecosystems
EOSC 352 Geophysical Continuum Mechanics
EOSC 353 Seismology
EOSC 354 Analysis of Time Series and Inverse Theory for Earth Scientists
EOSC 372 Introductory Oceanography:  Circulation and Plankton
EOSC 373 Introductory Oceanography:  Climate and Ecosystems
EOSC 450 Potential Fields in Earth and Planetary Sciences
EOSC 453 Physics of the Earth and Other Planets
EOSC 454 Applied Geophysics
EOSC 471 Waves, Currents, and Ocean Mixing
EOSC 473 Methods in Oceanography
MINE 482 Maintenance Engineering
Graduate courses may be taken with appropriate permission
EOSC 513 Imaging and Estimation with Wavelets
EOSC 550 Linear Inverse Theory
MATERIALS specialization – suggested courses Table of contents 
Course Name
MTRL 280 Materials in Design
MTRL 363 Transport Phenomena II
MTRL 365 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
MTRL 378 Phase Transformations
MTRL 380 Structure and Properties of Materials
MTRL 381 Structure and Properties Lab
MTRL 382 Ceramics
MTRL 394 Polymer and Polymer Matrix Composites
MTRL 451 Microstructural Analysis Laboratory
MTRL 456 Environmental Degradation of Materials
MTRL 460 Monitoring and Optimization of Materials Processing
MTRL 495 Biomaterials
Graduate courses may be taken with appropriate permission
SPACE/ASTRONOMY specialization – suggested courses Table of contents 
Course Name
ASTR 300 Galaxies
ASTR 403 Cosmology
ASTR 404 Astronomical and Astrophysical Measurements
ASTR 405 Astronomical Laboratory
ASTR 406 High-Energy Astrophysics
ASTR 407 Planetary Science
ELEC 411 Antennas and Propagation
PHYS 400 Introduction to Elementary Particles
PHYS 407 Introduction to General Relativity
Graduate courses may be taken with appropriate permission
Additional courses for technical elective credit Table of contents 
Course Name
ARCH 597A Applications of Mechatronics in Architecture
CPSC 322 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
CPSC 445 Algorithms in Bioinformatics
ENDS 482 Mechatronics and Kinetic Structures in Architecture
PHYS 527 Topics in Nuclear Physics