Engineering Science Major Program, Systems Option
School of Engineering Science | Faculty of Applied Sciences
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar 2012 Fall
This program leads to a bachelor of applied science degree with a systems option.
Engineering science students develop skills in systems design with a high level of scientific knowledge. This demanding program is aimed at the superior student. The program produces well educated, innovative engineer/scientists with entrepreneurial skills and attitudes who are oriented to new technologies. Program entry is competitive.
Students undertake a basic core of pure, applied and engineering sciences followed by studies in a specialized option. The general BASc program may be completed in four years, which includes eight terms.
ENSC courses emphasize learning, conceptualization, design and analysis. Built into the program are courses on social impacts of technology, finance, management, design methods and entrepreneurship intended to complement scientific studies. A special, integrated communications course completed throughout the program ensures that all graduates have the communication skills necessary to be effective engineers.
This systems option prepares students for careers in design and integration of computer-controlled machines, and for graduate study in robotics, control and mechatronic systems. Students integrate knowledge from electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer engineering into the fundamental design process. This focused program includes study of mechanical structures and mechanisms, electro-mechanical sensors and actuators, control engineering, and real-time systems. Electives may be used to tailor curriculum to specific interests.
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements
The program begins each fall term. However, admitted students may enter in any term.
For detailed University admission requirements, visit . For more detailed School of Engineering Science admission information, visit , or send an email to asadvise@sfu.ca.
Minimum ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements
Applicants must be eligible for University admission, must submit a University application, and must have successfully completed the following high school courses: physics 12, mathematics 12, chemistry 12, and English 12.
External Transfer from Another Post-Secondary Institution
Students transferring from other universities, regional colleges, or technical institutions must be eligible for University admission, and must submit a University application. External transfer applicants may apply to begin study in any term and must have an admission average of 2.5.
Internal Transfer from Another ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Program
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV students who wish to transfer to engineering science from another faculty must have a ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.25 and must have been enrolled in at least 12 ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV units in the term prior to requesting the transfer to the School of Engineering Science.
Minimum Grade Requirement
A C- grade or better in prerequisite courses is required to register in engineering science courses.
Minimum Grade Point Averages
The program requires a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and an upper division grade point average (UDGPA) each of at least 2.0 in accordance with University graduation requirements.
Co-operative Education Work Experience
Every engineering science student completes a three term co-operative education program of practical experience in an appropriate industrial or research setting leading to a project under the technical direction of a practising engineer or scientist. The goal is a complementary combination of work in an industrial or research setting and study in one of the engineering options. The internship may be within the University but in most cases the work site is off campus.
After the first year, students typically alternate between academic and work terms.
At least two of the three mandatory work terms must be completed in industry (ENSC 195, 295, 395). Students may participate in additional work terms but are encouraged to seek diversity in their experience. The three mandatory work terms may include one special co-op term (ENSC 196, 296, 396). Special co-op may include, but is not restricted to, self-directed, entrepreneurial, service or research co-op work terms. Permission of the engineering science co-op office is required.
An optional non-technical work term (ENSC 194) is also available through the engineering science co-operative education office and is often completed after the first two study terms. ENSC 194 does not count toward the mandatory three course requirement.
Program Requirements
Students complete the engineering science core course requirements as shown below, which includes additional course requirements for this electronics engineering option. These courses provide basic science, general studies, engineering science, specialized engineering and science, and project and laboratory work.
This program’s core course requirements consist of non-technical courses which broaden education and develop awareness of social, economic and managerial factors affecting engineering and scientific work.
Although there is no strict requirement to complete the curriculum in the sequence that is strongly suggested by the school, deviating from the course completion schedule may lead to scheduling and prerequisite problems in subsequent terms. To view the suggested course schedule, visit .
Prior approval by the director of the school is required if the student plans a term with fewer than 12 course units.
Core Course Requirements
Students complete all of
- CHEM 121 General Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
- CMPT 128 Introduction to Computing Science and Programming for Engineers (3)
- CMPT 225 Data Structures and Programming (3)
- ECON 103 Principles of Microeconomics (4)
- ENSC 100 Engineering Technology and Society (3)
- ENSC 101 Writing Process, Persuasion and Presentations (1)
- ENSC 102 Form and Style in Professional Genres (1)
- ENSC 150 Introduction to Computer Design (3)
- ENSC 201 The Business of Engineering (3)
- ENSC 204 Graphical Communication for Engineering (1)
- ENSC 215 Microcontroller Interfacing and Assembly-Language Programming (3)
- ENSC 220 Electric Circuits I (3)
- ENSC 225 Microelectronics I (4)
- ENSC 230 Introduction to Mechanical Design (4)
- ENSC 250 Introduction to Computer Architecture (3)
- ENSC 304 Human Factors and Usability Engineering (1)
- ENSC 305 Project Documentation and Team Dynamics (1)
- ENSC 320 Electric Circuits II (3)
- ENSC 325 Microelectronics II (4)
- ENSC 330 Engineering Materials (4)
- ENSC 351 Real Time and Embedded Systems (4)
- ENSC 380 Linear Systems (3)
- ENSC 383 Feedback Control Systems (4)
- ENSC 387 Introduction to Electro-Mechanical Sensors and Actuators (4)
- ENSC 406 Engineering Ethics, Law, and Professional Practice (2)
- ENSC 440 Capstone Engineering Science Project (4)
- ENSC 483 Modern Control Systems (4)
- ENSC 488 Introduction to Robotics (4)
- ENSC 489 Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (4)
- MACM 101 Discrete Mathematics I (3)
- MACM 316 Numerical Analysis I (3)
- MATH 152 Calculus II (3)
- MATH 232 Applied Linear Algebra (3)
- MATH 251 Calculus III (3)
- MATH 310 Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations (3)
- PHYS 131 Physics Laboratory I * (2)
- PHYS 221 Electromagnetics (3)
- STAT 270 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)
and one of
- MATH 150 Calculus I with Review (4)
- MATH 151 Calculus I (3)
and one of
- PHYS 120 Mechanics and Modern Physics (3)
- PHYS 125 Mechanics and Special Relativity (3)
- PHYS 140 Studio Physics - Mechanics and Modern Physics (4)
and one of
- PHYS 121 Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (3)
- PHYS 126 Electricity, Magnetism and Light (3)
- PHYS 141 Studio Physics - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (4)
*students with credit for both PHYS 140 and 141 are not required to complete PHYS 131
Elective Course Requirements
Complementary Studies Elective Courses
In addition, students must also complete two complementary studies courses chosen from the complementary studies list that is available at Note that students must complete an acceptable Breadth-Humanities course and should choose this elective course with that in mind. A pre-approved complementary studies course list is available at Other courses may be acceptable with undergraduate curriculum committee chair approval.
Engineering Science Elective Courses
As well, students must complete two of
- ENSC 424 Multimedia Communications Engineering (4)
- ENSC 425 Electronic System Design (4)
- ENSC 426 High Frequency Electronics (4)
- ENSC 427 Communication Networks (4)
- ENSC 428 Digital Communications (4)
- ENSC 429 Digital Signal Processing (4)
- ENSC 450 VLSI Systems Design (4)
- ENSC 452 Advanced Digital System Design (4)
- ENSC 472 Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Devices (4)
- ENSC 474 Digital/Medical Image Processing (4)
- ENSC 476 Biophotonics and Microscopy Techniques (4)
- ENSC 481 Designing for Reliability (4)
- ENSC 484 Industrial Control Systems (4)
- ENSC 495 Introduction to Microelectronic Fabrication (4)
Special topics courses in the 400 division that have been approved by the undergraduate curriculum committee chair and the director can be counted here. With permission of the undergraduate curriculum committee chair, students may replace one engineering science elective with an engineering science directed studies course or a special project laboratory course. Such replacements for an engineering science elective must have four units and be 400 division courses.
Science Elective Courses
Students must also complete one science elective course selected from a pre-approved science electives list that is available at
Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements
Students admitted to ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.
WQB Graduation Requirements A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit. |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Requirement | Units |
Notes | |
W - Writing | 6 |
Must include at least one upper division course, taken at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV within the student’s major subject | |
Q - Quantitative | 6 |
Q courses may be lower or upper division | |
B - Breadth | 18 |
Designated Breadth | Must be outside the student’s major subject, and may be lower or upper division 6 units Social Sciences: B-Soc 6 units Humanities: B-Hum 6 units Sciences: B-Sci |
6 |
Additional Breadth | 6 units outside the student’s major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements) |
For engineering science students, these university requirements are modified as follows.
- for students in the systems option, the total number of Breadth-Social Sciences (B-Soc) and Breadth-Humanities (B-Hum) courses is reduced to three courses, with at least one course in each category
- the B-Sci requirements are waived for engineering science students who complete PHYS 125 and 126 instead of PHYS 120 and 121
In addition, the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) requires that one complementary studies elective in the ENSC curriculum must be in the Central Issue, Methodology, and Thought Process category.
Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit
The University’s residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 units as upper division work.
Elective Courses
In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.
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