An Engineeering Physics FAQ
Dr. Christopher James Backhouse
Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
University of Alberta
Email: 
13 September 2008
Abstract
This document is in part to give Eng. Phys. students a good starting point for answering common questions, and in part to advise on upcoming changes. We have a number of changes underway and these arise from curriculum changes (in Physics and in ECE) and from externally imposed requirements from the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB). This is a draft document and is under construction - please press reload when returning.
Table of Contents
First and foremost: I am always happy to discuss any issues or inquiries related to the Engineering Physics program. With its balance of physics and engineering, this program is not for everyone - but for many it is the natural home. We are always on the lookout for kindred souls. There are many potential career paths associated with this program so if you are interested in the big questions, and in doing something with the answers, then please feel free to arrange a chat.
This document is intended to answer many of your questions directly - for many situations you do not need departmental approval. Please read on...
If you do need an approval, these are generally standard course, timetabling or graduation-related issues. For these, please consult first with our undergraduate advisor, AnnMarie (coordinates below), AnnMarie and I meet regularly to straighten out issues as they arise and she will flag me down (typically within minutes) if there is a crisis, or within a day or so otherwise. If in doubt, try AnnMarie first. For anything standard she is far faster and she will flag me down if she needs to. In your email please explain what you want to take, what type of elective it is, and why. (A surprising number of people do not actually say what they want permission for!)
For complementary studies electives (CSEs), please see our departmental list of approved courses here. Please note however, that due to accreditation requirements, language courses are no longer acceptable (see CSE section below), and, 100-level courses are not normally allowed.
For technical electives (TEs), please see our departmental list of approved courses here. More details are given in the TE section below.
If you need departmental permission for something unusual then please email me (as above or here). In your email please explain what you want to take and why. I often need a good reason to approve anything off the beaten path. Please include in the subject line 'ATTN EP' so that I can readily distinguish your (important) email from spam.
<ugradadv@ece.ualberta.ca>
or in ECERF 2-052, 3 doors to the east of my office). In most circumstances, this document should cover most situations you are likely to have.
In general, getting departmental approval means contacting AnnMarie.
Happily, she is readily found!
I have the occasional meeting during the week but am almost always in or nearby, generally with students. I try and use Wednesdays for review, reading, writing and library work - and am often not in my office. The other days I am almost always in at least from 9am to 5pm. Kathleen at reception (780-492-3332) will know if I am ill. I'll get feedback from students about their availability as the term gets underway, but my starting point for office hours is below. The intent here is to have some overlap with everyone... but this is always a challenge! If you let me know you are coming then I will hold the spot. (Otherwise I may end up meeting someone else in that timeslot - depending on who shows up and when.) If this timetable does not work for you then please arrange a meeting.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100-1200h | 1100-1200h | 1100-1200h | 1100-1200h and 1300-1340h |
I have an open door policy - you are welcome to drop in any time. If the door is ajar - please knock, even if you do not see me! I spend most of my days with students, but that since could be anywhere in the building I can be a challenge to find. If you have trouble finding me then please either talk with AnnMarie (as above), or set up a meeting with me. For the latter, please either email or telephone. Email is suitable for non-time critical issues. If you are stuck then I want to hear about it!
I usually read my email first thing in the morning and may not get a chance later in the day. Email can be erratic - please call me (see above) if you do not hear back from me after a couple of days. (It usually takes a day to find files & needed background information before I can reply.) You may wish to leave me a voicemail or post-it with a brief 'topic description' and a telephone number where I can best reach you. This is best for situations such as finding a suitable meeting time.
At the beginning of the Fall term many of you receive a letter from the Faculty inviting you to undertake a Dean's Research Award project. The details are all in the letter. Although you may win a nominal award, more importantly this gives you a chance to check out a possible future career path, or to delve into an area of interest. As you do so you will learn important skills in project management while possibly laying the groundwork for a summer job. If you wish to take on such a project, start by making a list of areas of interest, and then start browsing departmental websites in Engineering or elsewhere. Once you have an idea of who you may want to take on a project with, go and talk with them - drop in with your letter and, ideally, an idea of what you would like to do. If you draw a blank then feel free to drop in and I will see who I can think of.
Accredition rules are determined by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB). This Board has representatives from all of the Provincial Associations including APEGGA. Although this provides some constraints on the courses that can be taken, the very significant benefit is that the accreditation will make getting your P.Eng. straightforward.
Complementary Studies Electives CSEs) are intended to provide engineering students with an exposure to the thought processes of the humanities and social sciencs. As such, courses offered by the Faculties of Science and Medicine are not allowed. Also excluded are courses that teach a skill such as a language, playing a musical instrument or a sport. The full CSE description from the 2008/2009 calendar is here.
The Faculty Academic Planning Committee has now approved the creation of a list of 100 level Complementary Studies Electives for first year students and a list of upper level courses for students admitted into the programs, including Eng. Physics. These lists are under development.
The CSEs are recognised as being an opportunity to broaden your horizons while strengthening your career. With feedback from our graduates and from engineering associations it is thought that courses offered by the Faculty of Business, or ENGG or ENG M courses are particularly beneficial. These courses in project management, engineering law etc. are extremely relevant and complementary to engineering careers. We therefore recommend them strongly.
Our department has a list of upper level courses and this can be found from the ECE website, or from here. As above, due to accreditation requirements, despite being on the above list, language courses are no longer acceptable, and 100-level courses are not normally allowed in 2nd and higher years of your program. The goal of the CSEs is to broaden the student's horizons and this is best done with higher level courses. If your CSE choice is on the list (and not a language course or 100-level course) then approval is not needed. If you propose a CSE from outside this list then you will need to get departmental approval. You will probably get approval for any (non-language) courses very similar to those listed, even if not on the list.
The relevant portion of the calendar is here. Recently-approved modifications to that entry have simplified the description to:
The technical elective must be chosen from the following list. Other electives may be substituted with the approval of the department.
EE 351, 445, 452, 454, 470, 472, 474, 477
MAT E 494, 495
If the elective is from the above list then no approval is needed. If you propose a TE from outside this list then you will need to get departmental approval.
The technical electives (TEs) are described in the calendar here. Recently-approved modifications to that entry have simplified the description to:
In total, at least 4 technical electives are normally chosen from the following approved list of courses:
CMPE 402, 480
BME 513, 564
EE BE 512 540
EE 332, 351, 380, 390, 431, 432, 441, 445, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 459, 461, 470, 472, 473, 474, 477, 485, 486, 489
The fifth elective, including a possible graduate level ECE course, if not selected from the list above, requires Departmental approval.
If the TEs are chosen from the above list then no approval is needed. If you propose a TE from outside this list then you will need to get departmental approval. Given the large number of non-engineering courses in the Eng. Phys. program, it is important that any alternatives have sufficient engineering science and design (ESD) credits. (This is assessed as part of the accreditation process.) In general, engineering courses have sufficient ESD credits.
In place of EE462 we will allow the substitution EE357 or, with departmental approval, another technical elective that is an ECE course.
To allow program flexibility in the Nanoengineering Option, with departmental approval, a maxiumum of one Faculty of Science course may be exchanged for another.
In place of PHYS 211 we will allow the substitution of CHE 243 in the Eng. Phys. (Traditional Option) (likely needed to avoid scheduling conflicts)
These formalise either needed changes (PHYS 211 being moved) or changes for which a precedent has been set (substitution of EE462).