Overview
Electrical Engineering involves the design of devices and systems that employ the flow of electrons to achieve useful purposes. It encompasses electrical power generation and distribution, robotics, electronics, wired and wireless communications, optoelectronics, signal processing, computers, radar, medical imaging and many other technologies.
Electrical Engineering is a broad-based, classical discipline with room for specialization: both computer engineering and biomedical engineering developed from the foundations of electrical engineering. This program focuses heavily on the physical design of electronics, electromagnetics and communication systems. Power systems, sustainable energy, and computer hardware/software are integrated into the program.
“I really wanted to understand how modern technology works, and Electrical Engineering provided me the technical knowledge to learn and understand technology.” – Rahul Devnai, Electrical Engineering
What makes this program unique?
- Electrical engineering is a broad-based, classical discipline with room for specialization: both computer engineering and biomedical engineering developed from the foundations of electrical engineering.
- Open-ended capstone project where students apply their acquired knowledge and develop their own unique technology to solve real problems.
- Power systems, sustainable energy, and computer hardware/software are integrated into the program.
B.Eng. Electrical – About this Program
Level II: Developing fundamental knowledge generally required in electrical engineering.
The concept of energy electrostatics and magnetostatics, (EE2FH3)
The operation principles of the electronic devices for signal transformation (resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, transistors, and operational amplifiers, EE2EI5)
Signal manipulations using electronic elements (circuit theory and analysis, EE2CI5, EE2CJ4)
The transmission of energy and signal (time-varying fields, EE2FH3)
The mathematic tools learned in level II include phasors (complex arithmetic for average power, EE2CI5), vector calculus for electromagnetics (EE2FH3), and Laplace transforms for signal analysis in frequency domain (EE2CJ4)
Level III: Developing fundamental knowledge for specific disciplines or applications in electrical engineering.
Control: model of system and its controlling techniques in time and frequency domain (EE3CL4)
Communication: wave propagation (EE3FK4), noise, and modulation schemes (EE3TR4)
Microelectronics: electronic circuits for analog and digital applications, computer added design (EE3EJ4)
Power & Energy: the operation principles of the electronic devices for energy generation, transformation, and applications (generators and transformers, EE3PI4)
The mathematic tools learned in level III include complex variables and integration (EE3TP4), probability, random processes (EE3TQ4) and stochastic processes (EE3TR4), and Fourier transformation (EE3TP3).
Level IV: Developing advanced knowledge for specific disciplines or applications in electrical engineering.
Control: medical robotics (EE4BE4) and design of control system (EE4CL4)
Communication: digital communication systems (EE4TK4, EE4TM4)
Microelectronics: microwave engineering (EE4FJ4) and nanotechnology (EE4EL4)
Photonic: photonic devices & system (EE4EM3)
Power & Energy: power electronics (EE4PK4) and energy system and management (EE4PL4)
The mathematic tool learned in level IV includes engineering optimization (EE4FL4)
You will undertake a year-long electrical engineering design course where you will complete an open-ended group project under the supervision of a faculty member (EE 4OI6), and showcase your project at the ECE Expo at the end of the academic year.
B.Eng. Electrical – Program Structure
State-of-the-art electronics, control and computer laboratories feature advanced equipment such as digitizing oscilloscopes, high-end computers and function generators. Communications and power laboratories feature the most modern equipment in the telecommunications and power areas.
B.Eng. Electrical – Co-op and Experiential Learning
Experiential learning provides students with hands-on opportunities beyond the traditional lecture-style format to gain valuable experience.
Engineering Co-op Program
The Engineering Co-op Program is an optional program which provides you with the opportunity to work in real engineering positions before you graduate. The Undergraduate Co-op Program is administered by the Engineering Co-op and Career Services Department (ECCS).
Example Employers:
- Advanced MicroDevices (AMD)
- Flextronics
- Siemens Canada
- IBM Canada
- Hydro One
- Toronto Hydro Corporation
- General Motors Canada
- Ontario Power Generation
- Celestica
Extracurricular Activities
McMaster Engineering has many engineering clubs, teams and societies you can join to enhance your practical knowledge and soft skills, provide support, or give you the chance to explore new activities. Clubs are an enjoyable way to enrich your student life and contribute to your social development and academic success.
- IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) McMaster Student Branch
- McMaster Electrical and Computer Engineering Society
- PhaseOne (formerly HackItMAC)
- McMaster Solar Car Project
- MAC Formula Electric
- McMaster EcoCar Team
- McMaster ACM (Association for Computing Machinery)