Engineering I
Overview
McMaster's undergraduate Engineering program, with a common first year, allows students to explore all of our degree path options before choosing a focus discipline.
At McMaster, all undergraduate students take a common first year program, Engineering I. This provides a solid foundation in the fundamentals of engineering disciplines.
Engineering I gives you the opportunity to widen your perspective by taking electives from other faculties. This is important for developing a greater understanding and appreciation of the world in which we live and work. Students choose to take courses in subjects such as philosophy, music, languages, social science and history.
You'll also have the opportunity to bond with all of your peers, regardless of their future area of study. You'll have tutorial classes with as few as 30 students in first year which will help you transition from high school.
After first year, students choose from one of the widest ranges of engineering program options in Canada, some with specializations such as nano- and micro- devices, nuclear engineering & energy systems, photonics, aerodynamics, and bioengineering, all with co-op options, and all (except Chemical and Bioengineering) have five-year Management and Society options.
The McMaster Difference: Supporting Student Success
- A director of Engineering 1, instructional coordinator, academic advisors, and specially trained teaching assistants
- The student-run McMaster Engineering Society (MES) and the many student groups and activities associated with it provide social, academic and personal peer support for engineering students
- The Engineering Student Services team provides support for our students, with an aim to specifically assist first year students with academic concerns
- Dedicated first year Academic Advisors
- Engineering Co-op and Career Services offers career planning and co-op program assistance
- Small tutorial and lab groups led by specially trained senior students who appreciate the challenges first year students face
- A dedicated Engineering I 'elliptical' computer lab. One of only four in North America
- The new Gerald Hatch Centre for Engineering Experiential Learning
Courses
At McMaster, Engineering students take a common Level I program with the following courses:
- General Chemistry for Engineering I (CHEM 1E03)
- Engineering Design and Graphics (ENGINEER 1C03) *
- Engineering Computation (ENGINEER 1D04) *
- Engineering Profession and Practice (ENGINEER 1P03)
- Engineering Mathematics (MATH 1ZA3, 1ZB3, 1ZC3)
- Structure and Properties of Materials (MATLS 1M03)
- Introductory Mechanics (PHYSICS 1D03)
- Waves, Electricity, and Magnetic Fields (PHYSICS 1E03)
- Safety Training (WHMIS 1A00)
* It is recommended that ENGINEER 1C03 and ENGINEER 1D04 should not be taken in the same semester.
Course Outlines
| COURSE NAME | COURSE TITLE | OUTLINE |
|---|---|---|
| CHEMISTRY 1E03 | General Chemistry for Engineering 1 | FALL 2017 |
| ENGINEER 1C03 | Engineering Design and Graphics | FALL 2017 / WINTER 2018 |
| ENGINEER 1D04 | Engineering Computation | FALL 2017 / WINTER 2018 |
| ENGINEER 1P03 | Engineering Profession & Practice | FALL 2017 |
| MATH 1ZA3 | Engineering Mathematics I | FALL 2017 |
| MATH 1ZB3 | Engineering Mathematics II-A | WINTER 2018 |
| MATH 1ZC3 | Engineering Mathematics II-B | WINTER 2018 |
| MATLS 1M03 | Structure & Properties of Materials | WINTER 2018 |
| PHYSICS 1D03 | Introductory Mechanics | FALL 2017 |
| PHYSICS 1E03 | Waves, Electricity & Magnetic Fields | WINTER 2018 |
| WHMIS 1A00 | Introduction to Health & Safety | FALL 2017 |
Typical Timetable
Director's Message
Welcome First Year students to the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University!
You are beginning a journey that will bring with it exciting changes, new adventures, unexpected challenges and hopefully a lifetime of fulfilling memories. You are also now part of an engineering community that promotes engagement, inclusion, and diversity. This community is kept alive by your fellow students at McMaster and their abundance of school spirit, which manifests itself in an impressive array of social events and clubs. Many opportunities will present themselves to you this year and over the next several years, and I encourage to you explore them, to get involved, to challenge yourself, and most of all, to have fun!
As you enter into Level I, some of you may have an idea which engineering discipline you would like to pursue beyond first year while many of you may not, and that is okay! In either case, the purpose of Level I is to introduce you to the engineering profession, provide you with fundamental skills important to all engineering disciplines, and offer many opportunities to bond with your peers and form relationships that will continue regardless of your future area of study.
The Engineering 1 team consists of faculty, staff and senior undergraduate students who are committed to offering the best possible student experience. We understand that the transition to Level I can be very challenging. We strongly believe that every student admitted to Level I Engineering has the ability to succeed, but some of you may need to make some adjustments to your study habits and time management strategies to reach your full potential. Should you encounter challenges or difficulties, there are many options available to you to seek assistance:
The Engineering I office located in the Engineering Technology Building (ETB) provides support personnel and services specifically designed to assist first year students.
For assistance or academic advice please contact Ms. Jennifer Hamilton, the Engineering I Advisor. She is available by phone at (905) 525-9140 Ext. 24646 or by e-mail at jhamilto@mcmaster.ca. Ms. Hamilton’s office is located in Engineering Student Services, JHE-H301.
Student Affairs offers a number of supports for all McMaster students. If you need support for a diagnosed disability or disorder, please refer to Student Accessibility Services (SAS) in the MUSC. The Student Success Centre (SSC) provides convenient access to an array of student services in the areas of Career and Employment, Transition and Academic Success, and Community Service-Learning, Civic Engagement and Leadership. The Student Wellness Centre (SWC) provides support to the whole student - mind, body, spirit through a range of wellness services such as personal and psychological counselling, medical and health services, and wellness education resources.
And finally, the McMaster Engineering Society (MES), a group you are now part of and one of the largest student groups on campus, is available to support you academically, professionally, and socially.
I wish all of you a successful and memorable first year of engineering!
Dr. Colin P. McDonald
Director, Engineering I
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Colin McDonald
Our Team
Faculty
Staff
Jessica Anderson
- ETB-110Instructional Coordinator
Jennifer Hamilton
- JHE-H319Engineering 1, Computer Science levels 1 – 4
Samantha Kandilas
- ETB-108Instructional Assistant Interns (IAIs)
How to Register
Want to know How to Register for First Year Engineering? Check out this video.
Engineering I - 2017 from Chad Fullerton on Vimeo.
Helpful tips from The Office of the Registrar can be found here.
Moving to Level II
Admission to Level II Engineering programs requires completion of all 31 units of required Engineering I courses. Students must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0. All programs have limited enrolment; should there be more applicants than the limiting number in any program, admission to that program will be based on the students Cumulative Grade Point Average. A student in Engineering I whose Grade Point Average (GPA) is less than 4.0 can no longer continue in Engineering.
Your experience in Eng I will allow you to explore different engineering disciplines so that you can make a more informed decision of what upper year discipline you would like to study.
At the end of your first year, you will choose one of ten program disciplines.
Students can also choose one of the five-year programs by selecting the Engineering & Management or Engineering & Society options. The Management option combines the requirements of McMaster's 4-year engineering program in your chosen discipline with the core requirements of a commerce degree. The Society option adds study in areas focusing on social implications of engineering and non-technical electives.
Follow the links below to find out more about the different programs, disciplines and options.
Engineering Displines
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering Physics
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics
- Software Engineering
Engineering Options
Computer Science Programs
IAI & TA Job Opportunities
Students in Levels 3, 4, and 5 have the opportunity to be a Teaching Assistant or Instructional Assitant Intern (IAI) for Level I Engineering courses.
Winter 2019 TA opportunities will be posted on OSCARplus in October 2018!
2019-2020 Intructional Assistant Intern (IAI) opportunities will be posted on OSCARplus in January 2019.
Please check back in the Fall for exact dates!
Quick Links
FAQ's
The undergraduate calendar will provide you with a list and description of the course material: http://academiccalendars.romcmaster.ca/index.php?catoid=24
There are 2 important dates when it comes to dropping classes. The first is the last day to drop or add classes without financial penalty, and the second is the drop / add deadline to drop a course without academic penalty (ie. Course listed on your transcript) http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/category/dates/sessional/
You can buy and sell textbooks either through Titles book store, or online through http://icbb.sellmytextbooks.org/members/17/index.cfm?index=CLASSIFIEDS
There are general bursaries available to all students through McMaster General Bursaries: http://sfas.mcmaster.ca/bursary/macbur.html#under
There are also scholarships available through: http://sfas.mcmaster.ca/incourse.html
For more information on exchange see the undergraduate calendar. You can also visit the following website for a list of the countries you can visit http://www.mcmaster.ca/oia/programs.htm
The 12 pt scale is broken down on the following webpage: Grading System
To calculate your grade point average calculate the sum of your mark times the number of units for the course and divide that by the sum of the units.
For example:
| Course | Units for course | McMaster Grade | Grade x Units |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | 32 |
| Calculus | 3 | 6 | 18 |
| Algebra | 4 | 10 | 40 |
| Eng 1D04 | 4 | 8 | 32 |
| Total | 15 | 122 | |
| Average = 122/15 = 8.13 | |||
This information isn’t released due to the fact that the averages changes from year to year. Information sessions for each discipline will be held in February during which more information on this topic will be disbursed.
Before signing up for the co-op program you have to complete an introductory course to make sure that you’re prepared to represent McMaster in a co-op position. For more information visit the Engineering Co-op & Career Services website
Information about each of the disciplines can be found here. There is also an information session for first year students in second semester (mid-February). The session will be announced on Avenue to Learn.
You may only take 6 units per summer term (there are 2 summer terms). An overload of 1 unit is allowed each term. You can check if the desired course is available in the summer by viewing the spring/summer timetable in Mosaic which is released in late February of each year.
Free choice is granted to incoming engineering students with a high admissions average. With free choice, you are guaranteed your first choice of program after first year. Exceptions to the free choice are: Chemical & Bioengineering, as well as the Management and Society options.
This year the McMaster Engineering Society will be teaming up with the Student Success Center to provide tutoring services. More information can be found here.
TAs are hired for terms 1 and 2. Postings for the positions go up in the Fall (for Winter) and Spring (for Summer & Fall). Please watch the following link for information.
Parking permit information can be found at http://parking.mcmaster.ca