Electrical Engineering – Smart Grid specialization

General information

Electrical Engineering is a broad field with many engineering applications and has been proven to be among the most popular of all engineering disciplines. The university’s Electrical Engineering program teaches students to apply knowledge through analysis, design and implementation of electrical, power, control, electronic, biomedical, photonic, and wireless systems. The program of study includes courses in the areas of electronics, telecommunications, computers, control, and power systems. The curriculum assists students in understanding and applying the principles of electrical engineering and of the Canadian electrical engineering industry.

The specialization in Smart Grid leverages communications and networking technology to move our aging power grid into the 21^st century.  Students will study all aspects of the smart grid, including networking and security, smart metering, electric energy storage systems, power quality, and transportation electrification.

Admission requirements

Admission is competitive. The specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year. Students are selected by taking into consideration a wide range of criteria including school marks, distribution of subjects taken, and performance in subjects relevant to the academic program. Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications.

Current Ontario secondary school students must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U or 4M credits including English (ENG4U) with a minimum average of 60 per cent, Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), Chemistry (SCH4U), and Physics (SPH4U). In addition, a combined minimum 70 per cent average in math and science courses is required, with no grade below 60 per cent. All other applicants should refer to admissions  for the requirements for their specific category of admission.

Professional designation

All of our undergraduate engineering programs in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science have been fully accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. Each graduate is eligible to apply for licensing as a professional engineer (PEng) in any province or territory in Canada.

Program details and degree requirements

To be eligible for an honours Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering – Smart Grid specialization, students must successfully complete 132 credit hours, including all courses outlined here.  For elective options, see the following list.

All courses in Year 1, except SSCI 1470U , are prerequisites to all non-elective courses in Year 3.

All courses in Years 1 and 2, except SSCI 1470U , are prerequisites to all non-elective courses in Year 4.

Although reasonable efforts will be made to adhere to the order and timing of courses as indicated, course requirements and term offerings may change. For the most up-to-date list of course offerings, please visit the faculty website at engineering.ontariotechu.ca. 

Year 1 (33 credit hours)

• COMM 1050U – Technical Communications
• ENGR 1015U – Introduction to Engineering
• MATH 1010U – Calculus I
• MATH 1850U – Linear Algebra for Engineers
• PHY 1010U – Physics I
• CHEM 1800U – Chemistry for Engineers
• ENGR 1025U – Engineering Design
• ENGR 1200U – Introduction to Programming for Engineers
• MATH 1020U – Calculus II
• PHY 1020U – Physics II
• SSCI 1470U – Impact of Science and Technology on Society

Year 2 (33 credit hours)

• ELEE 2110U – Discrete Mathematics for Engineers
• ELEE 2200U – Electrical Engineering Fundamentals
• MATH 2860U – Differential Equations for Engineers
• MECE 2640U – Thermodynamic and Heat Transfer
• SOFE 2710U – Object Oriented Programming and Design
• ELEE 2210U – Circuit Analysis
• ELEE 2250U – Introductory Electronics
• ELEE 2450U – Digital Systems
• ELEE 2520U – Fundamentals of Electromagnetics
• ELEE 2530U – Complex Analysis for Engineers
• ENGR 2100U – Computational Engineering Applications

Year 3 (36 credit hours)

• Liberal Studies elective*
• ELEE 3110U – Signals and Systems
• ELEE 3230U – Electronic Circuit Design
• ELEE 3240U – Applications for Electromagnetics
• ELEE 3250U – Electric Machines
• ELEE 3450U – Microprocessors and Computer Architecture
• ELEE 3070U – Probability and Random Signals
• ELEE 3100U – Introduction to Control Systems
• ELEE 3130U – Communication Systems
• ELEE 3180U – Design Principles and Project Management in Electrical Engineering
• ELEE 3260U – Power Systems
• ENGR 3360U – Engineering Economics

Year 4 (30 credit hours)

• 2 Engineering electives*
• Liberal Studies elective*
• ELEE 4115U – Fundamentals of Smart Grid
• ENGR 4940U – Capstone Systems Design for Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering I
• ELEE 4120U – Introduction to Power Electronics
• ELEE 4125U – Smart Grid Networking and Security
• ELEE 4140U – Power System Protection Relaying
• ENGR 4760U – Ethics, Law and Professionalism for Engineers
• ENGR 4941U – Capstone Systems Design for Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering II

*Electives

• ELEE 4130U – Digital Communications
• ELEE 4150U – Advanced Control Systems
• ELEE 4180U – Special Topics in Electrical Engineering
• ELEE 4190U – Multimedia Systems
• ELEE 4420U – Digital Signal Processing
• ELEE 4500U – Wireless Communications
• ELEE 4750U – Microwave and RF Circuits
• ELEE 4930U – Optical Communications

• In addition, the following are approved Engineering electives that may be taken with special permission:

• SOFE 4860U – Computer Graphics Design
• SOFE 4890U – Advanced Computer Networks

Liberal Studies electives

Complementary studies, including courses in humanities, social sciences, arts, management, engineering economics, ethics and communication, are included in engineering programs to complement the technical content of the curriculum and thereby provide graduates with a broader perspective of their role in society. Inclusion of complementary studies also satisfies several accreditation criteria of the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. Courses or parts of courses covering engineering economics, ethics, and the impact of technology on society, as well as courses that develop the student’s capability to communicate orally, visually and in writing, are essential to the education of an engineer and therefore are included in all of our engineering programs.

Liberal studies electives are included in each engineering program to ensure adequate coverage of subject matter that deals with central issues, methodologies and thought processes of the humanities and social sciences. Such material is required in the education of an engineer. Liberal studies electives can include, but are not limited to, courses dealing with cultural analysis; historical analysis; literature and the arts; knowledge, cognition, and moral reasoning; and social and behavioural analysis.

Foreign language and business courses may not be used as liberal studies. Courses can be approved as liberal studies electives for students in engineering programs at the university by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (or designate), in accordance with these principles.

Courses selected for the liberal studies electives must be approved by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. Liberal studies electives are subject to change. An updated list of liberal studies electives will be maintained online at engineering.ontariotechu.ca.