The Streams of Electrical and Computer Engineering

I'm going to take some time today to explain all the different options in the Electrical and Computer Engineering program at the University of Toronto. Many first years don't know what they're getting themselves into and I wanted to explain briefly the different options they can look at when they reach their third and fourth years. So let's get right into it.

Electrical Engineering:

1. Photonics & Semiconductor Physics:

This option deals with the material physics of all semiconductor electronic devices. You will learn the physics behind all the material that makes up today's transistor. Everything from doping to manufacturing to the physics of the protons, electrons and all the other materials that makeup the transistor.

2. Electromagnetic & Energy Systems:

This has two options, the first is energy systems. this options allows you to explore how to exploit the energy in the form of power in electrical and electronic devices. The electromagnetic option is more involved towards the physics of waves. You will eventually learn how to look at things like microwaves circuits and antennas, this is an extremely interesting option. There are also many jobs in power in the Hydro industry.

3. Analog & Digital Electronics:

This explores the design and physics of the transistor and passive devices that are involved in modern electronics. The analog electronics looks at how to use transistors as amplifiers for example. While in digital electronics we take a look at how transistors are used as gates for zeros and ones.

4. Control, Communications & Signal Processing

This deals with two fields. Controls and communication. Control systems look at how you can use feedback loops to control dynamic, electrical and computer systems. This involves the heavy use of mathematics mostly. The communication side looks at signal processing of different kinds. You will study the fundamentals of signals, transmission, attenuation, frequency and all the things that you would find in your modern cellphones.

Computer Engineering:

5. Computer Hardware & Computer Networks

This deals with computer network programming and how today's internet works for example. You will learn about sockets, packets, transfer protocols and all the other things that will make you an internet wiz. Computer hardware deals with digital logic, it can get very involved and you will be making a lot of designs and improvements on circuits. This is extremely interesting. Also there is computer architecture, which is a more in depth view of how computers work.

6. Software:

This is self explanatory. The mains fields here involve learning programming on different platforms. You can learn different programming languages, algorithms, operating systems, databases and software engineering. This is really cool stuff to get into. This will get you the job on your coop year for sure. Lots of companies want software people.