Electrical Engineering
In this program you’ll learn about:
- electrical power systems
- communications systems
- computing hardware
- control systems
- renewable technologies
Potential careers
What can you do with an electrical engineering degree? Here are a few jobs that relate to the program:
- biomedical sensor designer
- circuit designer
- cyber-security officer
- data-systems engineer
- electrical motor system designer
- embedded-system engineer
- high-power electrical transmission system engineer
- microprocessor designer
- operations manager
- product manager
- program manager
- research engineer
- satellite or payload engineer
- solar energy generation system engineer
- systems designer
- telecommunications engineer
- wind or tidal energy generation system engineer
Some of these roles may require post-graduate studies or training.
Find a career that fits you
- Explore your career options at an appointment with a career educator.
- Attend career development workshops as you search for work.
- Take part in the Career Clarity program to generate career ideas and plan your next steps.
Experience & connections
Opportunities in the electrical engineering program
- With the Co-op Program you can alternate study with paid work.
Opportunities outside your program
- With a work study position you can develop skills during your study term.
- Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community while you build skills.
Networks you can connect to
Here are a few professional associations related to electrical engineering:
Hands-on learning opportunities
These courses in the electrical engineering program offer extensive hands-on learning.
Co-op
Co-op work terms
Alternate academic study with paid work terms to gain workplace experience
Creative or design project
ECE 299 - Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering Design
Gain experience with the tools used in electrical and computer engineering design
ECE 399 Design Project I
Engage in real-world, team-based projects proposed by external clients
ECE 441 - Design of Digital and VLSI Systems
Learn about advanced combinational and sequential logic design through a design project
ECE 449 - Computer Systems and Architecture
Design and use a processor based on a specification of a simple instruction set
ECE 455 - Real Time Computer Systems Design Project
Complete a project involving real-time design and implementation
ECE 498 - Honours Thesis
Do a major engineering design and research project
ECE 499 - Design Project II
Do a technical design project
ENGR 110 - Design and Communication I
Gain skills with practical projects and engage with industry experts
ENGR 120 - Design and Communication II
Gain skills with practical projects and engage with industry experts
MECH 458 - Mechatronics
Design a mechatronics system, such as a conveyor belt system
Professional and technical skill development
ECE 299 - Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering Design
Gain experience with the tools used in electrical and computer engineering design
ENGR 110 - Design and Communication I
ENGR 120 - Design and Communication II
Develop writing and presentation skills
ENGR 130 - Introduction to Professional Practice
Gain skills such as résumé writing and career development
Research project
ECE 498 - Honours Thesis
Research, write and orally defend a graduating honours design or research project
MECH 458 - Mechatronics Design Project
Design the mechanical, electrical and software components of a mechatronic system
These courses are not always offered as described.
What you'll learn
Every student at UVic builds skills all employers look for. At UVic Co-op & Career we call these "competencies". This is what you’ll learn in the electrical engineering program.
Professional practice
- focus on the safety, health and welfare of the public
- focus on environmental protection
- promote health and safety in the workplace
- take on professional assignments only when qualified
- maintain confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest
- keep informed to maintain competence
- act with fairness, courtesy and good faith toward clients, colleagues and others
- extend public knowledge and appreciation of engineering
Reliability, safety and failure analysis
- understand quality assurance standards and testing procedures
- ensure that systems or components perform their required function
- maintain a current knowledge of safety standards
- establish the mean time between failures when assessing reliability
Design
- gather full requirements for a project
- understand the client’s needs
- model a solution using the appropriate tools
- communicate the design process to the client
- use safe and effective designs
- understand how a design integrates into its environment
Engineering tools
- design equipment and systems using a variety of software packages
- simulate mechanical and electronic systems using the appropriate tools
- analyze systems, equipment and data using the correct tools
- operate mechanical equipment in a lab or workshop
- use electronics and electrical equipment
- develop software and scripts in a variety of environments and languages
- use computer software and systems
- understand and use databases
- research and recommend new tools where existing tools are inadequate
- choose tools based on their strengths and weaknesses
Engineering knowledge
- understand the mathematical fundamentals of engineering
- use the correct statistical methods to analyze and investigate data
- understand the supporting natural sciences for their discipline of engineering
- understand engineering fundamentals
- understand engineering economics
- understand how engineering specifics integrate into a larger project
- study related subjects to help projects’ success
Power and energy systems
- use the fundamental science associated with electricity
- understand the generation, transmission, distribution and processing of energy
- consider the characteristics of an energy system in requirements gathering
- improve energy usage with alternative systems
- outline the fault tolerant, reliable operation of power systems
- research and develop new energy systems
Control theory and systems
- use the fundamentals of control theory in the design of dynamic systems
- understand feedback control systems
- identify design specifications
- assess system performance
- identify the components of a dc servo system and its use in motion control
- use a control system using feedback circuits
- understand processors and microcontrollers
Circuits and electronics
- use the fundamental components of electronic circuits
- assess the electrical properties of materials
- create test benches to verify design
- understand semiconductor structures
- use differential equations to analyze and design circuits
- read and interpret electrical schematics
- do research and development of electronic devices
- use electronic test equipment
Networks, hardware and communications
- understand layered network architecture
- use different digital communication networks to send data
- work with LANs and WANs
- use different network protocols at different layers
- protect networks from unauthorized access using the appropriate policies
- identify mobile communications techniques and issues affecting multimedia quality of service
- use different types of buses, interrupts, families of processors and instruction sets