Working in industry, government and universities, electrical engineers create the light we read by, the devices we use to play our music and the computers on which we work, game and socialize. They are responsible for designing some of the largest and the smallest structures ever built by humans. Working with nano-scale devices smaller than most living cells, they design the microchips used in larger devices from cellphones to satellites and supercomputers. This vast array of networked devices is powered by the largest man-made structure in the world: a massive grid, designed by electrical engineers, moves energy from power stations, wind generation farms and solar power arrays to places all over the world.
The Carleton Advantage
Carleton University’s Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree program in Electrical Engineering offers:
- strong specializations in wireless electronics, integrated circuit design and fabrication, nano-technology, green energy, biomedical sensors and technologies, antennas, light-wave devices, aerospace electronics and design automation;
- opportunities for students to design their own integrated circuits in our on-campus fabrication facility—one of the few such facilities at a Canadian university;
- access to Ottawa’s large concentration of telecommunications and high-tech companies, federal government research labs, as well as leading hospital and medical research facilities such as the Heart Institute and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), enabling you to develop contacts for future employment;
- a progressive co-operative education option; and excellent scholarships for high-standing students.
Our Laboratory and Research Facilities
At Carleton, you will benefit from:
- modern, well-equipped laboratories and computer facilities right on campus;
- on-site facilities for manufacturing integrated circuits;
- our close association with the largest government electrical engineering laboratories in Canada including the Communications Research Centre Canada and the National Research Council Canada; and
- a superb undergraduate computing network with state-of-the-art workstations and computer-aided design(CAD) tools.
Your Co-op Opportunities
As a student in the Electrical Engineering program you will have the opportunity to apply to the Co-operative Education Program. Co-op integrates degree-related, paid work terms into your degree program. A minimum of four work terms are required to obtain the Co-op designation on your degree.
Our program is closely associated with the Canadian high technology industry, much of which is concentrated in the Ottawa region, giving students valuable work experience and contacts that will benefit them in the future.
The pattern of work and study terms for the co-op option is shown in the following table.
| Calendar Year | Fall | Winter | Summer |
| 1 | study term 1 | study term 2 | |
| 2 | study term 3 | study term 4 | work term |
| 3 | work term | study term 5 | study term 6 |
| 4 | work term | work term | work term |
| 5 | study term 7 | study term 8 |
Choosing the Right Program
The BEng program in Electrical Engineering is fully accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. When you graduate from the program, you will meet the educational requirements for registration as a professional engineer.
First year begins with a common core of fundamentals in engineering, mathematics and science. Second year offers introductory courses in network analysis, electronic circuit design, object-oriented programming and numerical analysis, while continuing to develop a strong base of mathematical and computer skills. Third-year courses provide specialization in digital and analog circuit design, semiconductor device physics, electromagnetics and real-time programming. Fourth year offers options for further development in areas such as wireless electronics, antennas, integrated circuit design, layout and fabrication, fibre optic communications, nanoelectronics, sensors and sensing technology, solar cell/photovoltaic technology, power systems, aerospace electronics and CAD for electronics engineering.
Course Structure
The courses of a typical Electrical program are shown below.
Note: As study terms and courses offered may vary, please refer to the Carleton University Undergraduate Calendar for specific program requirements.
Your Future Opportunities
As a Carleton Electrical Engineering graduate, you can expect to find employment with companies developing products and services in wireless electronics, biomedical electronics, instrumentation, mobile electronics, electrical power and smart grids, renewable energy systems, computer/game hardware, telecommunications, and aerospace and space electronics.
Alumni Feature
“Electrical engineering is so pervasive. It’s in my car, my cell phone, my computer…we can reach out and touch it. Carleton’s engineering community looks out for one another, and students here are super collaborative and helpful to one another,”
– Megan McEwen (BEng/20 – Electrical Engineering) Hardware Developer at Ross Video
Admission Requirements
For admission to the Electrical Engineering program, you must have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, including a minimum of six 4U/M courses.
Your six courses must include four prerequisite courses:
- Advanced Functions
- Chemistry
- Physics
- One of the following:
- Calculus and Vectors (strongly recommended for applicants to all engineering programs)
- Biology
- Earth and Space Science
Although it is not an admission requirement, at least one 4U course in either English or French is recommended. Equivalent courses may be substituted at the appropriate 4U level.
Since the number of qualified applicants may be greater than the number of available spaces, cut-off averages and required marks may vary.
If you are from outside Ontario, or outside Canada, please visit Carleton’s Undergraduate Admissions website for details on your specific program’s requirements.