ECE Undergraduate Frequently Asked Questions and Important Notices

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who can I speak with regarding my program and registration?
• Where can I find the forms for program modification requests, and pre-requisite waivers?
• Where can I find the Natural Science and Complementary Studies lists?
• Can I request a Science or Humanities course not on the approved lists?
• How can I find out which technical electives are being offered?
• When and how should I declare my program area of Specialization?
• How long is the expected review process for a regular program modification request?
• What is the standing review?
• What are my options if I have gone into Faculty Probation standing?
• What is the difference between University regulations, Faculty regulations and ECE Department regulations?

Important Notices

• ECE programs revised May 2012. View old programs for students enrolled before September 2010.

Who can I speak with regarding my program and registration?

1st year students (B.Eng. and BSEng) can contact -LeAnne Golinsky engradav@uvic.ca, Admissions/Advising Officer, EOW 211 Phone: (250) 721-6018

2nd, 3rd and 4th year ELEC/CENG students can contact - Ana-Maria Sevcenco eceugadv@uvic.ca, Undergraduate Advising Assistant, EOW 403, Phone: (250) 472-5216 Fax: (250) 721-6052

Where can I find the forms for program modification requests, and pre-requisite waivers?

See links to the forms on the Faculty of Engineering Advising Page.

Where can I find the Natural Science and Complementary Studies lists?

See links to the forms on the Faculty of Engineering Advising Page.

Can I request a Science or Humanities course not on the approved lists?

Yes, it is possible to submit course outlines for review. Each request will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Students wishing to use a course not on the current Complementary Studies list must obtain written approval. The course must meet Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) requirements for complementary studies and in particular, must deal with central issues, methodologies and thought processes of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Requests should be made in writing, c/o the Associate Dean, and must include a detailed course description. Requests will be brought to the monthly Students Programs Committee (SPC) for approval, so students should submit requests well in advance of course commencement dates. For more information, email the Engineering Undergraduate Office (enguo@uvic.ca or enguoast@uvic.ca).

Students wishing to use a course not on the current Basic Science list must submit a written request including a detailed course description to the ECE Undergraduate Advising office (eceugadv@uvic.ca) in order to request a review. Students will receive e-mail response to this request.

Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) definition of Basic (natural) Sciences:

The basic (natural) sciences component of the curriculum must include elements of physics and chemistry; elements of life sciences and earth sciences may also be included in this category. These subjects are intended to impart an understanding of natural phenomena and relationships through the use of analytical and/or experimental techniques.

How can I find out which technical electives are being offered?

Visit technical electives to see which courses are tentatively offered and schedule for the term in which they are usually offered.

When and how should I declare my program area of Specialization?

Declaration of specialization is not necessary since specializations are optional. The program requires completion of seven technical electives (10.5 units) to be chosen from the list of technical electives. Students who complete three courses (4.5 units) in one of the specialization areas can request a certificate from the Electrical and Computer Engineering office; the specialization area will not be shown on the transcript.

How long is the expected review process for a regular program modification request?

Under normal circumstances the review process in ECE Department will take approximately two weeks. If a request is time sensitive, such as ECE assisted course registration before term start-up, and/or requests that must be additionally submitted to the Student Programs Committee (SPC) for approval, please allow ample lead time for the review process, i.e. submit requests at least three weeks before the monthly deadline (usually the first Thursday of the month) for requests to be tabled in the SPC agenda.

What is the standing review?

There are 2 Faculty of Engineering standing review periods. The first occurs in April, and includes all academics taken from September through to April, or the winter session. The second occurs in August, and includes all academics taken from May through to August, or the summer session.

A Standing Review is simply to determine if a student's sessional GPA is up to par. If it falls between 2.0 and 3.0 the student is placed on faculty probation. At the next Standing Review, if the sessional GPA is 3.0 or higher, the student will resume satisfactory standing and no longer be on probation. Otherwise, the student is in Failed Standing which means the student has to withdraw from the faculty altogether for at least one year.

Please see the current Calendar - Standing description.

What are my options if I have gone into Faculty Probation standing?

Contact the ECE Undergraduate Advising office (eceugadv@uvic.ca) for details.

What is the difference between University regulations, Faculty regulations and ECE Department regulations?

Generally speaking, the University regulations set out the conduct and evaluation applicable to all students registered in the Faculty of Engineering. In certain areas (e.g., credit for courses taken outside the program, standing reviews, supplemental exams, co-op work term waivers, deferred exams, and standing at graduation), the BEng and BSENG Program regulations differ from the general University regulations. The BEng and BSENG regulations take precedence over the University regulation wherever it sets a higher standard or where it spells out a requirement that is not mentioned in the University regulations. A full description of BEng and BSENG program regulations can be found at http://web.uvic.ca/calendar2011/FACS/FoEn/BoEnaBoSEAR/AcRe.html.

The ECE Department maintains regulations/policies specific to the integrity and management of ECE degree programs (e.g., determining acceptable course substitutions, maximum allowable transfer credit units, student specific exemptions, etc).