uwloo

General Engineering (GENE)

27 undergraduate courses in the 2025–26 Undergraduate Calendar.

GENE 101 Strategies and Skills for Academic Success0.50 units

The goal for this course is to help students become successful independent learners through learned study skills, a better understanding of their personality type, and an understanding of how personal wellness affects academic success. It takes a modelled approach to teaching learning strategies to students who struggle to meet the demands of a university curriculum. In the lectures, students will be taught various learning strategies that they will be able to apply to successfully meet the demands of their other courses. Students will then apply these modelled strategies in their other courses during a weekly application lab. Students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of the material through a variety of assignments. The course will include an engineering component.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Students must be in level 1A
    • Complete 1 of the following
Antirequisites
  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • UNIV101 - Strategies and Skills for Academic Success (0.50)

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 119 First-Year Engineering Seminar

Seminar series focusing on topics relating to success in Waterloo Engineering.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Students must be in level 1A
    • Complete 1 of the following

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 120 First-Year Engineering Seminar

Seminar series focusing on topics relating to success in Waterloo Engineering.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Students must be in level 1B
    • Complete 1 of the following

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 123 Electrical Circuits and Instrumentation0.50 units

Charge, current, and voltage. Voltage and current sources, resistors, capacitors, and inductors. Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Laws, nodal analysis, Thevenin and Norton models, instrumentation amplifier circuits, time response, impedance. Function and characteristics of basic electrical transducers. Resolution, precision, and accuracy. Basics of data acquisition.

Prerequisites

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 199 Special Topics in First-Year Engineering0.50 units

Various courses dealing with selected topics of particular interest to first-year engineering students. These courses will be offered as resources are available and the material is needed.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Complete 1 of the following
      • Students must be in level 1A
      • Students must be in level 1B
    • Complete 1 of the following

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 298 Special Complementary Studies Topics0.50 units

Various courses dealing with selected complementary studies topics of particular interest to engineering students. These courses will be offered as resources are available and the material is needed.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Students must be in level 2A or higher
    • Complete 1 of the following

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 299 Special Topics in Second-Year Engineering0.50 units

Various courses dealing with selected topics of particular interest to second-year engineering students. These courses will be offered as resources are available and the material is needed.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Complete 1 of the following
      • Students must be in level 2A
      • Students must be in level 2B
    • Complete 1 of the following

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 310A Topics for Technical Courses Taken on Exchange by Architecture Students0.50 units

Courses taken by University of Waterloo architecture students while completing an international exchange, and reserved for courses without equivalents at the University of Waterloo. These courses are treated as technical electives in the student's plan.

Prerequisites

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 310E Topics for Technical Courses Taken on Exchange by Engineering Students0.50 units

Courses taken by University of Waterloo engineering students while completing an international exchange, and reserved for courses without equivalents at the University of Waterloo. These courses are treated as technical electives in the student's plan.

Prerequisites

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 311A Topics for List A Complementary Studies Courses Taken on Exchange by Engineering Students0.50 units

Courses taken by University of Waterloo engineering students while completing an international exchange, and reserved for courses without equivalents at the University of Waterloo. These courses are treated as List A complementary studies electives in the student's plan.

Prerequisites

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 311B Topics for List B Complementary Studies Courses Taken on Exchange by Engineering Students0.50 units

Courses taken by University of Waterloo engineering students while completing an international exchange, and reserved for courses without equivalents at the University of Waterloo. These courses are treated as List B complementary studies electives in the student's plan.

Prerequisites

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 311C Topics for List C Complementary Studies Courses Taken on Exchange by Engineering Students0.50 units

Courses taken by University of Waterloo engineering students while completing an international exchange, and reserved for courses without equivalents at the University of Waterloo. These courses are treated as List C complementary studies electives in the student's plan.

Prerequisites

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 311D Topics for List D Complementary Studies Courses Taken on Exchange by Engineering Students0.50 units

Courses taken by University of Waterloo engineering students while completing an international exchange, and reserved for courses without equivalents at the University of Waterloo. These courses are treated as List D complementary studies electives in the student's plan.

Prerequisites

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 312E Topics for Natural Science Elective Courses Taken on Exchange by Engineering Students0.50 units

Courses taken by University of Waterloo engineering students while completing an international exchange, and reserved for courses without equivalents at the University of Waterloo. These courses are treated as natural science electives in the student's plan.

Prerequisites

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 315 Special Directed Non-Technical Studies0.50 units

This course is provided for students who wish to request a course credit for university-related scholarly activities. Students wishing to claim this credit must show evidence of university-level academic activity not otherwise claimed for credit.

  • Permission of the associate chair of the department in which the student is registered is required.
Prerequisites
  • Enrolled in a program offered by Faculty of Engineering

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 395 Engineering Study Abroad2.50 units

Waterloo students studying abroad for academic transfer credits under an engineering exchange program during a fall term register at Waterloo under GENE 395.

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 396 Engineering Study Abroad2.50 units

Waterloo students studying abroad for academic transfer credits under an engineering exchange program during a winter term register at Waterloo under GENE 396.

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 397 Engineering Study Abroad2.50 units

Waterloo students studying abroad for academic transfer credits under an engineering exchange program during a spring term register at Waterloo under GENE 397.

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 399 Special Topics in Third-Year Engineering0.50 units

Various courses dealing with selected technical topics of particular interest to third-year engineering students. These courses will be offered as resources are available and the material is needed.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Students must be in level 3A or higher
    • Complete 1 of the following

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 403 Interdisciplinary Design Project 10.50 units

This is the first course in a two-course sequence where students from more than one engineering plan work together to solve an interdisciplinary engineering problem. In the course they will formulate and communicate an interdisciplinary engineering problem or opportunity; develop a feasible design project proposal and plan; generate feasible solutions that address the formulated problem; evaluate alternatives and identify preferred solution; address safety, regulatory, sustainability and professional ethics requirements, as appropriate; effectively manage design project technical and non-technical risks using project management tools and techniques; deliver a report and/or a presentation that summarizes the work completed; work effectively as an interdisciplinary team member and/or team leader.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Students must be in level 4A or higher
    • Complete 1 of the following

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 404 Interdisciplinary Design Project 20.50 units

This is the second course in a two-course sequence where students from more than one engineering plan work together to solve an interdisciplinary engineering problem. At the end of this course students will be able to re-formulate and re-communicate an engineering problem or opportunity (as appropriate); revise and communicate a feasible design project plan; revise solutions that address the formulated problem (as appropriate); implement and verify design solutions by analysis, test or prototype; communicate design solutions using accepted data formats, working documents and oral presentations; address safety, regulatory, sustainability and professional ethics requirements, as appropriate; effectively manage and communicate design project plans, technical and non-technical risks, using project management tools and techniques; work effectively as an interdisciplinary team member and/or team leader.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
      • GENE403 - Interdisciplinary Design Project 1 (0.50)
    • Students must be in level 4A or higher
    • Complete 1 of the following

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 415 Non-Technical Studies: Practical Analysis of Student Leadership Experiences0.50 units

This course provides student leaders with a practical framework to analyze and understand their role in their service organization, either in Waterloo Engineering or outside, to become better leaders in the future. The course is structured for students to both develop and apply reflective practices to their student leadership experiences using the SLICC (Student-Led, Individually-Created Course) model and circle pedagogy. Classroom time is used for discussions, workshops, guest presenters, and peer-to-peer learning experiences from discussions of the week’s topic to formal presentations. Typical topics include positionality and power, conflict and inter-personal relationships, emotional intelligence, leadership and management, communication, teamwork, and succession planning. Participation in all in-person sessions and submitting weekly reflections are expected. Main deliverables include weekly reflections, SLICC proposal and final report, as well as presentations and peer feedback on SLICC projects.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Students must be in level 4B or higher
    • Enrolled in a program offered by Faculty of Engineering

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 499 Special Topics in Fourth-Year Engineering0.50 units

Various courses dealing with selected technical topics of particular interest to fourth-year engineering students. These courses will be offered as resources are available and the material is needed.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Students must be in level 4A or higher
    • Complete 1 of the following

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 501 Directed Studies for Visiting Exchange Students0.50 units

An assignment of study or project work under the direction of a faculty member. The specific project is established on the basis of a written proposal that is agreed to by the supervisors at both the host and home institutions. The academic level and the time commitment shall be specified in the proposal. Registration is restricted to international exchange students at Waterloo under an Exchange Agreement with the Faculty of Engineering. Candidates for degrees at the University of Waterloo are not eligible.

  • A student must arrange with a Waterloo faculty member to serve as advisor prior to registering for this course.
Prerequisites
  • Visiting exchange students only

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 502 Directed Studies for Visiting Exchange Students1.00 units

An assignment of study or project work under the direction of a faculty member. The specific project is established on the basis of a written proposal that is agreed to by the supervisors at both the host and home institutions. The academic level and the time commitment shall be specified in the proposal. Registration is restricted to international exchange students at Waterloo under an Exchange Agreement with the Faculty of Engineering. Candidates for degrees at the University of Waterloo are not eligible.

  • A student must arrange with a Waterloo faculty member to serve as advisor prior to registering for this course.
Prerequisites
  • Visiting exchange students only

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 503 Directed Studies for Visiting Exchange Students2.50 units

An assignment of study or project work under the direction of a faculty member. The specific project is established on the basis of a written proposal that is agreed to by the supervisors at both the host and home institutions. The academic level and the time commitment shall be specified in the proposal. Registration is restricted to international exchange students at Waterloo under an Exchange Agreement with the Faculty of Engineering. Candidates for degrees at the University of Waterloo are not eligible.

  • A student must arrange with a Waterloo faculty member to serve as advisor prior to registering for this course.
Prerequisites
  • Visiting exchange students only

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines

GENE 599 Special Topics in Engineering0.50 units

Various courses dealing with selected technical topics of particular interest to fourth-year engineering students. These courses will be offered as resources are available and the material is needed.

Prerequisites
  • Complete all of the following
    • Students must be in level 4A or higher
    • Complete 1 of the following

Archived calendar entryRequirements, Fall 2025Course outlines