ECE 208Discrete Mathematics and Logic 2
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Formal logics, methods, and associated tools, and their uses in specifying, synthesizing, and verifying computing systems. Predicate logic. Temporal logic. Relational logic. Set theory. Proof theory. Model theory. Graph theory. Formal models of computation. Applications in computer and software engineering.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed the following:
- ECE108 - Discrete Mathematics and Logic 1 (0.50)
- Students must be in level 2B or higher
- Enrolled in H-Computer Engineering, or H-Electrical Engineering
- Must have completed the following:
Antirequisites
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5010 | 133 / 148 | MF 10:00–11:20 Sep 22 11:30–12:20 Oct 6 11:30–12:20 Oct 27 11:30–12:20 Nov 10 11:30–12:20 Nov 24 11:30–12:20 Dec 8 11:30–12:20 |
| TUT 101 | 5011 | 133 / 148 | Th 16:30–17:20 |
| PRJ 201 | 5229 | 133 / 148 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
68% liked it49% easy67% useful
From 75 ratings and 20 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
This course was mind numbingly boring. I personally did not find any interest in the topic, and I struggled to find how this level of abstract math is relevant in the program. The concepts genuinely aren't that hard, but because of how boring the content and questions are, the course is made 10x harder.
Oct 2019 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Harris is the GOAT
Jun 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Supposed to be an interesting and useful course if taught by Matthew Harris. Unfortunately the school failed to retain him
Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
The actual testable material isn't that big in scope, so the difficulty isn't crazy. Prof. Thistle didn't do a good job of showcasing the relevancy of what we were learning though, so it was hard to be motivated to study for this course.
Dec 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
If you have John Thistle it's over. Spends days yapping about turing machines and stuff that isn't really relevant.
Insanely difficult midterm, median was 39 but curved to 68.
Course content contains:
Structural induction, ROBDDs, SAT solvers (resolution dpll, etc)
Hilbert systems, then you do the entire course again in first order (Predicte) logic.
Easy final though. Focus on definitions and theorems rather than spam practice problems. If you genuinely sit there and know the definitions and theorems it's easyDec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
21 posts and comments in 19 threads mention ECE 208, March 2018 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Winter 2024
ECE 2B S24 1 point, 2 comments
u/Tight_Document_1513: “Has anyone been taught by these professors during their 2B term? ECE298 - Pope ECE207 - Dabbagh ECE224 - Pellizoni R ECE208 - Harris ECE203 - Yang E-H ECE252 - Zarnett Any advice/tips would be appreciated.”
Fall 2023
Am I trapped in my major? 1 point, 20 comments
“With how hard it is to transfer here I feel incredibly stuck. I regret not researching my program more before applying and now that I’m here I’m feeling the full brunt of my stupid decisions in the …”
u/Rare_War270: “I might've missed what you're in \now\? I see comments that you want CS or CE. I went through CS (also before CE existed), and have worked in industry and academia as a CS, SE, CE, EE, etc. …”
u/Lemonade3223: “… On top of that the discrete mathematics courses (ECE208 for CE) that CE and CS have access to are soemthing I want to learn. I could teach them to myself but I don’t think I willl truly understand the material unless I take an exam in it. …”
Spring 2022
ECE 351: Compilers 3 points, 7 comments
u/namomontbleau: “Thoughts and opinions on this course? ECE208 was not my favourite course, barely got through it tbh so I’m a little concerned seeing it as a pre-req. Is this class proof heavy? What’s the general feeling on this course? Thanks! edit: prof will be Arie Gurfinkel for reference”
Are there any CS and CE grads/4th years that could give some advice and dispel worries about the programs to an accepted individual? 0 points, 11 comments
“Hey everyone, my friend got into uw cs and ce this year, and I’m asking on behalf of him since he doesn’t use this platform. Ce was his first choice until cs surprised him. …”
u/TheAllAwesome: “Cs is easier and actually has less required math (although the math is “more rigorous”).”
u/TheAllAwesome: “… In CS, the 8 math courses that you take are: MATH 135,136,137,138,239 STAT 230,231 CS245 In CE, the 11 math courses that you take are: MATH 115,117,119 ECE 108,204,205,203,207,208,380,307 Count the courses and you see that CE students take more math. …”
Winter 2022
2B ECE 5 points, 11 comments
u/Do_I_Have_A_Chance__: “… In terms of classes/profs, I have: ECE 203 Probability Theory and Statistics 1 - En-Hui Yang ECE 207 Signals and Systems - Omar Ramahi ECE 208 Discrete Math 2 - Vijay Ganesh ECE 224 Embedded Microprocessor Systems - Rodolfo Pellizzoni ECE 252 Systems Programming and Concurrency …”
Thoughts on taking discrete math 1 and 2 in the same term? 2 points, 2 comments
u/mostler: “I switched programs, and I am missing the pre-requisite for ECE 208, discrete math 2, which is supposed to be this term. …”
Offering ECE mentorship/tutoring/etc - 4B student 41 points, 30 comments
“Midterm week hits so different when you just have one midterm and classes are still on, but I figure I better off this sooner than later, since I'm gone in like 8 weeks It feels so weird to be …”
u/leafsDementor: “What course did you get 100 in?”
u/mywaterlooaccount: “ECE208 maybe? Nothing impressive, just funny”
Spring 2021
CE 2B 0 points, 2 comments
u/Foreign_Bobcat: “… &x200B; ECE 203 - Probability Theory and Statistics 1 ECE 207 - Signals and Systems ECE 208 - Discrete Mathematics and Logic 2 ECE 224 - Embedded Microprocessor Systems ECE 252 - Systems Programming and Concurrency ECE 298 - Instrumentation and Prototyping Laboratory”
u/natobott: “… Most useful - ECE 252 Most difficult - ECE 252 & ECE 208/203? In the old curriculum we had ECE 103/316 If it’s Bill Bishop ECE 224 is just grinding through the practice finals, if it’s Rodolfo Pelozzoni I heard it was harder so pay attention to the notes... …”
Winter 2021
Transfer to SE from CE in 2B term 9 points, 11 comments
“I am currently in the 2A term for Computer Engineering program and I was wondering what are my requirements to transfer to Software Engineering starting 2B term. …”
[deleted]: [deleted]
u/shit_my_biscuits_rn: “I am taking the reqs rn (cs245). The advisor said I am not able to join without an se212 equivalent. I.e. cs245 or ECE208.”
u/shit_my_biscuits_rn: “SE 2B has several courses that depend on CS245/ECE208/SE212. Best bet is to ask an advisor tho. Good luck!”
Fall 2020
Math 117 profs with the bamboozle of the century. 88 points, 3 comments
u/Kama_0r_Kunai: “This, but ece 208”
Good prof appreciation thread 61 points, 89 comments
“This term sucks a lot and a lot of people are having some shitty experiences, especially with certain profs/TAs/instructors. But there’s a lot of profs who are not that shitty. …”
u/DepressedECEKid: “ECE208 - Vijay Ganesh one of the best profs I’ve ever had even though it’s online.”
Fall 2019
Spicy drama in ECE208 Piazza (not clickbait) 23 points, 3 comments
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
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