uwloo

ECE 356Database Systems

Units
0.50
Faculty
Engineering
Subject
Electrical and Computer Engineering

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Data models, file systems, database system architectures, query languages, integrity and security, database design.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Complete 1 of the following
      • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
        • BME122 - Data Structures and Algorithms (0.50)
        • ECE250 - Algorithms and Data Structures (0.50)
        • MSE240 - Algorithms and Data Structures (0.50)
        • MTE140 - Algorithms and Data Structures (0.50)
        • SYDE223 - Data Structures and Algorithms (0.50)
      • Must have completed the following:
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • CS245 - Logic and Computation (0.50)
      • CS245E - Logic and Computation (Enriched) (0.50)
      • ECE208 - Discrete Mathematics and Logic 2 (0.50)
      • SE212 - Logic and Computation (0.50)

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • CS348 - Introduction to Database Management (0.50)

Notes

  • Electrical Engineering students with at least 80% in ECE 108 will be granted an override for ECE 208 prerequisite on the understanding that they will need to make up missed material from ECE 208 on their own.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 0014778134 / 134T 13:00–14:20
W 11:30–12:50
Sep 21 16:00–17:20
Oct 19 16:00–17:20
Nov 9 16:00–17:20
Nov 30 16:00–17:20
LEC 002526549 / 134TW 08:30–09:50
Sep 17 16:00–17:20
Oct 8 16:00–17:20
Nov 5 16:00–17:20
Nov 26 16:00–17:20
LAB 2015231183 / 268Online or by arrangement
TUT 101520289 / 134M 20:00–20:50
TUT 102526694 / 134M 19:00–19:50

Reviewed on UW Flow

60% liked it53% easy83% useful

From 83 ratings and 19 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • first half is easy if you know SQL
    second half is very heavy with database concepts relating to too many topics: distributed systems, file systems, operating systems, data mining

    Apr 2018 · liked it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Very useful course, but why did it have to be organized so poorly

    Dec 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Paul Ward is proof that there's such a difference between a difficult subject and a difficult professor -- Professor posted 60% of the final-exam lectures with only 3 weeks left for the final exam. Videos were just him reading lecture slides and rambling for 2 hours. Final exam follows a similar structure as past exams, but are a huge time-crunch and no guarantee that you get the correct answer -- Assignments are poorly written. With only one TA to mark 100+ students, we got back our assignment marks at the end of term, after all assignments were submitted. Almost all of my submissions were incorrectly marked, and I had to send email after email to correct them -- Extremely time-consuming…

    Dec 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Paul Ward is a complete garbage prof.

    Nov 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Very badly organized course. The assignments are overly difficult/lengthy for an entry level database course. Quality of teaching isn't great either.

    Mar 2021 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

53 posts and comments in 46 threads mention ECE 356, April 2014 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.

Fall 2024

Spring 2024

CE 3B Elective Advice 3 points, 3 comments

u/ivythe1st: “I plan to take ECE 351, 356, and 358 (compilers, database systems, and computer networks), along with 307 (stats 2). I was thinking of doing another TE as well so I can free up space in 4A and 4B: I'm really interested in SYDE 522 (Foundations of AI) or MSE 446 (Intro to ML). …”

View on RedditRemove this

Winter 2024

Advice for ECE 356 database systems 5 points, 4 comments

u/Nightlocky: “hii, I am an exchange student and I am intending to take this course during fall 2024 this year. I just saw many posts about the course being a complete disaster such as no marks given for assignments or assignments being released late or exams questions being totally unrelated …”

View on RedditRemove this

Paul "the incompetent" Ward 32 points, 8 comments

u/Present-Type3797: “ECE 356 Database Systems: Where's My Mark, Paul Ward? Alright, folks, gather 'round because we're about to discuss the epic tale of a missing mark in ECE 356 with the one and only Paul Ward. …”

u/bmocJR: “… We had a lot of badly taught courses, but Paul Ward's ece 356 I think most agree was the worst run. …”

View on RedditRemove this

Fall 2023

Spring 2023

ECE 3B TEs 9 points, 8 comments

u/NFLYoungGuy: “… There are also other things in the 3rd TE list: “One of ECE 313, ECE 320, ECE 331, ECE 351, ECE 356, ECE 358, ECE 360, ECE 373” The dilemma rn is between: databases -> easier content wise (for me at least) vs architechure -> more challenging but no paul ward. …”

View on RedditRemove this

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar