ECE 405Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Last listed
- Spring 2024
No longer offered. It was in Waterloo’s course catalog since at least Winter 2020 (as far back as Open Data goes) to Spring 2024 and last ran in Winter 2024. It isn’t in the 2024–25 or later calendars.
When it ran
- W20
- W21
- W22
- W23
- F23
- W24
Ran in 6 terms, Winter 2020 to Winter 2024.
Introduction to quantization, wave-particle duality and the uncertainty principle. The Schroedinger equation and solvable examples. Topics include stationary states of particle-in-a-box, harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom. Quantization of angular momentum and spin. Introduction to approximation methods including time-independent perturbation theory. Modern applications of quantum mechanics. [Offered: W]
Requirements, as last listed
Prereq: ECE 105, 106, MATH 117, (ECE 205/MATH 211 or MATH 213). Antireq: AMATH 373, CHEM 356, NE 232, PHYS 233, 234
In today’s calendar
Reviewed on UW Flow
82% liked it67% easy56% useful
From 11 ratings and 5 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
The pre-midterm content was straightforward however it gets substantially harder post-midterm. The course overall is very interesting and if you have any interest in quantum is a good course to take as it is also a NSE. The Final exam was very hard but seemed to either be curved or marked very forgivingly and getting a good grade is definitely doable. There is also a presentation at the end of the term on a quantum topic that you can choose and this allows you to see lots of the applications and further level topics of quantum easily and the presentation was marked very lightly too. The professor Na Young Kim was also very kind and in my opinion taught the course well
Feb 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Interesting content. Fairly easy to stay on top of assignments, last month of course was group project presentations on applications. 45% final was easy, but make sure you know some of the applications not just the math! Midterm was harder than final for sure
Apr 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
I feel like this course is a lot lighter than a normal QM course. We just did a little matrix math and called it a day. After midterms we just watched guest lectures and stopped at the infinite potential energy well problem. I'm not complaining but it was I think half the work of a normal course. Plus, we didn't even have to do the final if we didn't want. It also was kind of whack since the prof stopped teaching after the first week and just got his TA to upload lectures. I'm glad they finally took it easy on us for once in ECE
May 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Took it as an NSE course. Fun to learn.
Sep 2018 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Probably the most interesting one among 403 404 and 405, and will be useful sometime in the future.
Jul 2016 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
34 posts and comments in 29 threads mention ECE 405, January 2016 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
Easy course where I'll genuinely learn something - Winter 2025 17 points, 17 comments
“Hi, I'll be in 4B ECE and I've mapped out all my degree req's. I have one empty course slot. Anything you'd recommend? I want to be amazed, or learn something I didn't think of. …”
u/Computing-Error: “intro to quantum, ece 405 i think is course code”
Winter 2024
ECE 405 (Introduction to Quantum Mechanics) as a NSE? 1 point, 3 comments
u/Sad_Deer_1456: “Looking for a somewhat easy nse and heard good things about this one. Anyone taken it before and can share how it was for them? I find QM interesting but looking at a heavy course load already for next semester so don't want to make it worse.”
Spring 2023
birdiest bird courses between: msci 211 online and music 255 OR OTHER (and bonus q: which of the NSEs?) 2 points, 3 comments
u/whxtewxlf: “… Going to probably take SCI 238 online for my NSE because ECE 405 doesn't fit in my schedule :') are there any easier natural science courses? How is SCI 238 in general (exams, assignment format)? …”
Winter 2023
Best NSEs this term? 4 points, 5 comments
“Looking for anything interesting or fun to swap out my CSE ;u;”
u/WaterlooAnonymous420: “ECE 405 :)”
Anyone taking ECE 405? 1 point, 1 comment
u/moriakyu: “Just wondering what the course grade breakdown is. Thanks :)”
Any ECE 405 quantum mechanics takers? 2 points, 9 comments
u/Careless-Cow-5683: “DM or comment, we can start gc”
Fall 2022
Looking for easy peezy List 1 NSE ) 1 point, 1 comment
u/Eceretard2827: “So I couldn’t make into lottery selection of ECE 405, is there any NSE which is easy enough for list 1, please halp me graduate, my last term !!”
Fall 2021
Birdiest NSE course suggestions? 2A ECE 2 points, 6 comments
“Hey! I'm in 2A ECE and am planning on taking 2 NSE courses over coop next term to get that degree req over with. I'd love to hear about what you guys think are the "birdiest" NSE courses. …”
u/Plane_Razzmatazz_143: “… You can also consider ECE 405, it sounds hard but heard it's pretty chill and kinda formula based. …”
Anyone taken ECE 405? 5 points, 3 comments
u/uw-throwaway-999: “Anyone taken ECE 405 lately? Thinking of taking it as a natural science elective (I'm in 3A ECE). I want an easy course but something that's kinda interesting as well. I've seen old reviews for the course saying it's fairly simple, but most of those reviews are pretty old. …”
Winter 2020
Is ECE405 Actually A Bird Course? 5 points, 1 comment
u/SlayQueeeeenn: “After today's lecture, I'm not sure if it's as easy as I've heard in person and read here on Reddit. It's no longer Dr Reimer teaching it either, it's Dr Hosseini.”
Fall 2019
ECE 405 - Intro to QM, notes/past offerings 5 points, 2 comments
Winter 2019
How Doable is ECE 405 Quantum Mechanics in ECE 2B? 5 points, 5 comments
Check it elsewhere
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2023–24Its last calendar entry, on ucalendar
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them