ECE 444Integrated Analog Electronics
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Analog electronics exploits the physical behaviour of electronic devices to create electronic systems. The performance of single and multiple transistor amplifying stages are studied. Followed by a study of biasing, current mirror, and output stages, which are then combined in the study of operational amplifier circuits. Frequency response and feedback are then reviewed leading to a detailed study of stability and compensation for multistage and operational amplifiers. The course finishes with a look at selected topics from A/D (analog-to-digital) converters, oscillators, and phase-locked loops.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Complete 1 of the following
- Students must be in level 4A or higher
- Enrolled in H-Computer Engineering, H-Electrical Engineering, or H-Mechatronics Engineering
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4570 | 0 / 57 | M 11:30–12:50 W 13:00–14:20 Jan 11 16:00–17:20 Feb 1 16:00–17:20 Mar 1 16:00–17:20 Mar 22 16:00–17:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1857 | 41 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LAB 201 | 4578 | 0 / 57 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 4571 | 0 / 57 | Th 19:00–19:50 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
100% liked it60% easy80% useful
From 7 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Content is a revision and continuation of ECE340. The RF circuits course (ECE432) wasn't offered for this semester and this was given as the alternative. There was some overlap with the ECE432 syllabus so didn't miss out on much.
May 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Despite being a 4th year elective, this course is essential imo. It's basically a lengthy grind of the majority of the Sedra & Smith book and assumes that you've done all the prerequisite courses and remember the material fairly well.
May 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Similar to 242. First half is about OpAmp and second half Sedra decided to cover filter and oscillator which other profs will not cover.
Jul 2016 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
13 posts and comments in 13 threads mention ECE 444, January 2013 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.
Spring 2020
ECE331 overlaps with other semiconductor courses? 3 points, 5 comments
u/prospectiveNTU: “… \- ECE445 (integrated digital), \- ECE463 (power including power semiconductors), and \- ECE444 (integrated analog), all of which seem to talk about semiconductor physics to some degree, then is there much use of taking ECE331 as well?”
Winter 2018
ECE 140 vs GENE 123 Formula Sheets 29 points, 12 comments
u/CapturedSoul: “Meanwhile in ECE444 taught by Sedra”
Fall 2017
Anyone Have Advice on ECE 444? 0 points, 2 comments
u/digitalrule: “Title”
Which engineering elective has the highest proportion of qts? 19 points, 14 comments
“asking for a friend.”
u/Frozen-Placenta: “ECE 444”
Winter 2017
for those writing the 444 midterm on valentines day, here's a poem my friend wrote for you 12 points, 1 comment
Thanks based Sedra Smith for keeping me from loneliness this Valentine's Day 26 points, 14 comments
u/4becethrowaway: “For context, my ECE444 midterm is on Valentine's Day”
“Two part question here, which I hope I can get some clarity on: 1. What are the easiest technical electives that can be taken during 4A and 4B? …”
u/ciaetyn: “… Take ECE444 for example, originally they were gonna make Bosco Leung teach it and apparently he's horrible (look at ratemyprof reviews) but then we complained a lot and we got Sedra instead.”
Fall 2016
Which elective courses from ECE and CS do you find useful/enlightening? 5 points, 3 comments
“I am talking about non-mandatory courses for ECE and CS students that you feel/felt are really fundamental. I know the answer technically depends on what your interests are. …”
u/Frozen-Placenta: “ECE 444. Adel Sedra himself taught it last winter, and I heard good stuff about it.”
Are there any fun labs in ECE? 3 points, 17 comments
“I found the ECE 124 and even the 106 labs to be kinda fun. My friends from other schools (but more importantly other faculties) have some really cool and interesting labs, which makes me wonder if …”
u/Chelsea921: “Control Systems (ECE 380) and comunications (ECE 318) labs were pretty fun. If you are in EE, the electromagnetics (ECE 375) labs were not too fun but it was cool seeing the concepts irl. …”
u/useless_amp: “… In addition to the ones that you mentioned, the projects in ECE 444 (designing a cmos amp in cadence), 445 (digital circuit design in cadence), 473 (discrete microwave circuit design), and in 474 (lte hardware system design in simulation) were fun. …”
Spring 2016
Why did you choose your program? 9 points, 99 comments
u/Frozen-Placenta: “Was set on computer engineering back in grade 10 since I wanted to learn how to make computer parts. Lost interest, wanted to do mechanical. Changed my mind, wanted to learn more about power systems. …”
u/Frozen-Placenta: “… Then that leads to ECE 444 which is actually designing analog ICs (there's also ECE 445, which is the digital counterpart). Based on what you are interested in and what you want to do, it may or may not benefit you. …”
Fuck ECE. 22 points, 23 comments
“Anyone else in 4A ECE feel extremely burned out at this point in your academic career? I almost feel like giving up and just failing the term even though we're almost at the end of it all. …”
u/Ninboycl: “Although I felt burnt out, I did the best grade wise in my 4A and 4B terms. Based Sedra, Based ECE444 rabble rabble. Just finish ffs. Be hard on yourself. I agree completely though fuck ece so hard.”
I think the main wave of acceptances just went out. An ocean of salt is coming our way. 43 points, 107 comments
u/datboi12: “Has anyone been deferred to their 2nd or 3rd choice”
u/Ninboycl: “… I legit had a stack of at least 150 pages of engineering paper of just circuits problems Sedra assigned for ECE444 this term. Later on in ECE (past second year), profs stop assigning graded homework, they just give sample problems you should look at. …”
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)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
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