MTE 325Microprocessor Systems and Interfacing for Mechatronics Engineering
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Mechatronics Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Synchronization and data flow; interfacing to sensors and actuators; parallel, serial, and analog interfacing; buses; direct memory access (DMA); interfacing considerations; privacy and security considerations.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Students must be in level 3A or higher
- Enrolled in H-Mechatronics Engineering
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4938 | 0 / 130 | MW 10:00–11:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1996 | 114 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LAB 201 | 4940 | 0 / 43 | M 13:30–16:20 |
| LAB 202 | 4941 | 0 / 43 | W 13:30–16:20 |
| LAB 203 | 4954 | 0 / 44 | F 13:30–16:20 |
| TUT 101 | 4939 | 0 / 130 | F 09:30–10:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
51% liked it26% easy76% useful
From 57 ratings and 12 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
course is joke, start memorizing early. only thing that saves it is the fact that the exams are formulaic. they don't teach you how to do the labs in lecture and the prof talks like we're supposed to be experts on the course we're taking. The amount of content she covers is unreal since she just reads off of lecture slides.
Jul 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
prepare to memorize an overwhelming amount of information
Apr 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Useful for future terms. Lots of theory and even more memorization. Labs were very difficult and time consuming.
Dec 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Too much info, don't even have to go to lectures just know how to do the past midterms and finals
Apr 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Useful course, but there is a lot content to cover. As so, the lectures aren't the best if you have a low attention span. Professor Nassar is an amazing professor, but this was his second time teaching the course. I'd highly recommend going to the lectures and tutorials as you can't really solve the problems from the problem sets by yourself.
Feb 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
21 posts and comments in 17 threads mention MTE 325, July 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.
Winter 2023
Mechanical or Mechantronics 3 points, 7 comments
“I am considering switching my application to mechanical or mechatronics what are the pros and cons of each? And what is it like for co-op and future jobs?”
u/epicboy75: “Mech takes advanced fluids and thermo, tron takes algo and other CS courses.”
u/PM_ME_PICS_OF_YA_MOM: “… In addition to this, you have more courses such as ME/MTE 262 (Digital logic course taken by both programs), MTE 241 (Real-time operating systems) and MTE 325 (Microprocessor Interfacing) and I can't say these are quite "CS courses" (perhaps they are very low-level CS topics, …”
Spring 2022
A GUIDE ON HOW TO PLAN AN OPTION 29 points, 15 comments
u/1000Ditto: “Hey all, here's an example (by yours truly) of how to plan an option. as someone who has been trying to get many options in but having a hard time, might as well write down my process so others can kind of benefit from it. …”
Waterloo Mechatronics 2 points, 20 comments
“Hi, Any Trons Here? I just want to know what your opinion is about the program. Got in back in March and would appreciate any input/advice :)”
u/uwthrowaway111111: “Tron's a bit of a mixed bag. Generally, most people end up finding out that they only really like one of software/hardware/mechanical, which means you take a bunch of courses that you don't like at …”
u/uwthrowaway111111: “… oddly laid out and touches on seemingly random aspects rather than being truly general (MTE 325 is a prime example of this). My experience has been pretty similar to yours, I imagine, even though I'm in firmware and I get a few more vaguely-related courses. …”
Winter 2021
How much programming to mechatronics engineering majors do? 11 points, 35 comments
“I want to study something robotics related but I also love programming. Approximately how many programming/CS classes do TRON students take? …”
u/Anonym-777777: “Don’t choose tron, you’ll regret it”
u/Anonym-777777: “… There was some meh programming on Mte 325, but definitely not significant. If you get a programming job, you’ll be learning most of the programming at work. …”
Spring 2020
Can non-engineers take engineering courses? 3 points, 3 comments
u/eficiency: “MTE 325 doesn't have any prereqs in academic calendar, but the disclaimer at the top says All of the other course have an explicit prereq that you need to be an engineering student, so not sure if the lack of explicitness means that this is open to non-eng students or if it's …”
Winter 2020
[Serious] What should I expect from TRON? 36 points, 34 comments
“Hi all, I recently accepted my offer for Mechatronics Engineering at Waterloo (yay). However, as I keep reading about people's experiences with the program on this subreddit, I'm not really sure what …”
u/scinortahcem: “… (1A has MTE 100, 2A has MTE 219, 2B has MTE 220/MTE 241, 3A has MTE 325, 3B has MTE 380). If you despise working with others, well you're gonna have a tough time. …”
u/ApatheticPost: “… - MTE 325 - Microprossesor Systems: The only mandatory embedded course in tron. You'll learn C programming in an embedded setting. If you're like me you'll wish you took it earlier in the program but it was pretty good. …”
Difference between ECE222/224 and MTE 241/325? 4 points, 7 comments
u/chattyycathyy: “Planning on getting a computer engineering option in the syde department and we have an option between taking ECE 222/224 or MTE 241/325. I was wondering if there is much of a difference between those courses and if one is easier than the other. Thanks !”
u/CounterbalancedOne: “I'd definitely recommend MTE 241, especially if Andrew Morton is teaching it. The content is useful and it gives a good overview of real time systems. Don't take MTE 325 - it's a pretty bland and memorization heavy course. You won't learn a whole lot.”
u/Frozen-Penis: “ECE 224 and MTE 325 are the same course (we share the same course outline), though depending on prof sometimes they have different philosophies on testing and slightly different amount of hours dedicated to different topics. …”
Fall 2019
MTE 320/325 1 point, 0 comments
u/notskule: “Can someone please share the course outlines for MTE 320 and 325?”
Winter 2019
Design team recommendations 2 points, 5 comments
“Hey guys! Does anyone have recommendations for a good design team to get embedded experience? I'll be in 2B tron this spring.”
u/Def_Not_KGB: “… Also some unsolicited advice from an upper year tron who has done plenty of embedded, don't let MTE325 let you scare you away from embedded when you get to that. …”
Fall 2018
3A Tron Labs? 0 points, 1 comment
u/zzDubzz: “How big are the group sizes for MTE 320 and 325? Also how are they? Thanks :)”
Tron 3A lab sizes? 0 points, 0 comments
u/zzDubzz: “Question for ma 3A trons, how big are the lab groups for MTE 320 and MTE 325?”
Transferring to Tron 9 points, 24 comments
“Looking for advice. I'm considering transferring to tron from another ENG program. I want a more general tech degree and not be limited in job search. Any advice is greatly appreciated. …”
u/ciccatrix: “… MTE241 and MTE325 (RTOS and microprocessor interfacing) were extremely boring for me, and it seemed like most people just watched all of an ECE prof's videos on it the day before the exam, but if you really like that sort of subject it could be interesting for you. …”
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
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them