NE 334Statistical Thermodynamics
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Nanotechnology Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Statistical mechanics vs. thermodynamics. Review of statistical concepts. Canonical and grand canonical ensembles. Entropy. General formulation of statistical thermodynamics. Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein, and Boltzmann statistics. Quantum ideal gases. Specific heat of solids. Electrons in metals and semiconductors. Radiation: the photon gas.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 3B or higher
- Enrolled in H-Nanotechnology Engineering
Antirequisites
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5197 | 104 / 123 | M 11:30–12:20 W 11:30–12:20 F 11:30–12:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
50% liked it28% easy53% useful
From 28 ratings and 9 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Very fair course. If you do practice questions, it is easy to get a high grade.
Dec 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
This course is a confusing mess. Every problem is a multi-stage derivation with 14 versions depending on the conditions. No idea how it is relevant to engineering, this feels like a pure physics course just stuck into the degree as a successor to Quantum.
Dec 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
If you're taking this course with Neil, be aware that this is an engineering course and that his notes are all over the place and contain a lot of unnecessary derivations for an engineering program. Make sure you do the exercises to understand the content. Also, other sources explain far better than his notes which are practically a summarized copy-paste from the book (not his)
Jan 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
The prof wasn't great but it was his first time teaching (I hope). Interesting course material but the course notes are all over the place and the course is overall not very well organized. External resources were much more helpful than the course notes.
Dec 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
It was the professor's first time teaching. Was pretty bad at first but I have to hand it to the guy, things really turned around by the end of the term. Really tough content but he listened to the needs of the class without compromising our education. Still might fail the course tho
Dec 2022 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
4 posts and comments in 4 threads mention NE 334, March 2015 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
Now it's our turn 363 points, 7 comments
u/uwrallyx: “Is this the textbook for NE 334?”
Spring 2017
What is the highest number of courses you can take per term? 2 points, 12 comments
“I heard recently that in engineering, there is no hard upper limit on how many courses you can take. Due to time limits/etc, what do you think is the theoretical maximum number of courses that would …”
u/ehhhk: “… In Nano, 3A, you are enrolled in 9 courses straight out: NE 301, NE 318, NE 320L, NE 333, NE 334, NE 343, NE 344, NE 350 and a CSE (Source). Granted, one of those is a seminar, one is a work term report, and one of them is a lab. …”
Spring 2016
Nanos don't get enough respect 0 points, 14 comments
u/with_alacrity: “… CHE 121 supposedly had a 2 hour session from 12:30-2:20 interfering with NE 334 held from 1:30-2:50. How this oversight came to be is beyond me but I am tried of being kicked out of the building where all my classes are held. …”
Winter 2015
what are bird courses at uwaterloo without finals 3 points, 36 comments
“in arts or science.”
u/shini99: “NE 334”
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