PHYS 391Electronics
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Science
- Subject
- Physics
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.
Norton and Thévenin equivalent circuits, bipolar junction and field-effect transistors, operational amplifiers, negative feedback, noise, common circuits used for measurement and control of laboratory experiments, introduction to digital circuits.
Prerequisites
Corequisites
- Completed or concurrently enrolled in:
- PHYS391L - Electronics Laboratory (0.25)
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6895 | 0 / 24 | TTh 10:00–11:20 |
| LEC 701 | 2584 | 19 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
67% liked it33% easy42% useful
From 6 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
The only reason I liked this course is because f the lab component that is (I think) mandatory to take with it. The content is important, as in how to create circuits and builds somewhat intuition about how to do that, but highly prof-dependent (like every other physics course at this school...). Jan teaches very scattered, so it's hard to follow along sometimes, but he's really knowledgeable, so if you seek out extra help he won't mind.
Apr 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Honestly I learned more from the lab. Prof can't teach. Most of his lectures are just drawings of circuits without actually teaching what they do.
Mar 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
10 posts and comments in 9 threads mention PHYS 391, February 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.
Fall 2022
PHYS 391 and PHYS 396 2 points, 2 comments
u/sin_cos_tan_: “Looking for some info on the difficulty of these courses. Trying to fill a final phys elective requirement and want to take the easier of the two. Nothing on UW Flow for either of the courses so any info or advice is great thanks!”
u/okalright99: “I can’t say too much on PHYS 391 other than I heard some rough things about the lab from a friend but I’ve taken PHYS 396 and absolutely loved that course. If you’re interested in medical imaging and/or grad school, it’s amazing course for that. …”
Spring 2022
PHYS 391 3 points, 1 comment
u/Remarkable_Leg9657: “As anyone taken PHYS 391 yet? How tough is the course? Any advice or insight would be much appreciated.”
A GUIDE ON HOW TO PLAN AN OPTION 29 points, 15 comments
u/1000Ditto: “… List of science courses with online version without prereqs include: biol 249, biol 240, che 102, chem 120, chem 123, chem 201,earth 121, envs 205, phys 111, phys 112, phys 391, sci 238 Based on the ECE NSE list, we can cross reference them and see that SCI 238 and EARTH 121 …”
Fall 2020
Phys 391 2 points, 0 comments
Fall 2017
PSA: Course selection has started 47 points, 45 comments
“Course selection is open from now until next Tuesday. For first years: this is NOT first come first serve. Take the time to look through and consider what you want to take. …”
u/A_Pool_Shaped_Moon: “PHYS 444, 391, 391L, 375, 460B, 437B. I have a fun life (Plus all the fun electives seem to be in the fall term).”
Spring 2017
Has anyone here taken PHYS 391 / 391L? 1 point, 0 comments
u/threnna: “I'd be taking it as an elective and it sounds like it could be interesting, but I couldn't find any comments on the course. Is it useful? Hard? Is the lab not terrible?”
Fall 2015
Any good electives to do with computer hardware or basic electrical circuits? 6 points, 8 comments
“Hello, I am a CS student entering my 2B term this winter. I have one free space for an elective and I have been wanting to learn more about the hardware side of computers, since I am pretty clueless …”
u/zharguy: “Pretty sure that most ECE courses aren't open enroll, try PHYS391 maybe?”
Is there a course that covers these topics: 3 points, 9 comments
“Was going over how a transistor works for CS 251, and became interested in semiconductors. I'd like to learn more about PN junctions and depletion regions. Is there a course that covers that?”
u/whatIsThisBullCrap: “Phys 391”
Winter 2015
Need information about Physics program 0 points, 4 comments
“Hello /r/uwaterloo! I am considering switching into physics (from ECE 1A). I've already contacted my academic advisor but I thought I'd see what you guys think anyway....One thing that worries me is …”
u/jmwomboman: “… If you still want to take electronic related courses, check out Phys 391,392. …”
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