SYDE 162Human Factors in Design
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Systems Design 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.
Design of human-machine environments, design to reduce human error. Analytical methods of determining user needs in systems with humans. Information processing and human sensory processes and consideration of these elements in the design of systems with humans. Human physical capabilities and consideration of these in ergonomic design.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 1B
- Enrolled in H-Systems Design Engineering
Antirequisites
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
- BME162 - Introduction to User-Centered Biomedical Design 2 (0.50)
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 7782 | 0 / 110 | M 10:30–12:20 W 10:30–11:20 |
| LEC 701 | 8303 | 0 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 7870 | 0 / 110 | W 11:30–12:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
61% liked it68% easy73% useful
From 75 ratings and 10 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
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Aug 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
The actual design courses in SYDE have been nothing but disappointments. I didn't learn shit from this class. Ambiguous test questions and boring content. Unfortunate. Would have rather taken literally anything else for 1B
Jun 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
The content sucks and is boring. No practical aspect. I wished group projects were like 161.
Aug 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Non-alien content design content, i guess. Most of it is close to common sense and other parts feel they belong in BME more. The best parts of the course are probably the calculations and ethics, and stuff involving actual measurements and data. Better and more practical than being vaguely asked to make things for aliens. Still has a fair share of nonsensical grading. There's no way to fully comprehend what the assignments or tests are asking for, especially if the professor seems to have no idea what they're doing either. One test asked for an example of something, but it was marked with the expectation that you'd have written multiple examples. Didn't get corrected.
Incoherent slides,…Jul 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Had Prof. Oyibo, content is not hard and is quite useful, especially in a program where you will be designing products that meet the goals of the end-user. Some content can feel like bs but its the same as any design/business course.
Jul 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
8 posts and comments in 8 threads mention SYDE 162, December 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
is SYDE useless? 0 points, 16 comments
“I’m a grade 12 student who applied to SYDE but I am now having second thoughts between syde and comp eng. …”
u/intwhale: “what syde courses can you take as electives in ece?”
u/ExtensionBus5737: “From my understanding, it appears that the courses that make SYDE SYDE are: SYDE 162, 261, 263, 262 and the capstone projects in year 4. ECE has similarly described courses for most except 262. It also appears that ece has engineering projects in year 4”
Winter 2022
Undergrad courses I've taken tier list (details in comments) 161 points, 13 comments
u/MindTheGap9: “… At least I remember some of the content - SYDE162 - I thought I was going to hate this class but this felt like real SYDE stuff. Prof MacGregor is amazing. - SYDE182 - Math is hard and so was this course. Something about curvilinear translation never really stuck with me. …”
Spring 2021
6 types of SYDE students at uwaterloo 144 points, 12 comments
u/urSYDEkick: “Are these the personas from SYDE 162 lmfao”
Spring 2019
SYDE vs. BME 2 points, 11 comments
“I'm an incoming first year that got accepted to biomedical engineering, but I'm thinking of transferring to systems design engineering. …”
u/MindTheGap9: “… SYDE 161/162/261 were pretty rough times for me. …”
Winter 2019
systems vs softeng 3 points, 3 comments
“currently unsure of what to do. i feel like i'll have a better chance getting into systems but I like programming and designing stuff. Are you able to take software electives in systems? …”
u/jassmall: “Are you interested at all in the design side of the SYDE curriculum (check out the descriptions for SYDE 161, 162, and 361 to get an idea of what that means)? …”
Spring 2017
Help! Looking to transfer out of ECE 1B into SYDE. 4 points, 14 comments
“Has anyone ever done something similar before? Ive passed the term just barely (even though I failed ECE 124 and ECE 106). Would a transfer still be possible without retaking courses? …”
u/Some-_-: “I know someone who did this transfer. You will start in 1A. You might skip couple of courses like Phys/Math but you'll be re-taking everything else. …”
u/ECE1B2017: “… I'm still not sure exactly what it means by human design, say for SYDE 162 what kind of content and applications do you do in that course? Is it math/physics heavy? …”
Winter 2015
What (if any) course has an exam where the max 2.5 hrs given wasn't enough? 0 points, 28 comments
“Is there a course with an exam where practically all the students stayed for the whole exam duration bc of how long, tedious, etc it was? Having finished my last exam I have yet to experience this”
u/Victawr: “Lol yeah. Syde 162, Msci 311 -- essays on essays on essays on essays. Syde 312, Syde 311, so much goddamn math and not enough time. Syde 211 - Casual 5x5 determinants.”
Fall 2014
Are there any UI / Design courses available to SE & CS students? If not, why? 0 points, 7 comments
“Are there? I know CS isn't design / UI. But, the reality is most people won't go to graduate school and some students could benefit from such courses because the skills could be necessary in …”
u/SpaceWarrior1: “SYDE 162. I've had arts students in that class before.”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
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