SYDE 285Materials Chemistry
- 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.
The course will present how the fundamentals of chemistry are applied to materials science and engineering. Concepts such as chemical bonding, crystal structure, phase diagram, redox reaction, and electrochemistry will be introduced in the context of materials science. Properties, processing and structure of metals, semiconductors, polymers, ceramic, nanomaterials and biomaterials will be presented.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 2A
- Enrolled in H-Systems Design Engineering
Antirequisites
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
- BME282 - Materials Science for Biomedical Engineers (0.50)
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4564 | 0 / 110 | T 09:30–11:20 Th 09:30–10:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1854 | 106 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 4565 | 0 / 110 | Th 10:30–11:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
48% liked it53% easy68% useful
From 66 ratings and 10 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
I found this course pretty boring because personally, I'm not very interested in the material (pun intended).
Jul 2015 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Great introduction to materials. Love the hands on aspects and is truly a fun course.
Sep 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Not easy, lots of brute force memorization.
Apr 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Lots of equations to memorize.
Feb 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
The content was fairly interesting, however, it really feels like this course should be having way more open-book assessments than it had. As the content discusses how to analyze design constraints and objectives and the best material for them, memorizing materials and their properties took too much precedence.
Apr 2022 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
3 posts and comments in 3 threads mention SYDE 285, July 2017 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 2022
Undergrad courses I've taken tier list (details in comments) 161 points, 13 comments
u/MindTheGap9: “… -1/10 - SYDE285 - Other than a certain infamous 3d printer question, pretty good (felt like real engineering) 2B - SYDE212 - Free 90 if you did well in grade 12 data management. …”
Winter 2018
trying to switch into syde, any advice? 4 points, 18 comments
“basically title, i heard its kind of competitive. i have a 90 average and was wondering if anyone had any experience with the switch”
u/selee14: “AFAIK, you would have to go back to 1A if you are switching into SYDE.”
u/jassmall: “Just so you know, the one mandatory "chemistry" course in the program (SYDE 285) isn't really a chemistry course (it's a materials course that starts with molecular structure). Plenty of people do systems because they want a bit of everything. …”
Spring 2017
SYDE with a Software Option? 1 point, 13 comments
u/jassmall: “Seems like some of your questions have already been answered so I will try to fill in some blanks: The chemistry course (SYDE 285) is there because it is an accreditation requirement for all engineering programs to have a chemistry course. …”
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