SYDE 322Software Design
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Systems Design Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 0 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Software requirements specification; software architecture; design patterns; software testing and quality assurance; software maintenance; design of efficient algorithms and methods for their analysis, mathematical algorithms, string processing algorithms, geometrical algorithms, exhaustive search and traversal techniques, introduction to lower bound theory and NP-completeness. Case studies and engineering examples.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Complete 1 of the following
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 3A or higher
- Enrolled in H-Biomedical Engineering
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 3B or higher
- Enrolled in H-Systems Design Engineering
- Complete all of the following
Antirequisites
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
- MSE342 - Principles of Software Engineering (0.50)
Leads to
Reviewed on UW Flow
80% liked it100% easy100% useful
From 5 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Assignments were a ton of work - not terribly difficult, but very time consuming. Assignment content (basically learning different software technologies) was unfortunately not at all related to the course topics (design patterns and architecture).
There is a big project towards the end of the term, which can be fun, but again is a lot of work.
*If you don't have much software experience, expect to put a LOT of extra time into this course*May 2017 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Material's dry and seems often out-of-touch with how industry designs software (huge diagrams)...but good to have the theory. Project is challenging (re-implement an Android app with better design) but generally useful. Easy if you follow the slides in class.
Jul 2014 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
8 posts and comments in 8 threads mention SYDE 322, April 2012 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 2019
ECE alternative to CS 246? 8 points, 11 comments
“I'm trying to take either CS 246 or some course that is an anti req to it. What courses can ECE take that are similar to CS 246?”
u/marmoshet: “ECE 150 and ECE 250 together should cover the majority of CS 246. Otherwise you can try to get into CS 247, MSCI 342, or SYDE 322.”
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: “… For technical electives (which only occur in the last 3 terms), there are several software related electives offered within the department (such as SYDE 322, 372, 522, and 575) and you can count courses from other department (like ECE, SE, CS) towards your electives IF you are …”
Winter 2018
CS 482 for non-CS student? 2 points, 4 comments
“Have any non-CS majors taken CS 482? I'm a stats major with a CS minor and interested in taking the course, but the only reviews on Flow are CS majors comparing it to other CS major courses. …”
u/PPewt: “Are you sure Quest isn't rejecting you because you don't have CS341? CS341 is one of the listed prerequisites, and is both CS-heavy and not open to non-CS majors. …”
u/PsychoactiveCanopus: “Parentheses. Check the prerequisites for STAT 340”
Spring 2017
SYDE with a Software Option? 1 point, 13 comments
u/jassmall: “… Those two courses + SYDE 322 (a very commonly taken technical elective) form a good basis that is supplemented with coop jobs and personal projects. One thing that isn't clear in the calendar is that the requirements for technical electives for SYDE are very broad. …”
Fall 2015
Hi, I am a bot. 75 points, 98 comments
“Hey everyone! After some discussion with mods, I think I am ready to be pushed live. I am a bot designed to provide relevant course information upon request. …”
u/cursedorenriched: “[[CS 246]]”
u/UWRedditBot: “… Antirequisites: SYDE 322 Available Online: No -----------------------------------------------”
SYDE vs SE, balance of hardware&software? 12 points, 15 comments
“I'm a grade 12 student who plans on applying to Waterloo for their engineering programs. I love software and enjoy my time learning new things as well as applying my skills. …”
u/jaydubs12: “… in classes, being: - SYDE 121 (C++) - SYDE 223 (Java, Data structures and algorithms) - SYDE 322 (Software design - Technical Elective) I can not speak to the courses offered in SE, but what I can say is that from a problem solving perspective SYDE gives you the fundamentals to …”
Fall 2014
uWaterloo CS minor - Worthwhile? 6 points, 22 comments
“I'm really interested in CS and the carreer benefits that a CS minor could provide me with. I've already completed CS 135 and I'm in the process of planning out what courses I want to take to …”
u/SpaceWarrior1: “… Courses with significant CS technical content include ECE 254, 351, 354, 406, 409, 417, 428, 429, 451, 452, 453, 457A, 457B, 458, 459, SYDE 322, 422, and MTE 241. Engineering students should take Engineering courses where possible. …”
Winter 2012
I've got some questions about Systems Design Engineering 4 points, 34 comments
“So I’ve been accepted to Systems Design Engineering at UW, but despite my research I haven’t found much in terms of student testimony (aside from a few posts on this subreddit). …”
u/jimmiesunrustled: “… SYDE322 5. You could always take a lot of tron and mech electives. Systems will sign off on basically any math, science, or engineering course for a tech elective. …”
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)
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