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SYDE 381Thermodynamics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Engineering
Subject
Systems Design Engineering

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

An introductory course in engineering thermodynamics structured for students in systems design. Classical thermodynamics is presented as the systematic study of energy; its use, degradation, and waste. Introduction to heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation. Applications focus on problems of energy and environment. The concepts of statistical thermodynamics are introduced.

Prerequisites

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • BME384 - Biomedical Transport: Biofluids and Mass Transfer (0.50)
    • ME250 - Thermodynamics 1 (0.50)
    • MTE309 - Introduction to Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer (0.50)

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Reviewed on UW Flow

57% liked it43% easy67% useful

From 37 ratings and 10 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • I love Fraser. Made a difficult course into something enjoyable with concepts well explained and structured. Arguably one of the best courses in all of SYDE!

    Aug 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Prof Wu's office hour really helped me developed an intuitive understanding of 1st law and 2nd law, which helped a lot on midterm and final, kudos to him

    Aug 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I took this during COVID when I had huge troubles self-regulating my work, but it seemed like a neat course. We had weekly assignments which were an absolute dread to complete, but Prof Fraser did a really great job of teaching the course.

    Mar 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • as long as you study it doesn't really matter if you actually attend the class. relatively easy, and you get a book with most of your equations and stuff, basically just plug and play.

    Jul 2019 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Great course, but did not focus enough on heat transfer which is the most useful part. Easy to get good marks in, and was very well structured. Fraser was a great prof

    Sep 2017 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

One post or comment in 1 thread mentions SYDE 381, April 2022 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

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar