SYDE 599Special Topics in Systems Design Engineering
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Systems Design Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 6 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course deals with selected topics at the undergraduate level in environmental and societal systems, mechatronics and physical systems, or human factors and ergonomics.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 3A or higher
- Enrolled in a program offered by Faculty of Engineering
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 8210 | 18 / 20 | MW 15:30–17:50 |
| TUT 101 | 8211 | 18 / 20 | Online or by arrangement |
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
7 posts and comments in 5 threads mention SYDE 599, June 2021 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.
Spring 2024
Course Selection for AI/ML + imaging 7 points, 6 comments
“I'm a TRON student trying to plan out my courses and wanted to see if anyone has input for any of the courses I've been eyeing regarding your personal experiences, difficulty, workload, content …”
u/ConsequenceNo3618: “… The professor is good though SYDE 599 (Adv. …”
Winter 2024
Interesting ML course from Engineering Department from Math Student 7 points, 8 comments
“I am an undergrad from the Faculty of Mathematics interested in data preprocessing and AI/ML stuff. Most of my courses so far in my undergrad has consisted of numerous ML/Data Science course offered …”
u/suiyui: “… see in undergrad ECE 457C and SYDE 575 are supposedly very difficult I highly recommend SYDE 599 (Special topics in Deep Learning) as it's the best of all worlds in terms of scope and scale. …”
u/Novel_Brain9700: “Thanks for the response! I might try and ask whether I can sit in instead if I'm not allowed to take the courses as you mentioned -- thanks for the detailed information and more course suggestions as well :) I'll definitely check SYDE 599 out.”
Fall 2023
SYDE 552 vs. SYDE 556 vs. SYDE 572 1 point, 1 comment
“I'm struggling to decide which one to choose, and the comments in UWflow are from many years ago. Could someone who has taken any of these courses please share their insights on their usefulness and …”
u/suiyui: “Don't do SYDE 572, I'm taking it right now and it's pure math - not useful at all for machine learning”
u/suiyui: “… SE, AI) If you want to learn more on the conceptual side of machine learning, I suggest SYDE 599 (Special Topics) if there's a deep learning section running. …”
Spring 2023
SYDE599 - deep learning 1 point, 1 comment
u/Other-Management9029: “hello! has anyone taken SYDE 599 (deep learning)? thinking about taking it in fall but it’s impossible to find a syllabus anywhere”
u/start-studying: “Hi! I think syde599 might have a final. Could u also share the syllabus with me?”
Spring 2021
Technical elective choice help: MTE 545, NE 481, BME 550, ECE 484, NE 466 1 point, 9 comments
“Hello everyone. I am a struggling almost 4A student struggling to choose electives. If you have any experience from these courses and general topics, difficulty, other notes please lmk”
u/BME_or_Bust: “I took NE 466 online. Super short lectures and not many deliverables. Pretty long group research paper at the end. Not too hard, decently interesting, but meh prof.”
u/BME_or_Bust: “SYDE 542, 548 and SYDE 599 (traffic safety) plus the nano 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