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Department of Electronics Undergraduate
FAQ
This page contains answers to a number of frequently asked
questions about the undergraduate Electrical Engineering and
Engineering Physics programs. This FAQ page has been undergoing revision and was last updated on the 22nd Nov. 2007.
Should you not find the answer to your question then please contact the associate chair (undergraduate) for the Dept. of Electronics.
General
Where can I obtain advice about my program?
I am struggling in one or more of my courses, what should I do?
ELEC Courses, General
I need a prerequisite
waiver, audit permission, lab exemption or other special
consideration for registration in an ELEC course. Who do I
see?
I’m not happy with my
mark in an ELEC course. What should I do?
Specific ELEC Courses
Can I do the project course ELEC
4907 or SYSC 4907 in the summer?
Can I do the project course
ELEC 4907 or SYSC 4907 before my last year in the program, or
during my co-op work term between third and fourth
year?
Can I take SYSC 3601 to
satisfy the requirements of ELEC 4601?
What are the rules regarding
eligibility for registration in ELEC 3105B and ELEC 3908B (winter
sections)?
What are the rules regarding
eligibility for registration in summer sections of ELEC 3509 and
ELEC 3909?
I’m a Communications Engineering
student, and I’m required to take ELEC 3909, but the
prerequisite, ELEC 3105, is not part of my program. What should I
do?
I’d like to take ELEC
3500 in the fall (winter) instead of the winter (fall), but I
can’t register for the other section. Why is this and how can
I get registered in the other section?
Non-ELEC Courses
I need a
prerequisite waiver, audit permission, lab exemption or other
special consideration for registration in a non-ELEC (including
ECOR) course. Who do I see?
I have a problem with a
non-ELEC (including ECOR) course. Who do I contact?
Prerequisites
What is a “year
status” prerequisite?
Do I have to complete all the
courses from second year to proceed to third year, and all the
courses from third year to proceed to fourth year?
What is a prerequisite tree and
where can I get one?
What is a prerequisite
waiver?
How do I obtain a prerequisite
waiver for an ELEC course?
How do I obtain a prerequisite
waiver for a non-ELEC course?
I don’t have
the required fourth year status in Engineering prerequisite, can I still do ELEC
4907 or SYSC 4907 (the fourth year project course)?
Complementary Studies Electives (CSEs) and EE Science
Electives
What is the difference between a
“Basic Science Elective” a “Science Elective for Engineering
” and a “Complementary Studies
Elective” (CSE)?
Can I take a different course for a
CSE than is on the calendar list?
I’ve taken a course which is
not on the approved CSE list. What will happen to this
course?
Many of the approved CSE and science
elective courses require prerequisites, and in some cases it would
be difficult or impossible to take all the prerequisites. Is the
implication that prerequisites in an approved elective course are
waived for engineering students?
Can I take an ITV section of a course
for my CSE?
When I took [SOME COURSE] as a
CSE or science elective it was on the list of allowed electives,
but now it is no longer on the list. Does that mean I’ve lost
credit for the elective?
Can I take a CSE or science
elective now that was allowed when I started but is no longer on
the list?
Deferred Exams
How do I apply for a
deferred exam, and what supporting documentation is
required?
I missed my deferred exam. Can
I get a deferred deferred?
Registration, Deregistration
How can I register in an ELEC
undergraduate course as a “special student” (i.e. a
student not enrolled in a degree program)?
I’m a student from the
University of Ottawa, and I’ve received permission from the
UofO to take a Carleton ELEC course as part of my program.
What do I do?
I tried to register for an ELEC
course and the system tells me it is full. What should I
do?
I get the message RESERVE CLOSED
when I try to register for a course. What does this
mean?
Why have I been deregistered
from an ELEC course?
How can I appeal
deregistration from a course?
How do I go about getting a letter
confirming my status as a student at Carleton (possibly for RESP
purposes)?
I’m a student from
another university, and I’d like to take summer courses at
Carleton while I’m in Ottawa for the summer. How do I go
about doing that?
I’m thinking about
changing to part time status, what are the issues involved and
where do I get information?
Program Transfer
Is there any information available
about the issues involved in transferring to EE?
How do I apply to transfer to
EE from another program?
How do I know if my application
has been approved?
Schedules, Overloads and Graduation
How do I know which courses
I’m eligible to take next year, and how do I decide which
ones to take?
I need help figuring out
which courses I can take this year and putting together a
timetable, who do I see?
I need permission to take an overload
this year. Who do I contact?
How can I tell what my
remaining requirements are for graduation?
Degree Audit, CGPA, Academic Performance Evaluation,
Academic Warning and Suspension
I have found an error on my DARS
audit. How do I report it?
How is my CGPA (cumulative
grade point average) calculated?
If I repeat a course, does
the old grade count in my CGPA?
If I repeat a
course, does the old grade still show up on my
transcript?
What is the “Academic Performance
Evaluation” and when is it done?
What are the possible results of the
evaluation?
How will I know the result of the
academic performance evaluation?
I’ve been told I’m on
“Academic Warning”, what does that
mean?
I’ve been told I’m
“suspended”, what does that mean and how do I correct
it?
Committee on Admissions and Studies (CAS)
What is the Committee on Admissions and
Studies?
What appeals should (and should not)
be submitted to the CAS?
What should I include in my
appeal?
How do I submit an appeal
to the Committee on Admissions and Studies?
How will I be informed of the result
of a CAS appeal?
Course Credit Transfer and Advanced Standing
How do I request advanced standing
in a Carleton course as part of my admission?
How does an advanced standing course
contribute to the CGPA?
How many course credits can I
transfer to Carleton?
I’d like some idea of whether I
will get advanced standing before going to all the effort of
applying. Can I do that?
I’m in a degree program at
Carleton, and I didn’t apply for advanced standing on
admission. Can I still apply? OR I’m in a degree program at
Carleton and now realize that there are other courses for which I
might be able to get advanced standing. Can I still
apply?
Why was my request for advanced
standing turned down?
I’d like to take a
course (science, engineering or CSE) at another university
and have it count towards my degree. What should I
do?
What are the rules regarding
transfer between EE or EngPhys and other programs (i.e. into or out
of EE/EngPhys), and how do I go about applying?
Calendar
What is the official version
of the Calendar?
I’ve noticed a
discrepancy between the online and printed versions of the
calendar. Who should I report this to?
Associate Chair (Undergraduate)
How do I know when your office
hours are?
I can’t attend your
office hour, or I’d prefer to meet you in person. Can I
schedule an appointment with you?
I’ve emailed you and
you haven’t responded. Why not?
How do I request advanced standing
in a Carleton course as part of my admission?
If you have completed courses at another institution (usually a
university) which you believe are similar to courses required in
your Carleton program, you must make a request for advanced
standing at the time of admission. Using the form available from
the admissions office, you list the Carleton course(s) for which
you are requesting advanced standing, and the course(s)
you’ve completed elsewhere which you believe to cover the
same material. There are some important points to know about
advanced standing:
- Advanced standing is only approved when there is clear evidence
for doing so. If there is any doubt, advanced standing will not be
granted. You are responsible for providing sufficient information
to allow the decision to be made, so the more information you
provide, the better the chances of success. This issue becomes more
important the less well known your former university is to
Carleton. Students with degrees from another country, or from a
lesser-known North American university, may be expected to provide
examples of marked assignments, labs and quizzes, and sample final
exams in order to make the case for advanced standing. If marked
material and exams are required and you no longer have the
necessary material (as is often the case), then advanced standing
will not be granted.
- Your academic performance in the previous program as well as in
the particular courses you’ve listed as the basis for
advanced standing will be taken into account in the decision.
- Because the differences between programs tend to increase in
later years, the likelihood of advanced standing in higher year
courses is lower.
How does an advanced standing course
contribute to the CGPA?
A course for which you have advanced standing does not enter
into the calculation of your grade point average.
How many course credits can I
transfer to Carleton?
Transfer of more than one year’s worth of credits is
unlikely, given the differences between programs at different
Universities. To comply with professional accreditation
regulations, the most advanced standing can possibly be granted is
a half the program credits, approximately 20 courses. Thus, even if
you have completed three years of an EE program elsewhere, and you
manage to receive two full years worth of credits, you will have to
take two more years worth of courses at Carleton. For that reason,
once you reach the halfway point in a program somewhere else, it is
almost always better to finish the program there rather than
transfer to Carleton.
I’d like some idea of whether I
will get advanced standing before going to all the effort of
applying. Can I do that?
The admissions office maintains a list of known course
equivalences for some colleges and universities, and may be able to
tell you right away if advanced standing is possible. There is no
mechanism for a “quick check” or pre-approval of other
courses, you will have to go through the formal advanced standing
request procedure as part of the application process.
I’m in a degree program at
Carleton, and I didn’t apply for advanced standing on
admission. Can I still apply? OR I’m in a degree program at
Carleton and now realize that there are other courses for which I
might be able to get advanced standing. Can I still apply?
Use the Transfer
Credit Request Form available from the faculty academic support
web page. However, note that the highest priority for evaluation of
advanced standing requests is given to those made at the time of
admission. Thus, to maximize the chance of your request being
considered, you should make one request for all advanced standing
at the time of admission. If you apply for more advanced standing
later in the program, there is no guarantee that the request can be
evaluated.
Why was my request for advanced
standing turned down?
Requests are turned down if there is insufficient information to
make an assessment, your performance in the previous courses was
not acceptable or if the courses are not deemed to be equivalent.
Remember that it is up to you to provide enough information to
enable an evaluation.
I’d like to take a
course (science, engineering or CSE) at another university and have
it count towards my degree. What should I do?
A course taken at another university will be counted towards
your degree if and only if you are granted advanced standing in
that course. Rather than take the course then apply for advanced
standing, you should try to establish equivalency between the
courses beforehand. This prevents taking the course and not getting
advanced standing. Since a request for advanced standing is
evaluated by the department offering the course at Carleton, you
should contact the Carleton department offering the course you are
targeting and ask them what would be required to establish
equivalency of the two courses. The department may or may not offer
this service.
For ELEC courses, you are responsible for identifying a course
that you think is equivalent to one at Carleton and assembling
sufficient information to allow the comparison to be made (which
would include the course outline as well as assignments, labs and
sample exams – obviously this material will have to be
acquired from the other university). When you have assembled this
information, forward it to the Associate Chair (undergrad) along
with your request. The more information you provide, the better the
chances of success. Note that, because the treatment of material is
different between universities, equivalence is more difficult to
find for courses later in the program. It will be very difficult to
find an equivalence for a 4000 level course.
If you are successful in establishing equivalence between
courses with the intention of using the course as a CSE, obviously
the course at Carleton must be on the list of allowed CSEs for
engineering.
What are the rules regarding
transfer between EE or EngPhys and other programs (i.e. into or out
of EE/EngPhys), and how do I go about applying?
This document describes the
academic and program issues involved in transferring into the EE
program. The decision will be made on the basis of available spots
in the program and your performance in all courses to date.
Although each request is handled on a case-by-case basis, the
ever-increasing demand for these programs means that a CGPA of at
least 8 for all courses taken so far is likely to be the minimum
requirement for transfer, but still no guarantee. Transferring
programs may also delay completion of the degree, because you will
have to make up certain courses. The later in the program you
transfer, the greater the number of courses that need to be made
up, and the less likely it is that you will be able to finish in
four years.
Transfer into the EngPhys program is very difficult due to the
very small number of available spots. Contact the Associate Chair
for more information.
To apply for transfer to the EE or EngPhys programs, fill out a
Change of
Major form and submit it to the registrar’s office.
To transfer from EE or EngPhys to another program, contact the
Associate Chair (undergraduate) for the department offering the
program to which you wish to transfer.
I’ve found an error on my DARS
audit. How do I report it?
Use this form to report an
error on your audit. You should also check the news page for any information about DARS
audits.
How is my CGPA (cumulative
grade point average) calculated?
Section 6.1 of the calendar discusses the calculation of the
CGPA, and the “Academic Regulations for the Bachelor of
Engineering Degrees” section discusses Engineering-specific
issues. Note that:
- The Engineering program itself is considered to be your
“major”, so the CGPA of all courses in your program is
your major CGPA for the purposes of academic evaluation.
- “F” grades received prior to August 31, 2002 are
not included in your CGPA calculation (but must still be cleared,
i.e. the course repeated and passed, before graduation).
“F” grades received after August 31, 2002 are included
in the CGPA calculation. In both cases, once you repeat the course
and received a passing grade, the new passing grade replaces the
“F” and your CGPA is recalculated.
- If you repeat a course you’ve already passed, the new
grade replaces the old one and the CGPA is updated, even if the
newer mark is lower than the old. If you repeat a course and fail
it, the “F” replaces the old grade and is included in
the CGPA calculation until you clear the “F” by
repeating the course once again. Each replacement counts as a
discredit (see section 6.3 of the undergraduate calendar).
- If you have more eligible courses than are required for the
complementary studies, science or engineering elective requirements
of the degree, the courses with the best marks are used to satisfy
the requirement, and the other courses are considered “extra
to the degree”, and are not included in the CGPA calculation.
However, note that replacement of a course counts as a discredit
(see section 6.3 of the undergraduate calendar).
If I repeat a course, does
the old grade count in my CGPA?
No, see here for a description of
how the CGPA is calculated.
If I repeat a
course, does the old grade still show up on my transcript?
Yes, your transcript shows your academic record at Carleton, so
all grades you receive in a course will appear on the
transcript.
What is the “Academic Performance
Evaluation” and when is it done?
Section 7 of the undergraduate calendar discusses the academic
performance evaluation and the “Academic Regulations for the
Bachelor of Engineering Degrees” section discusses
Engineering-specific issues. Basically, as described in section
7.1, your CGPA is calculated at the end of the first Winter term
after you have attempted 4.0 credits, then compared to the
requirements in Table 1 of Section 7.4. The same check is then done
at the end of each subsequent winter term after you have attempted
4.0 more credits (note: all courses attempted, even ones not part
of the engineering program, count towards the 4.0 credits of
attempts, whereas only those eligible for credit in the Engineering
program are included in the CGPA). The academic performance
evaluation is a check of your marks to see whether your CGPA meets
minimum standards defined in the calendar.
What are the possible results of the
evaluation?
As described in academic regulation 7.1 in the Undergraduate Calendar, there
are a number of possible outcomes of the evaluation. Please read that section of the calendar carefully. You should be targetting for a “Good Standing” evaluation. If you do not receive that then please read the description of your evaluation carefully.
How will I know the result of the
academic performance evaluation?
You will be informed in writing by the University of the result
of every academic evaluation.
I’ve been told I’m on
“Academic Warning”, what does that mean?
The consequences of academic warning are described in Section
7.1 of the calendar. When you are put on academic warning, the
result of your next academic performance evaluation must be
“Good Standing” or your status will change to
“Suspended”. In other words, once you are put on
academic warning, you must do well enough in the next 4.0 credits
of coursework to raise your CGPA to the level required in Table 1
(and note that while only Engineering program courses are counted
in the CGPA, all courses taken count in the 4.0 credits, so taking
courses outside the Engineering program wastes some of the 4.0
credits you have in which to get back to satisfactory performance).
The farther along you are in the program, the more difficult it is
to get back to satisfactory performance (because there are more
courses dragging the CGPA down, and only 4.0 available to raise
it).
I’ve been told I’m
“suspended”, what does that mean and how do I correct
it?
As described in academic regulation 7.1 and in the section describing academic regulations and requirements for the Bachelor of Engineering Degree in the Undergraduate Calendar
a student suspended from an Engineering program is
Ineligible To Return (ITR), in other words has no opportunity to
return to any Engineering program thereafter. If you have been
suspended and feel that you should be given another chance due to
extenuating circumstances, you should file a request for special consideration with the Registrar's office.
What is a “year
status” prerequisite?
Year status is a designation based on the courses you have
completed from each year of the program. The requirements are
described in the academic regulations and requirements for the Bachelor of Engineering Degree in the
Undergraduate Calendar.
Note: that status is not the same as standing. Status is used in Engineering, whereas standing is used in the rest of the University. Status is not reported on your audit but it is clearly defined in the link above.
Do I have to complete all the
courses from second year to proceed to third year, and all the
courses from third year to proceed to fourth year?
No, but some third and fourth year courses have a year status
prerequisite.
Is
there any information available about the issues involved in
transferring to EE?
The EE undergraduate
website contains a link to information about requirements and
course issues.
How do I apply to transfer
to EE from another program?
See this page on the Engineering
Academic Support website which gives relevant information.
How do I know if my
application has been approved?
You will be contacted by the Engineering
Academic Support office.
How do I know which courses I’m eligible to take next
year, and how do I decide which ones to take?
Eligibility for courses depends on prerequisites. To determine
the courses you are eligible to take, use the program description
available in the calendar to determine the next courses you are
required to take, then use the individual course descriptions in
the calendar to determine those for which you have the
prerequisite(s). In general you should put the highest priority on
the earliest courses you are missing. The
Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support
web page contains prerequisite trees that are
of great help in determining eligibility.
What is a prerequisite tree and
where can I get one?
A prerequisite tree depicts the prerequisite requirements of all
required courses in the program using something like a flow chart.
It also shows the term in which each course is taken in the
standard program progression. It captures a large amount of
information in a concise way and is an invaluable aid if you are
taking courses out of the normal pattern. They are available from
Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support
.
What is a prerequisite
waiver?
A prerequisite waiver is a form that gives you permission to be
exempted from the prerequisite condition, in other words for the
prerequisite condition to be waived.
How do I obtain a prerequisite
waiver for an ELEC course?
Apply using the form available from
Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support
and see the associate chair with the completed form. Note, you very likely will be sent to see the intructor of the course you are seeking the waiver for.
How do I get a prerequisite
waiver for a non-ELEC course?
See the answer here.
I need help figuring out
which courses I can take this year and putting together a
timetable, who do I see?
In general students are
expected to construct their own timetables. There are several resources
which can greatly assist in this process including the prerequisite trees, the Faculty's scheduling tool, and Carleton Central.
Prerequisite trees are available through
Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support
while the scheduling tool can be found at this
link.
If you have tried these and find you are still requiring advice you can contact the Department's Associate Chair.
How can I tell what my
remaining requirements are for graduation?
The Associate Dean’s office can assist with determining
your graduation requirements.
I need permission to take an overload
this year. Who do I contact?
See the policy on overloading under section 6.4 of the academic regulations in the current
Undergraduate Calendar.
If you have a CGPA of 7.00, and have completed a minimum of 4.0
credits at Carleton, then registration of a 0.5 credit overload
should be automatically possible. Should your situation be
different then you will need to fill in a course overload request form
from Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support
and submit it to the associate chair for
undergraduate studies. Your request will then be carefully
considered.
What is the difference in the EE
program between a “Complementary Studies Elective” a
“Basic Science Elective”, and a
“ Science or Engineering Elective”?
A Complementary Studies Elective (CSE) is a course from a
discipline outside science and engineering. Accreditation of the EE
and EngPhys degrees towards the requirements of professional
engineer status requires inclusion of a certain number of credits
of CSE courses (2.0 for the EE degree, 1.5 for EngPhys) to provide
breadth within the degree. A list of eligible electives is provided before the start of each term
and is available on the
Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support
web site. In the EE
program, a 0.5 credit basic science course should be taken in either
fall or winter of the second year. A list of eligible courses is also available on the
Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support
web site.
The science or engineering elective in 4th year may be one of the courses
indicated in the note on the prerequisite tree, or a science elective for engineering as
described in the Engineering program description in the
Undergraduate Calendar.
Note
that the EE degree program requirements do not say you have
to take a Science Elective in 4th year,
just that you may take it as one
of the choices for the 0.5 credit requirement. Also note that the
Science Electives do not apply to the EngPhys program, since there
is no requirement in fourth year that can be satisfied by a course
from the Science Electives list, as there is in the EE program.
Can I take a different course for a
CSE than is on the calendar list?
In order to request permission to have a course other than those
on the list count as a CSE, submit an Alternate Complementary Studies Elective Request form
from Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support.
Only courses which are clearly
humanities and social science, and which do not predominantly
involve the acquisition of language skills are candidates for
consideration. Do not take a course which is not an allowed CSE
then apply for CSE credit. Apply for the credit before you take the
course, or you risk losing credit for the course (see the next question). Also note that this approval
process can take months, so you should apply far ahead of time. The
rate of success for these requests is low, because most of the
allowable courses have already been anticipated in the calendar
list.
I’ve taken a course which is
not on the approved CSE list. What will happen to this
course?
If you take a course which is not on the approved CSE list you
can apply for the course to be approved as a CSE, but the chances
of success are low (see the previous
question). If credit is not granted, the course will become
extra to the degree.
Many of the approved CSE and science
elective courses require prerequisites, and in some cases it would
be difficult or impossible to take all the prerequisites. Is the
implication that prerequisites in an approved elective course are
waived for engineering students?
The lists of allowed elective courses reflect the accreditation
rules of the Professional Engineers of Ontario. There is no
implication that prerequisites will be waived for engineering
students.
Can I take an ITV section of a course
for my CSE?
No, the Engineering Program Requirements section of the calendar
clearly states that ITV sections are not acceptable.
When I took [SOME COURSE] as a
CSE or science elective it was on the list of allowed electives,
but now it is no longer on the list. Does that mean I’ve lost
credit for the elective?
If the elective you took was allowed in the year in which you
took it, you will retain credit.
Can I take a CSE or science
elective now that was allowed when I started but is no longer on
the list?
Because it is an accreditation issue with the Professional
Engineers of Ontario, once the list of allowed electives changes,
the new list is in effect immediately and previous lists no longer
apply.
How do I apply for a
deferred exam, and what supporting documentation is
required?
This is explained in academic regulation 2.5 in the
Undergraduate Calendar.
Application is made through the Registrar's office,
which also provides a link to the Carleton medical form which you may want to give to your doctor.
I missed my deferred exam. Can
I get a deferred deferred?
No and the explanation is within academic regulation 2.5 referenced in the previous question.
The Registrar's Office has information in their deferrals webpage.
What is the Committee on Admissions and
Studies?
The Committee on Admissions and Studies is the engineering
committee to which appeals are made regarding special academic
circumstances. It is composed of members from all the engineering departments in the Faculty of Engineering and Design.
What appeals should (and should not)
be submitted to the CAS?
CAS appeals are generally for consideration in a situation where
external factors have caused your academic performance to suffer,
or where you feel that application of an academic rule is causing
you to be treated harshly. Retroactive withdrawal from courses for
a term in which you had documented major medical problems, a
“Did Not Complete” grade for a course in which you
missed the deferred exam due to documented illness, and a request
to be reinstated after being declared Ineligible to Return are
examples of CAS appeals.
Some decisions, however, are made on the authority of the
Department only:
- Program transfer decisions may not be appealed to
CAS
- Course prerequisite decisions may not be appealed to
CAS
If you have any doubt as to whether you should appeal to CAS
regarding an issue, contact the Associate Chair.
What should I include in my
appeal?
Every appeal should include clear statements of the problem and
the consideration that is being requested. Include all information
that is relevant to your appeal.
Medical documents must specify the date of the onset of the illness, the date for recovery and the degree of incapacitation.
You may find the Carleton University medical certificate useful.
Supporting letters are only useful in so far as they are
relevant to your request and are written by someone who could
reasonably be expected to have knowledge on which to base their
support.
How do I submit an appeal to the
Committee on Admissions and Studies?
To submit an appeal to the committee, contact the Associate
Dean’s office.
How will I be informed of the result
of the CAS appeal?
The Associate Dean’s office will inform you of the result
of a CAS appeal, usually by mail.
How can I register in an ELEC
undergraduate course as a “special student” (i.e. a
student not enrolled in a degree program)?
Special students are not normally permitted to take engineering courses. Contact
Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support.
if you believe you have good reason to be allowed on an engineering course.
I’m a student from the
University of Ottawa, and I’ve
received permission from the UofO to take a Carleton ELEC course as
part of my program. What do I do?
Bring your signed permission form from the UofO and a list of
your current marks to the Electronics office and ask for it to be
forwarded to the Associate Chair. The decision as to your
eligibility for the course will be made on the basis of your marks
overall as well as your preparedness for the course in terms of
prerequisites. Please note that UofO students can only be
accommodated in a CU ELEC course when the course enrollment is
below capacity. If the course is full, UofO students cannot be
accommodated. The final enrollment situation is sometimes not known
until the last day for registration (e.g. if there are people
waiting to get in), so it may not be until then that you know for
sure whether you will be registered. In general, if the course is
full and people are waiting, it is very unlikely that the number
will drop below the limit, so it is unlikely you’ll be
accommodated.
Where can I obtain advice about my program?
The associate chair (undergraduate) for the Dept. of Electronics can provide advice about the programs in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics, as well as advice on ELEC courses.
The associate chair (undergraduate) for the Dept. of Systems and Computer Engineering can provide advice about the programs in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering, Communications, Computer Systems and Software Engineering. They can also provide advice on SYSC courses.
The
Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support
office can also provide assistance on registrational and related activities of your program.
I am struggling in one or more of my courses, what should I do?
Sometimes you may encounter difficulties in a course. When this happens try your best to first identify the cause of the problem. For assistance on course material approach your course instructor or a TA.
If your problem is not specificially about the course content, but instead more to do with your study habits then consider seeing the Student Academic Success Centre (SASC). Check their web pages as you may find good advice or assistance there.
For registrational or schedule issues with courses see the
Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support
Office or the Registrar's Office.
The associate chair (undergraduate) can also provide advice on any of the above mentioned areas to a lesser or greater degree.
Most importantly, note there are many people in Carleton University who want to help you and ensure your studies are as successful as possible. It is important to seek the right advice, early on. Do not be afraid to ask for assistance.
I need a prerequisite
waiver, audit permission, lab exemption or other special
consideration for registration in an ELEC course. Who do I
see?
See the Associate Chair (undergraduate) for the Dept. of Electronics. Special considerations of this type in a course are at the
discretion of the associate chair and the course instructor. You can obtain the
Waiver of prerequisite form from the
Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support
web page.
Please note that the default Departmental policy is that
every prerequisite will be enforced, so the associate chair and course instructor are
under no obligation to waive a prerequisite.
Lab exemptions are course-specific, so you should contact the
course instructor.
I need a
prerequisite waiver, audit permission, lab exemption or other
special consideration for registration in a non-ELEC (including
ECOR) course. Who do I see?
For any special considerations in a non-ELEC course, contact the
course instructor who will tell you the policy of the department
offering the course. In some situations you may deal with the
course instructor directly, in others you may deal with someone
else in the department. The same applies to ECOR courses (you can
find an ECOR course instructor’s department by searching the
Engineering departmental websites for the course instructor or by
contacting the departments directly).
I tried to register for an ELEC
course and the system tells me it is full. What should I
do?
Use the online Registration Overide request on Carleton Central.
You will be contacted with the result of your petition.
I get the message RESERVE CLOSED
when I try to register for a course. What does this mean?
In order to balance enrollment, individual sections of a course
can be reserved for students in certain programs. This message
usually means that you are not eligible to register in that section
because no spots are available in that section for students in your
program.
You may
use the online Registration Overide request on Carleton Central
however the course capacity may be limited by lecture hall or laboratory
size, and additional space cannot be made available.
Why have I been deregistered
from an ELEC course?
There are a number of possible reasons why you may have been
deregistered from a course, many of which are discussed in regulation
1.5 of the calendar. For fee issues you should contact the Business
Office. Deregistration for lack of prerequisite is at the
discretion of the course instructor, and you should contact him or
her regarding a prerequisite waiver (see also the associated FAQ
question on prerequisite waivers). In addition to those reasons, it
is from time to time necessary to reduce enrollment in a course by
postponing the registration of students who could take it in a
later year. In this case, students who could take the course in a
later year without a great penalty will be deregistered from the
course in the current year (even if they satisfy the
prerequisite).
How can I appeal
deregistration from a course?
If the deregistration was due to lacking the prerequisite, there
is no appeal possible. The university is fully justified in
deregistering any student who does not have the required
prerequisite. To appeal deregistration based on other grounds (i.e.
if you have the prerequisite but were deregistered), make a
submission to the Committee on Admissions and Studies (CAS).
How do I go about getting a letter confirming my status as a
student at Carleton (possibly for RESP purposes)?
Please see the registrar’s office. Neither the department
nor the Associate Dean’s office can generate such a
letter.
I’m a student from
another university, and I’d like to take summer courses at
Carleton while I’m in Ottawa for the summer. How
do I go about doing that?
These are done by a case by case basis so it is recommended you contact
Engineering Undergraduate Academic Support
, who can then provide advice.
I’m thinking about
changing to part time status, what are the issues involved and
where do I get information?
Full vs. part time status is determined automatically by the
number of courses in which you register. There is an impact on your
fees, which you can determine through the finance webpage. There may
also be an impact on your OSAP status, which you have to check with
OSAP. In terms of the engineering program, the main issue is that a
change in program requirements can make a course taken in the
distant past no longer eligible as a prerequisite for current
courses. There may also be issues regarding transfer between
programs if courses change. The time limit for completion of the
program is still 8 years, regardless of your status during those 8
years.
I’m not happy with my
mark in an ELEC course. What should I do?
The first thing to do is discuss the situation with the course
instructor. If the instructor is comfortable with the mark
you’ve been given, the next step is to submit a Review of Grade
Request to the registrar’s office. There is a fee of $50
for this procedure.
I have a problem with a
non-ELEC (including ECOR) course. Who do I contact?
Courses are the responsibility of the course instructor’s
department. If you have a problem with a non-ELEC course, contact
the course instructor and/or the Associate Chair (Undergraduate) of
the course instructor’s department. The same applies to ECOR
courses (you can find an ECOR course instructor’s department
by searching the Engineering departmental websites for the course
instructor or by contacting the departments directly).
I don’t have
required fourth year status in Engineering prerequisite, can I still do ELEC
4907 or SYSC 4907 (the fourth year project course)?
If you do not have fourth year status in Engineering, often the result of
failing/postponing SYSC 2002 and/or SYSC 2004, you will not have
the project course prerequisite and are therefore not eligible for
the fourth year project. However, you may be considered for a
prerequisite waiver subject to the following conditions:
- You will normally only be considered if you could complete the
degree requirements in the year in which you wish to register in
the project. In other words, you must be attempting to do the
project in the last full academic year of your program.
- If you are intending to take an overload in order to complete
the program and require permission to take the overload, this
permission depends on your performance in the program. If you are
not permitted to take an overload in the last year, your studies
would continue for another year and you would therefore have to
postpone the project until then.
- In addition to the previous considerations, a prerequisite
waiver is subject to the enrollment level in the project course. If
the registration of eligible students exceeds the
Department’s capacity, waivers will not be given.
If you do not have the prerequisite for the fourth year project
but wish to be considered for enrollment, submit a request for a prerequisite
waiver to the Associate Chair, who will evaluate your request.
Can I do the project course ELEC
4907 or SYSC 4907 in the summer?
Projects are not offered in the summer. This is because the projects are carried out in groups, with specific deadline dates for proposals, presentations and reports. These are scheduled throughout the Fall and Winter each year, the normal period for the projects.
Can I do the project course
ELEC 4907 or SYSC 4907 before my last year in the program, or
during my co-op work term between third and fourth year?
Projects should be done in your final year. There are considered to be one of the final important pieces of work you should do in your program.
Can I take SYSC 3601 to
satisfy the requirements of ELEC 4601?
After August 31, 2003, the courses will no longer be considered
equivalent, and SYSC 3601 will not satisfy the requirement for ELEC
4601. ELEC 4601 also precludes credit for SYSC 3601, so you cannot
take SYSC 3601 as an elective. If you take SYSC 3601 after August
31, 2003, it will be considered extra to the degree. Completion of
SYSC 3601 prior to August 31, 2003 will satisfy the requirement for
ELEC 4601.
What are the rules regarding
eligibility for registration in ELEC 3105B and ELEC 3908B (winter
sections)?
These sections are only available to co-op students. Information
on the registration procedure may be available on the news page, usually at the end of the Fall term.
What are the rules regarding
eligibility for registration in summer sections of ELEC 3509 and
ELEC 3909?
These sections are specifically for the co-op program, but a
limited number of spaces may be available for non-co-op students.
Check the news page, usually towards the end of the Winter term, for specific information and the procedure for registration.
I’m a Communications Engineering
student, and I’m required to take ELEC 3909, but the
prerequisite, ELEC 3105, is not part of my program. What should I
do?
Communications engineering are permitted to take ELEC 3909
without the ELEC 3105 prerequisite.
I’d like to take ELEC
3500 in the fall (winter) instead of the winter (fall), but I
can’t register for the other section. Why is this and how can
I get registered in the other section?
Registration in the fall section of ELEC 3500 is limited to
Computer Systems students. The winter sections are limited to EE
students. In order to balance enrollment, registration in the term
opposite to that reserved for your program is not possible
(including third year EE co-ops who would like to take ELEC 3500 in
the fall). You can fill out
the online Registration Overide request on Carleton Central.
if you wish, but the chances of success are negligible.
What is the official version of the Calendar?
The online version of the calendar is the official version.
I’ve noticed a
discrepancy between the online and printed versions of the
calendar. Who should I report this to?
Since the online version of the calendar is the official
version, problems in the printed version are not reported or
tracked.
How do I know when your office
hours are?
The Associate Chair (Undergraduate)
link contains information about my office hours.
I can’t attend your
office hour, or I’d prefer to meet you in person. Can I
schedule an appointment with you?
Yes, please e-mail me.
I’ve emailed you and
you haven’t responded. Why not?
Most people who use email regularly now receive dozens of spam
emails a day, and it is possible that your email has been filtered
or otherwise lost, perhaps inadvertently deleted. One thing you can
do to maximize the chances of your email getting through is to
avoid subject lines like “Help Me” or “ru
there?????”. Use a subject line that contains something
specific to your request such as “CU Student 100123456: Why
was I deregistered from ELEC 3105?”.
Alway use your MyCarleton Connect e-mail account when corresponding to faculty or staff at the University.
This is because your Connect e-mail address gives us a level of assurance that the e-mail is actually from you.
If you send using another e-mail account expect a reply asking for you to resend via your Connect account, or only information that contains nothing specific to you.
Please read regulation 3.5 concerning electronic communication in the
Undergraduate Calendar.
Note, you should be able to have your MyCarleton direct to another of your e-mail accounts, should you want. Please check your Connect account regularly, ideally daily.
I can receive a lot of genuine e-mail in a day and have other commitments which can delay the reading of those e-mails. So, delays of a day or two are possible, particularly around times of peak
demand, for example a registration time. A longer delay than that may
indicate that your email did not make it through, and you should
resend it.
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