The computer revolution has created vast industries and countless jobs that employ professionals educated in electrical and computer engineering, computer science and information technology – all closely related disciplines involving the understanding and design of computers and computational processes. Computer profession specialties constitute a continuum. At one pole is computer science, which is primarily concerned with theory, design and implementation of software- the product being a computer program. At the other pole is computer engineering, primarily concerned with firmware (the micro-code that controls processors), hardware (the processors themselves, as well as entire computers), software (system-level and user/application-level) and interfacing systems (both at hardware and software level) that will allow computer systems to communicate with the outside world as well as with each other. It is not possible, however, to draw a clear line between the two disciplines; many practitioners function to at least some extent as both computer engineers and computer scientists. Computer Engineers distinguish themselves with their versatile set of skills: they can design and build computers, interface them with the outside world and make them talk to each other, develop firmware and also create system-level and user/application-level software.
The Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering offers highly structured programs that emphasize not only the theoretical fundamentals but also the practical aspects of the engineering profession. The first-year courses will provide the students with grounding in engineering science fundamentals such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science and the theory of electric circuits. The second year of the program introduces discrete mathematics, data structures and engineering algorithms, and electrical engineering core subjects such as analog and digital electronic circuits and systems. In the third year, students will further study computer architecture, microcomputer systems, object-oriented analysis and design, digital electronics, communication systems and control theory.
In the final year of the program, students will take courses in data communications, digital systems engineering, real-time operating systems, VLSI design and numerical techniques. The fourth year curriculum also allows students further specialization in a variety of subject areas through an extensive technical electives list. During this final year of the program all students must complete a mandatory group design project. The key objective of the Design Project is to encourage students to plan, design and implement their project while developing the skills to make key decisions independently.
Software Engineering Option
Students entering the 5th semester will have a choice as to whether they would like to continue on the regular Computer Engineering curriculum or to enroll in the Software Engineering option. Students in this option will gain training in software engineering concepts through a set of seven software focused and intensive courses spread over 3rd and 4th year.
Career Opportunities
Rewarding career opportunities in the field of Computer Engineering will give graduates of this program a chance to work in research and development, design production engineering or quality control, health care systems or the electronic service industry. Computer engineers design computer chips, circuits equipment/systems, plan computer layouts, and formulate mathematical models of technical problems that can be solved by a computer. They design, develop, and test computer hardware and peripheral equipment, as well as, maintain software programs and systems.
First Year Academic Support
The Cairo First-Year Engineering office offers a range of programs and services to support students through their first year of engineering.
Visit the First Year Engineering office webpage to learn more.
Writing Skills Resource Path
All new engineering students are automatically enrolled in CEN 199: Writing Skills.
CEN 199 is graded on a Pass/Fail basis, and is used to track the results of the Writing Skills Test (WST).
All students admitted into engineering are required to write the mandatory Writing Skills Test (WST) during Orientation Week. Students who pass the WST (by achieving a grade of ‘B' or higher) will receive a PASS in CEN 199 and therefore may enrol in the lower level liberal studies course of their choice (subject to availability).
Students who do not pass the WST will receive an INP (In Progress Grade) in CEN 199. These students will then have three additional opportunities to write and pass the WST:
- In May, following 2nd Semester.
- During Orientation Week before 3rd Semester.
- In May, following 4th Semester.
A PASS in CEN 199: Writing Skills is required to enrol in all third-year engineering courses. Students with a grade of INP in CEN 199 will not be allowed to enrol in any third-year engineering course.
Detailed information is available from the Cairo First-Year Engineering office. Room B213.
Email: FEASCairoFirstYear@uofcanada.edu.eg
Co-operative Program
For students admitted Fall 2020 and after.
After completing the first three years of the regular curriculum, a student in the Computer Engineering Program with CLEAR academic standing has options of continuing with the regular program or enrolling in the Computer Engineering Co-operative program after obtaining a 12 to 16-month Co-op job offer. After completing their co-operative job placement, a student in the Computer Engineering Co-operative program will return to the program to complete their degree requirements. The length of the Computer Engineering Co-operative Program is five years.
Liberal Studies
Students must take two lower level liberal studies courses and two upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.
Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website.
Table A - Lower Level Restrictions*
Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, Mechatronics, and Undeclared Engineering
AER 150, ASC 120, BLG 181, BMS 150, CHY 182, CHY 183, ITM 277, MEC 110, PCS 111, PCS 181, PCS 182 and SCI courses are not available for credit.
Table B - Upper Level Restrictions*
BLG 599, BLG 699, BLG 850, CHY 583, CHY 599, CPS 650, MTH 511, MTH 599 and PCS 581 are not available for credit.
*The availability for the courses listed in Table A and Table B is subject to change.
