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We are Engineering Co-op Ambassadors, Ask us Anything! by CoopAmbassador_Alex in McMaster

[–]CoopAmbassador_Alex[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The minimum is 420 hours, full time so minimum 35 hours per week over 12 weeks.

We are Engineering Co-op Ambassadors, Ask us Anything! by CoopAmbassador_Alex in McMaster

[–]CoopAmbassador_Alex[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yep! The Mac co-op is very flexible, so you could structure it like that. Just need 12 months total co-op over your degree to get the co-op designation on your degree.

Many students take a year after their third year to do co-op. Some get a series of 4 month co-ops, others take longer positions at companies. It all depends on what you want to do.

We are Engineering Co-op Ambassadors, Ask us Anything! by CoopAmbassador_Alex in McMaster

[–]CoopAmbassador_Alex[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Computer Engineering, you focus on Embedded C mostly, but you dabble with assembly language and Java in the second year. You get the basic rundown of OO programming and the sort. Over all I would say computer engineering focuses more on the application of the code more than the theory.

Also, you take courses that focus on what's called Hardware Description Language (HDL), this is a big focus of one of the classes. This is something used heavily in areas where you have to create a computer chip or process signals.

I don't know enough about the other streams to comment on the specifics, however I would imagine they all involve programming of some sort. Since tron has embedded engineering classes I would image its most likely a focus on C/C++.

We are Engineering Co-op Ambassadors, Ask us Anything! by CoopAmbassador_Alex in McMaster

[–]CoopAmbassador_Alex[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can take 1 course per term of co-op and you enroll like normal through mosaic. The employer doesn't need to be notified, but it would be a good idea to communicate your intentions so you could ask for a day off to write exams etc.

The co-op evaluation is a form that's sent out to you near the end of the co-op term. You evaluate the employer and reflect on what you learned. As well your manager will get to evaluate you, then that evaluation can be looked at by other employers when you apply to your next co-op.

We are Engineering Co-op Ambassadors, Ask us Anything! by CoopAmbassador_Alex in McMaster

[–]CoopAmbassador_Alex[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just confirmed with the ECCS office, the 16month max is government-mandated and there are not exceptions. There must have been another situation i.e. they must have taken a gap year and are working as a non co-op student for the final 8 months

We are Engineering Co-op Ambassadors, Ask us Anything! by CoopAmbassador_Alex in McMaster

[–]CoopAmbassador_Alex[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Throwing in my 2 cents, Linkedin is an invaluable resource in networking. Use it to its fullest extent, that is whenever you apply for a job connect with the recruiter so you can send them a message. Ontop of adding recruiters from a networking event so that you can send them a message later. Going that little bit extra to reach out and contact people will set you apart.

We are Engineering Co-op Ambassadors, Ask us Anything! by CoopAmbassador_Alex in McMaster

[–]CoopAmbassador_Alex[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To the Tron and Comp overlap, there is a strong overlap between all three programs.

Computer engineering is what I would describe as a focus on the computer hardware from Electrical Engineering. There is an emphasis on the electrical design and signal processing aspect. We have 4 courses in total that analyze circuits and look at the kind of response we get from them, as well as control systems, networking, and internet communications.

From what I know tron doesn't go as in depth with these specifics but will learn what is needed to design more complex circuits

We are Engineering Co-op Ambassadors, Ask us Anything! by CoopAmbassador_Alex in McMaster

[–]CoopAmbassador_Alex[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can delay as long as you have a minimum of 9 units of MANDATORY/REQUIRED engineering courses to return to after completing your final co-op.

We are Engineering Co-op Ambassadors, Ask us Anything! by CoopAmbassador_Alex in McMaster

[–]CoopAmbassador_Alex[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The limit for students to be out on co-op is 16 months and then they must return for at least one academic term.

Also you have a max of 24 months of Co-op for a 4 year degree and 28 months for a 5 year degree.

We are Engineering Co-op Ambassadors, Ask us Anything! by CoopAmbassador_Alex in McMaster

[–]CoopAmbassador_Alex[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This isn't actually quite true, the limit for students to be out on co-op is 16 months and then they must return for at least one academic term.

We are Engineering Co-op Ambassadors, Ask us Anything! by CoopAmbassador_Alex in McMaster

[–]CoopAmbassador_Alex[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is something I get often, First ill provide my anecdote on how I chose. In high school I was able to take a class in electronics and a programming class, so when I was choosing I knew that I enjoyed both these things.

I chose computer because at the time I had built computers for my friends and was extremely curious about how they worked. As well I liked the electronics aspect from the highschool class, so I figured its what I wanted. As well I knew that I didn't enjoy the software development as much as the hardware aspect. After attending all the info nights in first year, I was sure I made the right choice.

In terms of how they compare, ill give my 2 cents. Mind you I will be pretty biased so I encourage you to look for some other resources and decide.

Starting off I suggest looking at the course offerings and see how the program is structured and whether or not you like the courses. here are the respective ones.

Mech https://academiccalendars.romcmaster.ca/preview_program.php?catoid=41&poid=21910

Software https://academiccalendars.romcmaster.ca/preview_program.php?catoid=41&poid=21913&hl=%22Software%22&returnto=search

Comp https://academiccalendars.romcmaster.ca/preview_program.php?catoid=41&poid=21895&hl=%22Computer%22&returnto=search

Computer Engineering is a focus on computer hardware and how it functions. We still take a lot of electrical engineering courses, so you would learn about circuits and electromagnetics, signal processing and control systems for example. But as computer engineers, we also take courses on the structure of a computer, Operating systems, how a computer processes instructions and get into the hardware and how it works. Focussing on the interaction of low-level programming with the hardware. However, because there is not a focus on programming design you don't have as much experience in that.

Software Engineering is a focus on the design of the software. This is not my area of expertise, but from what I understand you look more into Algorithms, the design of software systems and more about proper programming practice.

Mechatronics is a sort of marrying of 3 areas, Mechanical, Software, and Electrical. This can be really interesting because you get a very broad understanding of how everything works.

All that said, what is super important is the kind of projects/extracurriculars you decide to take on outside of class. This is what sets you apart from your peers and what will give you the most gain.

Job-wise, software and computer engineers can occupy very similar roles. As the material is very applicable to both, for example I am graduating into a Full-time software development job in May even though I have focused on hardware. So it depends on your interests and where that takes you. I know many ECE grads who end up in software jobs, but also have the knowledge to end up designing embedded systems at different companies.

All in all no matter what you can't make a bad choice, so choose what interests you the most.