Degree Type

Successful students of the Smith Engineering program graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc). This is the traditional name for an engineering degree and is equivalent to a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng). Canadian Engineering programs that are Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) accredited, like the Smith Engineering program, are comparable.

Engineering Disciplines

Common First Year Programs

  • Chemical Engineering (CHEE)
  • Civil Engineering (CIVL)
  • Computer Engineering (CMPE)
  • Electrical Engineering (ELEC)
  • Engineering Chemistry (ENCH)
  • Engineering Physics (ENPH)
  • Geological Engineering (GEOE)
  • Mathematics and Engineering (MTHE)
  • Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MECH)
  • Mining Engineering (MINE)

Direct Entry Programs

  • Computer Engineering - Direct Entry
  • Mechatronics and Robotics Stream (MRE)

Learn more about our undergraduate programs.

Program Structure

Common Year

A common year means that all incoming engineering students take the same courses for the first year. This gives students get a full year of engineering fundamentals, the opportunity to evaluate what discipline they want to specialize in, and the opportunity to form connections with their classmates. Learn more about common year…

Discipline Choice

Students are guaranteed their discipline of choice, provided they pass all their classes and apply in second semester by the given discipline selection deadline (February).

In the winter term (January), each engineering discipline hosts a presentation night to showcase their discipline to first year students. Each presentation includes appearances by alumni, current students, and professors who discuss courses, projects, career opportunities, student community and more in their respective disciplines.

Direct Entry

Direct Entry Programs:

  • Computer Engineering - Direct Entry
  • Mechatronics and Robotics Stream (MRE)

Direct entry students take some of the same courses in the common first year program and courses specific to their discipline.

First Year Courses

First year students are pre-registered for all required courses.

Electives

Based on their discipline, students begin taking electives in either year 2, 3, or 4.

Class Sizes

Smith Engineering admits approximately 800-1000 students each year to its program. Students are then organized into smaller subsets of 60 students who attend tutorials and labs together throughout the year. Lectures can see anywhere between 200 – 400 students. The small subsets allow students to develop connections with peers that they will see regularly, while larger class sizes allow students to meet new engineering students throughout the year.

Class Schedule and Hours

Classes are scheduled between 8:30 am – 5:30 pm, with some evening classes. Students are in class 30 hours a week, with group work and homework taking up an additional 30 hours a week.

Example Timetable

Note: This is not your timetable. This is an example only.

For those who have accepted their offer to Queen’s, schedules are available in SOLUS early to mid-July.

Example Timetable: Fall Term
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
8:30 - 9:30     Lecture Lecture  
9:30 - 10:30     Lecture Lecture  
10:30 - 11:30   Lecture Lecture Tutorial  
11:30 - 12:30 Lecture   Tutorial Lecture Lecture
12:30 - 1:30   Tutorial Lecture Lecture Lecture
1:30 - 2:30   Tutorial     Lecture
2:30 - 3:30 Lab Lab     Lab
3:30 - 4:30   Studio
4:30 - 5:30      
Example Timetable: Winter Term
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
8:30 - 9:30   Lecture Lecture   Lecture
9:30 - 10:30 Lecture   Lecture   Lecture
10:30 - 11:30 Lecture     Tutorial Lab
11:30 - 12:30 Tutorial Lecture Tutorial  
12:30 - 1:30   Lab     Lecture
1:30 - 2:30   Lecture    
2:30 - 3:30 Project Work Tutorial Lecture  
3:30 - 4:30 Lecture     Lecture
4:30 - 5:30 Lecture     Lecture

Courses

First-year and second-year engineering students typically take 6-7 courses per semester. Third-year engineering students take 5-6 courses. Almost all of the courses are mandatory. There is more flexibility in the fourth year in terms of the amount and types of courses you take. Most students end up taking 3-5 courses per semester.

We recommend that you read through the syllabus and input the assignment deadlines and test dates into a calendar as soon as you know them and plan your time weekly according to it. Dedicate more time for assignments or tests that take up a large percentage in the evaluation scheme.

Course Types

There are mainly four types of courses in engineering: design project courses, complementary studies, courses specific and mandatory to your program, and courses that you can choose. Most of the courses that you will be taking over the four years will be mandatory. They typically consist of a combination of lectures, labs, and tutorials.

Labs and tutorials are led by teaching assistants (TA). You would normally work in a group of two in the labs.

Design Project Course

Each year there is a design project course. You will have the chance to work with other students in a group. You will be expected to write a fair amount of reports and conduct presentations.

Complementary Studies

Complementary studies are courses that you are required to take outside of engineering. There is no set time for taking these courses so long as you finish them before you graduate. Most students choose to take them online over the summer. In your fourth year, you may choose a few courses that spark your interests, but they must be chosen from the list of courses specified by your department.

Textbooks

When instructors have selected their textbooks, they will show on the Campus Bookstore site.

Grade Point System

Queen’s University uses a “Grade” and “Grade Point (GP)” system for assessing your course performance. In individual courses, you will be assigned a grade (A, B, C-, etc.). The mark equivalents for those grades are approximately as shown in the Grade Point Index table. Each grade has an equivalent GP as seen in this table. The GPA is the weighted average for a group of courses. The important GPAs are the term GPA (for the Fall and Winter terms) and the Engineering Cumulative GPA (for all courses while you are registered in Engineering).

GPA Required to Graduate

A 1.60 GPA each year is required to graduate.

Degree Duration

Engineering students have four to six years to complete their undergraduate degree.

Lighter Course Load

Some students find that they benefit from taking a reduced course load each year and stretching their degree out to five or six years. To facilitate this, we have prepared QE5 and QE6 course plans for each of our 10 programs.

  • QE5: Students take 2-3 courses less per year and expect to add one extra year to their program.
  • QE6: Students take 3-5 courses less per year and expect to add two extra years to their program.

Note: Internships and exchanges are still available with both QE5 and QE6 course plans.

Interested? See an Advisor before week eight of your Fall term in first year.

Dual Degrees and Certificates

Defining Academic Terms