Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ph.D.
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Head: Dr. Derek Oliver
Associate Head: Dr. E. Hossain (Graduate programs); Dr. D. McNeill (Computer); Dr. C. Ho (Electrical)
Campus Address/General Office: E2-390 Engineering
Telephone: 204-474 9603
Email Address: umece@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/engineering/electrical-and-computer-engineering
Academic Staff: Please refer to the Electrical and Computer Engineering website for Faculty information.
Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) Program Information
The department offers programs leading to the Master of Engineering, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. Students may select either a specialized research-oriented activity, an interdisciplinary program, or collaboration with industry or research centres in Canada.
Admission Information
Admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies
Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.
Admission requirements for doctoral students are found in the Doctor of Philosophy General Regulations section of the Guide.
ECE Ph.D. Admission Requirements
The student must normally hold a Master of Science degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering and have received tentative approval from a professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. A 3.5 GPA or higher is recommended
Application Information
Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the ECE Ph.D. program of study page.
Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. program in Electrical and Computer Engineering depends on student classification as follows:
- M.Sc. degree in Electrical or Computer engineering and who have been admitted directly into the Ph.D. program
- minimum of 12 credit hours of Advisory Committee-approved coursework is required
- courses must be at the 7000 level or higher
- at least 6 of the 12 credit hours must be from the ECE department
- B.Sc. degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering and who are
- recommended for transfer into the Ph.D. program from the ECE M.Sc. program at this university
- minimum of 24 credit hours of Advisory Committee-approved coursework is required
- 9 credit hours MUST be at or above the 7000 level
- 6 credit hours may be
- Other department: at or above the 3000 level or
- ECE department: 4000 level elective courses
- at least 12 of the 24 credit hours must be from the ECE department
- In the case of a transfer from an M.Sc. program to the ECE Ph.D. program credit may be given for approved coursework completed at the M.Sc. level
- Transferred from the M.Sc program
- For all other categories of students
- a minimum of 24 credit hours of advisory committee-approved coursework is required if the student does not hold a M.Sc., otherwise 12 credit hours is required
- of which 9 credit hours must be at or above the 7000 level
- the balance of 6 credit hours must be at or above the 3000 level from other departments or 4000 level elective courses from the ECE department
- at least 12 of the 24 credit hours must be from the Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering department
- a minimum of 24 credit hours of advisory committee-approved coursework is required if the student does not hold a M.Sc., otherwise 12 credit hours is required
- A Ph.D. thesis, which is based on research work normally carried out at this university, is required.
Expected Time to Graduate: 3.5 years
Progression Chart
Ph.D. Students Holding a Master’s Degree
| Years 1-2 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| GRAD 7300 | Research Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| GRAD 7500 | Academic Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| GRAD 8010 | Doctoral Candidacy Examination | 0 |
| ECE 7XXX | ECE Courses designated 7000 level or higher 1 | 12 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Ph.D. Thesis Proposal Presentation | 0 | |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Years 3-6 | ||
| GRAD 8000 | Doctoral Thesis | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
- 1
TBD (Course must be in the student’s field of research) – Must be approved by Academic Advisor. With permission from the Academic Advisor and Department students may take courses outside of ECE.
Ph.D. Students Without a Master’s Degree
| Years 1-2 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| GRAD 7300 | Research Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| GRAD 7500 | Academic Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| GRAD 8010 | Doctoral Candidacy Examination | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Years 1-2.5 | ||
| ECE 7XXX | ECE Courses designated 7000 level or higher 1,2 | 12-24 |
| ECE 4XXX | ECE Courses designated 4000 level or higher outside ECE, 3000 or higher 1,3 | 6 |
| Hours | 18-30 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Ph.D. Thesis Proposal Presentation | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| Years 3-6 | ||
| GRAD 8000 | Doctoral Thesis | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 18-30 | |
- 1
TBD (Course must be in the student’s field of research) – Must be approved by Academic Advisor.
- 2
At least 12 of the 24 credit hours must be from the ECE Department.
- 3
Up to 6-credit hours may be taken from another department.
Registration Information
Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.
Courses are subject to cancellation if there is insufficient enrolment. Courses with insufficient enrolment may be cancelled the first week of classes. Not all courses will be offered each year — contact the department for courses that will not be offered. All returning and newly admitted students must see an academic advisor or the department head prior to attempting to register.
Regulations
Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.
Supplementary Regulations
Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations.
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.
All students must successfully complete:
- GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
- GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;
unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.
Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.
General Regulations
All students must:
- maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
- meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
- meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).
Courses
Laboratory generation and measurement techniques related to ac and dc high voltages, conventional and steep front high voltage pulses, composite voltages and pulsed currents. Charge measurements. Test techniques for assessing insulation quality and life.
High voltage dc, ac and hybrid transmission line corona modes, electrostatic and ionized field calculations, field effects of overhead transmission lines. Surge propagation including corona effect. Transmission line insulation design to withstand normal/abnormal voltages and conditions. Modern and conventional arrestors. Principles and practice of insulation coordination.
Magnetically-coupled circuits, energy conversion principles, field generation in ac machines, windings and inductances, reference frame theory, dc machine and dc drives, scalar control of induction machines, vector control of induction machines, drives for special machines.
The course presents the theory of signal and data compression with their applications in engineering, including lossless compression (Shannon-Fano, Huffman, arithmetic and dictionary) and lossy compression, including scalar and vector quantization. References to sub-band and transform coding (wavelets and fractal) and analysis-synthesis coding will be made.
The course presents basic material in discrete mathematics and the theory of switching circuits. It provides electrical and computer engineering students with a firm basis in the modern theory of logic design, and illustrates some applications through formal characterization of combinational functions and sequential machines, using contemporary techniques for the automatic synthesis and diagnosis of digital systems.
Philosophy of power system protection; Typical protection schemes; Instrument transformers; Protection hardware and application; Protection relay testing techniques; Software models of relays and their use in simulation studies.
Power system operation; load flow analysis; transient stability modeling and simulation using the classical model; detailed machine models for transient stability analysis, modeling of exciters, governors, and FACTS devices for transient stability analysis; methods of transient stability analysis; voltage stability concepts and assessment.
AC/DC and DC/DC converters, switching functions, voltage source converters, advanced PWM techniques, analytical modeling and simulation, control system design, applications of power electronics in motor drives and power systems, additional topics of current interest.
Magnetically-coupled circuits, energy conversion principles, field generation in ac machines, windings and inductances, reference frame theory, dc machine and dc drives, scalar control of induction machines, vector control of induction machines, drives for special machines.
Applied stochastic models for queuing systems; analysis of queueing models using matrix-analytic methods and also traditional transform based approaches. Course will focus on applications; how to develop models that represent real communication network problems and how to analyze them.
A Structured approach to the design of modern digital systems is presented with specific emphasis on embedding computer applications. Topics will include the formal methodology of digital design together with selected topics from the current research literature
The course focuses on micromachining and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Topics include microfabrication technologies, microactuators, and microsensors. Applications to optical, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and biological systems are discussed.
The course covers several advanced issues in wireless communication networks. Topics of study will include trends and future of mobile computing, advanced wireless technologies, multimedia wireless LANs, wireless ad hoc networks, energy mgmt, channel coding, privacy issues in wireless networking.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Either ECE 4250 or ECE 4700.
The course will address both the theoretical concepts and system-level implementation issues for cognitive wireless networks. The topics covered will include information-theoretic analysis of cognitive radio systems, challenges and issues in designing cognitive radio systems, architectures and protocols for cognitive wireless networks, distributed adaptation and optimization methods, channel allocation cognitive machine learning techniques, interoperability issues, cross-layer optimization of cognitive radio systems, and applications of cognitive radio networks.
Applied stochastic models for queueing systems; analysis of queueing models using matrix-analytic methods and also traditional transform-based approaches. Course will focus on applications; how to develop models that represent real communication network problems and how to analyze them.
This course presents the general theory of fractals and their applications in engineering, including fractal modelling of complex phenomena, such as dielectric discharges, and fractal image compression. It also relates fractals to chaos and dynamics.
Faults and fault models for VLSI. Test generation algorithms. Design for testability: scan design for sequential circuits; built-in test; testable PLA design. Totally self-checking logic. Fault tolerance in VLSI: yield and performance enhancement through redundancy. System level diagnosis: applications to VLSI processor arrays.
Examination of electronic neural networks and related computational systems, both from a circuit theory and from a system-theory perspective. Digital and analog VLSI implementations of neural systems are presented and compared. Connections with other systems from physics, biology and computer science are made.
Representation and analysis of deterministic signals: Continuous and Discrete; Random processes and spectral analysis; Bandlimited signals and systems.
Development of information theory and the engineering implications for the design of communication systems and other information handling systems.
This course provides fundamentals for designing and analyzing broadband communication networks. The major content includes: structure and organization of broadband communication networks, typical protocols and technologies applied in broadband communication networks mathematical network modeling, and performance analysis.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Undergraduate level Probability Theory & Random Processes.
Formulation and analysis of scattering problems by classical methods. Radar cross section of smooth bodies by geometrical and physical optics. Diffraction by edges. Impedance and Leontovitch boundary conditions.
Requirements for Static Compensation in Power Systems. The thyristor controlled reactor (TCR) and thyristor switched capacitor (TSC). Advanced GTO thyristor compensators. Operation and control of compensators. Load Compensation, filter design and specifications.
Methods of Network Equation Formulation; Modeling of network nonlinearities and transmission lines; Modeling of electrical machines and controls.
Analysis and design of discrete-time systems, compensation to improve stability and performance, introduction to digital logic control.
Methods for growing and analyzing electronic materials. Growth will include chemical vapour deposition, diffusion, and plasma processing. Analysis will include capacitance, voltage and current voltage techniques.
Review of computing system architectures. Memory structures and implementations: static, dynamic, synchronous, asynchronous, single and multiport. Testability of memories. Smart memories. Memories for VLSI: configurable and reconfigurable. Case study of a CMOS self-synchronizing RAM.
Foundations of neural networks. Basic architecture and different structures. Associative networks. Mapping networks. Spatio-temporal networks. Learning and adaptability. Supervised and unsupervised learning. Stability. Adaptive resonance networks. Self-organization. Examples of existing systems. Applications.
Linear and Planar Arrays Theory; Pattern Synthesis Techniques, Analysis and Design of Radiating elements, Phase Shifters and Beam-Forming Network; Scanning Techniques; Effect of phase, amplitude and mechanical errors on Array Performance.
Methods for determining: scattering parameters; insertion, mismatch and return loss; cavity parameters. Detector and mixer performance characteristics. Power measurement. System noise determination. Antenna radiation pattern and gain measurements.
Presentation of important research developments in the area of Electrical Engineering, selected to complement other established graduate courses. Approval of the head of the department is required to register for this course.
Monolithic microwave integrated circuit fabrication and circuit design techniques. Analysis and modeling of microwave passive components and GaAs active devices. High frequency circuit simulation techniques. Basic circuit examples.
Identification, description, and analysis of the behaviour of systems of real-time communicating processes, and the application of real-time process algebras in the design of hardware and software systems.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: COMP 3430.
Homojunction and heterojunction phenomena; Gunn effect, organic semiconductors, properties of thin films, quantum electronic devices, space charge limited current devices, and newly developed solid state electronic devices.
This course covers the fundamental principles underlying lossy coding of information signals for communication and storage: scalar and vector quantization; introduction to rate-distortion theory and high-rate theory; entropy-coded quantization; principles of predictive coding; transform coding and bit-allocation; trellis coding; channel-optimized quantization; applications.
This course will cover issues in the design and analysis of telecommunication networks and systems in terms of physical implementation, protocols, routing algorithms, management, software interfaces, and applications. Focus will be on high speed LAN, WAN and Telecommunication networks using a systems engineering perspective.
Presentation of important research developments in the area of Computer Engineering, selected to complement other established graduate courses in this area.
Introduction to declarative techniques in symbolic problem solving with emphasis on relational representations, query construction, and recursive formulations of knowledge structures in engineering.
Constrained optimization of functions of several variables. Optimization methods suitable for the solution of engineering problems by modern digital computers. Both gradient and direct search methods are included.
Elementary structure of matter, polarization, response of dielectrics to static and periodic fields, ionization and decay processes, electrical breakdown of gases, liquids, and solids.
Introduction to nonlinear phenomena; linearization; state-space methods - quantitative and qualitative; introduction to the principal methods of determining stability.
Introduction to optimal control systems; topics will include statement of the control problem, controllability, calculus of variations, Pontryagin's Maximum Principle, and design of optimal controls.
Fundamental principles. Wave mechanics, statistical mechanics, structure of matter, free electron theory and electron emission, band theory of solids, electrical conduction, and transport phenomena.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ECE 3600 or equivalent.
Properties of materials. Semiconductors, junction phenomena; ferroelectrics, magnetic materials, superconductivity, optical processes, effects of radiation.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ECE 3600 and ECE 4190 or equivalent.
Circuit properties of microwave transmission systems. Matrix representation and analysis of microwave networks, microwave junctions, resonators, and impedance matching networks.
Numerical integration, differentiation. Finite-difference solutions of the Poisson, Laplace and Helmholtz equations. Initial-value problems. The eigen problem. Examples chosen from electromagnetic, thermal, fluid-flow, stress, and other fields.
Rationale for distributed generations (DG); Distributed electricity generation technologies (thermal and renewable); Availability of renewable energy resources; Technical and economic evaluation of DG projects; DG grid integration issues and interconnection standards; Microgrids.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Energy Systems I or equivalent course.
The application of modern systems engineering methods to power system problems.
The analysis and measurements of human physiological systems. Anatomical descriptions are limited to those required to support the functional analysis. Mathematical modeling is reinforced by analog and digital computer models.
Rectifier-inverter fundamentals. Compounding and regulation. Grid firing control systems. Reactive power requirements. Ground return and electrode design. Transmission lines. Economics and efficiency.
Protection. Harmonics: telephone interference. Corona: radio and television interference. Analytical methods. Conversion equipment, the use of solid devices. Selected topics from current literature.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ECE 7990.
Mathematical treatment of various approximation techniques, matrix transformation methods applied to equivalent networks of minimum sensitivity or other criteria, theory of multivariable functions, lumped-distributed network synthesis.
Equilibrium and non-equilibrium processes in semiconductors, properties of junctions and thin films, carrier transport phenomena, effects of traps, and selected topics pertinent to recent literature in microelectronics.
Fixed-instruction-set microprocessor design; microprogramming, bit-slice based design; parallel processing and multiprocessing; applications to data acquisition, data logging, and data communications.
Representations of random processes; signal detection and estimation techniques.
Fundamentals of information theory; source and channel coding; digital modulation techniques.
Discrete-time linear system theory, digital filter design techniques, discrete Fourier transforms including FFT, discrete Hilbert transform, Walsh-Hadamard transforms high-speed convolution and correlation -techniques.
Antennas as a boundary value problem, antenna parameters, analysis and synthesis methods, antenna measurements.
Solution of wave equation; special theorems and concepts, computer aided analysis.
Thyristor properties, ac controllers, controlled rectifiers, dc to dc converters (choppers), and inverters. Permission of instructor required. Credit not to be held with ECE 4370.
Digital representation of images. Two-dimensional operations and transforms. Image enhancement, restoration, and coding. Reconstruction from projections.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ECE 3580 or equivalent desirable.
Supervised and unsupervised learning techniques. Linear discriminant analysis. Scene analysis methods.
Overview of existing computer networks. Elements of queueing theory. Error, delay, cost and capacity analysis. Fixed assignment schemes. Packet and switched networks. Random access. Satellite networks. Hybrid protocols.
Coulombian and amperian models for polarized media and magnetized media; uniqueness theorems, formulation and classical methods of analysis of static, stationary and quasistationary field problems; modelling of electromagnetic fields in the presence of moving solid conductors; elements of relativistic electrodynamics.
This course is an extension of ECE 8220 "Digital Image Processing." Techniques of image modelling, segmentation, texture analysis, matching and inference will be studied.
Representation of surfaces in space. 3D display methods and hardware. 3D boundary tracing and texture. Biosterometry and stereophotogrammetry in biomedicine. Some aspects of computer-aided manufacturing of prostheses and other topics.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: an introductory course in computing or equivalent experience and one year of any physical, engineering or biological science.
Study of selected topics of recent advances in electrical power systems.
Design of custom and semi- custom Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits and systems including design for testability. Static and dynamic VLSI circuits; software design tools, layout, logic and timing simulation.
A discussion of current topics in biomedical engineering. The latest in instrumentation, procedures and practices relevant both to clinical engineering and ongoing research are covered.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ECE 4400 or consent of instructor.
Mathematical analysis of common reflector antennas including effects of various types of feed structures.
Continuation of ECE 7660 "Resolution Problem Solving," plan formation, default and temporal reasoning as applicable to engineering.