Faculty of Engineering
Location: Sexton Campus
5217 Morris Street
4th Floor, Room 401
P.O. Box 15000
Halifax, NS
B3J1B6
Telephone: (902) 494-6217
Fax: (902) 492-0011
Website: www.dal.ca/engineering
Email: deaneng@dal.ca

Engineering as a Profession

Engineering is an important profession. Virtually all aspects of modern life are involved with this fascinating discipline. Engineering education at Dalhousie is demanding, because the engineering profession is demanding. Society expects its technical problem solvers to offer answers to some of the most difficult questions around, questions related to the environment, productivity, information technology, communications, transportation, and more. In general, the engineering enterprise contributes not only to human welfare, but also to the sustainable development of our resources. Engineering education provides great rewards for the engineer of the future. Specifically, there is the personal satisfaction of following a career where one’s personal expertise can benefit fellow humans and contribute to the making of a better world.

The Faculty of Engineering at Dalhousie University prepares its students with the problem-solving skills needed for lifelong exploration in a field that answers some of today’s most pressing concerns. The Faculty of Engineering has an excellent tradition of providing engineering education for students in the Atlantic Provinces that started in 1907 with the founding of the Nova Scotia Technical College. Our graduates occupy many important positions throughout Canada and in many other countries.

The Faculty of Engineering offers undergraduate curricula leading to the degree of Bachelor of Engineering in the following disciplines:

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

The Faculty also offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in Food Science (admission suspended, pending review), and post-graduate studies at the master’s and doctoral level.

For students who are eligible, the Faculty of Engineering offers a Bachelor of Engineering Co-operative Education program that integrates academic study with university approved industrial experience. Graduation from this program requires satisfactory performance in both areas. The schedule of study and work terms varies according to the discipline, details of which are outlined in Section E of the Engineering curricula in this calendar.

The co-operative education system requires students to alternate periods of study with periods of university approved, full-time, paid employment. The period of employment is called a work term and is normally four months (16 weeks) in length. Some programs combine two or more four month work terms. Work terms have academic requirements that must be completed in addition to the requirements of the employer.

The co-op degree program covers almost five calendar years, comprising eight or nine terms (depending on the area of specialization) each consisting of about four months' duration of university work on campus which are pursued alternately with four-month terms of supervised training in the practical experiences fundamental to the development of the graduate engineer. In a typical program of study, the total time spent in academic study is the same as that encountered in the usual course of four academic years.

Graduation from the University is the beginning of a lifelong learning experience. After completion of formal studies leading to the Bachelor of Engineering degree, and being admitted as an Engineer in Training (EIT) by an Association of Professional Engineers in Canada, four years of suitable experience are required as a condition of admission to the profession of Engineering.

The practice of engineering is regulated, by statute, in all Canadian provinces and territories. To become a Professional Engineer you must satisfy the requirements of the licensing bodies. These requirements include a degree from an accredited program, successful completion of a professional practice (law and ethics) examination, and suitable experience. Accreditation of the degree programs by the CEAB is the mechanism by which graduates qualify for registration as Professional Engineers without the need to undertake additional examinations in specific technical subject areas. The BEng programs described in this calendar have been specifically designed to satisfy the criteria of the Profession and are evaluated regularly by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) of Engineers Canada. The Faculty will not graduate any student who does not meet these requirements because this would jeopardize accreditation for the program. The department responsible for the appropriate program will use these requirements in determining the suitability of student elective course selections. The baccalaureate programs in all disciplines are accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board.

Degree Programs

 

Undergraduate

Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering

Students who have successfully completed the academic study program in any of the disciplines will be granted the degree of Bachelor of Engineering.

Bachelor of Engineering with Distinction

Students who have successfully completed the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering, and have obtained a Cumulative Grade Point average of at least 3.7, will be granted the degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Distinction.

Bachelor of Engineering with Sexton Distinction

Dr. F.H. Sexton was the President of the Nova Scotia Technical College since its establishment in 1909 until his retirement in 1947. To honour his contributions, the Faculty of Engineering awards the designation of Sexton Distinction to each undergraduate student who has taken a full course load and obtained a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 3.85 or higher with no failed marks during their program beginning in Academic Term 5.

Co-operative Program Designation

Students who have successfully completed the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering and who, in addition, have successfully completed three four-month work terms, each of a minimum of 14 weeks, with a minimum of 35 hours per week, or equivalent as determined by the Department and the Co-op office, will receive the “Co-operative Education” designation on their degree.

Diploma of Engineering

Students who have successfully completed the academic study program in the first four terms in any of the disciplines will be granted the Diploma of Engineering.

Combined Bachelor of Science/Diploma of Engineering

Students may register in a combined Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Engineering program. Those who successfully complete the requirements as outlined in the Concurrent Programs sections will be awarded the Diploma in Engineering and the 90 credit hour Bachelor of Science Degree.

Combined Bachelor of Arts/Diploma of Engineering

Students may register in a combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Engineering program. Those who successfully complete the requirements as outlined in the Concurrent Programs sections will be awarded the Diploma in Engineering and the 90 credit hour Bachelor of Arts Degree.

Food Science

Bachelor of Applied Science

This is a standard 120 credit hour curriculum. Consult the Food Science section. This program is currently inactive.

Graduate

Master of Applied Science

Students who have successfully completed the course requirements for the degree and who have submitted and defended orally an acceptable thesis, will be awarded the degree of Master of Applied Science.

Master of Engineering

Students who have successfully completed the course requirements for the degree and submitted an acceptable project report, will be awarded the degree of Master of Engineering.

Master of Engineering (Internetworking)

This is a 10 month plus internship/project interdisciplinary Master’s Degree program focused on the theory and technology of the Internet. This program has been designed to prepare individuals to play an active role in the rapidly expanding field of Internetworking. Students who complete the prescribed ten courses and a project course will be awarded the MEng (Internetworking).

Master of Science

Students who have successfully completed the course requirements for the degree in Engineering Mathematics or Food Science and who have submitted and defended orally an acceptable thesis or project report, shall be awarded the degree of Master of Science.

Doctor of Philosophy

Students who have successfully completed the course requirements for the PhD degree, passed their comprehensive examination, and submitted and defended orally a satisfactory thesis, will be awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

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