ESC180 is an introductory computer programming course. The course is taught with the assumption that students have no prior experience in programming. Python will be the only programming language used for this course.
You’ll start by covering fundamental programming concepts, including functions, conditional statements, syntax, and loops. You’ll use these basic concepts to create simple programs, ultimately learn more advanced concepts such as Python data structures and recursion and be introduced to features of computers such as memory storage and time complexity. For assignments, you’ll be writing your own code for interesting applications, practicing the skills and theory from class.
For experienced programmers, much of this course will be repetition. For newer programmers with less experience, this course will require regular practice to build a new skill set.
Michael Guerzhoy (pronounced “GER-joy”, with a hard “g”, and with the “j” pronounced like the “s” in “measure”) is teaching both ESC180 and ESC190 this year. He graduated with an honours bachelor of science from the University of Toronto in computer science, mathematics, and statistics. He went on to earn a master’s degree in both computer science and statistics. Following this, Professor Guerzhoy remained at the University of Toronto to teach several courses, before moving to Princeton University where he worked as a lecturer in the Center for Statistics and Machine Learning. In 2021, he returned to U of T to teach computer science in Engineering Science.
Course Highlights
Discovering Python is not a snake – it’s the programming language you’ll be using for this course.
That eureka moment when your program works after you spend hours debugging it.
Generating code that solves a big, real-life problem with very basic concepts.
Figuring out how recursion works
Participating in some programming competitions hosted by Prof. Guerzhoy!
Life of an ESC180 Student
Lectures
There are typically three hours of ESC180 lectures per week. There are no tutorials, so be sure to pay attention during lecture! The professor will explain programming concepts and go through example code. Ensure that you attend every lecture, because there will be multiple quizzes throughout the semester!
Practicals (Labs)
There are no tutorials for this course. ESC180 practicals are weekly 3-hour slots held in the Engineering Computing Facility (ECF) Labs. Here, you will work in pairs on assigned programming labs, getting feedback from TAs if needed.
Labs (Practicals)
Labs are released weekly, and you have three hours to complete them. You will be challenged to program functions that complete specific tasks. The labs can be long and difficult, but they are very beneficial. Try to complete all of them: it is the best way to prepare for the midterm and final exam. They will give you an opportunity to practice coding and build on your programming skills. All labs are graded by TAs, who are also there to help if you get stuck. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially if this is your first-time programming. According to the syllabus, “teams that make their best effort toward completing the lab will be awarded full credit.”
Projects
Projects are longer than labs and are typically assigned 3-4 weeks before the due date. They are more difficult because their scope is larger. Instead of writing one standalone function, you need to write at least 4-5 functions that accomplish a broader goal. For example, you might need to track a fictional person’s physical activity and happiness levels or build a program that predicts its opponent’s moves in a board game. You may choose to work with a partner on projects. Projects will be automatically graded on Gradescope based on many programming test cases.
Midterm and Exam
ESC180 usually has a midterm and a final. In these exams you will be asked both conceptual and programming questions. For questions that require you to write code, you will have to do so using pen and paper. The code you write in the exams will be more conceptually challenging, although it will not be as long as code from labs. The challenge is writing it quickly and without external aids. Keeping up with the labs and practicing throughout the semester will reduce your prep time, and past exams are a great source of practice problems.
How to Succeed
Quick Tips & Equations
Know your “if” statements, “for” loops, and “while” loops
Indexing Python arrays starts at 0, not 1. This is good to remember because you will be learning MATLAB at the same time, where indexing starts at 1.
For assignments (and programming in general) ensure that you have thoroughly debugged and considered boundary cases. If your program produces an error on a boundary case, you will likely fail that particular case, and if your program does not compile at all, you will not receive any marks for the assignment!
More Details
We recommend starting ESC180 projects as soon as they are released. They require a lot of thought and iteration; they cannot be completed in one go the night before the due date. You will need to brainstorm a solution, try it out, debug, and probably try again. Don’t be fooled by the “simplicity” of the problem statement: even if a function seems easy to write, it might take you several hours to debug.
Some experienced programmers can write their code immediately after seeing a problem. However, we recommend that beginners write an outline in pseudo-code before writing any code. Pseudo-code refers to an informal version of code, written in words explaining what your program does. Plan how your functions will interact and what they need to do to achieve your desired result. This way, you’ll avoid making mistakes, writing unnecessary code, and confusing yourself. Planning and sketching things out on paper is especially important when tackling projects.
Aside from the midterm and the final, you will almost always write and practice coding on an IDE (Integrated Development Environment). While you may become very good at writing, debugging and running code this way as you do the labs, solving problems with just pen and paper without being able to test or debug them on an IDE is a completely different experience. During labs, you may get into the habit of writing, running, and debugging code line-by-line; however, during exams, you will have to go through the program you have written line-by-line in your head and identify the errors yourself. So, it is important to practice without an IDE regularly, so you are better prepared for written assessments along with the labs and projects.
Like any other skill, it will take time and practice to become comfortable at programming. You’ll make mistakes and feel frustrated when you don’t know what to do. The key is regular practice. Looking at code will not be as useful as writing code on your computer. Without actual practice, it’s impossible to improve. Experimenting is the best way to learn coding. You’ll learn to use many useful methods and tools by playing around with code.
Python is a very popular language and as such, there are countless free resources available online to help you learn or debug your code. In addition, Professor Guerzhoy posts all his lectures on his YouTube channel. You can watch these recordings to make up for missed classes, study for exams, or even to get a preview of what is to come to better prepare yourself.
Beyond First Year
Through ESC180 you’ll learn how to think like a programmer. You will be introduced to several programming problem-solving techniques. These include sequential, functional, iterative, and recursive programming.
Sequential: In basic programming, the computer follows a set of instructions one after the other. By thinking sequentially, the programmer tells the computer what information to save when moving between steps and in what order.
Functional: You’ll often need several small, independent functions in your program that come together to solve a problem. Thus, you need to think about the individual components of your problem and how multiple smaller functions can be combined to solve it.
Iterative: By using loops in programming, you can repeat an action as many times as you need to solve a problem. You must therefore understand how to create solutions using these iterative techniques.
Recursive: In some cases, it is impractical to solve a problem iteratively. That’s when recursion comes in handy. Recursion is a method in which you break down a larger problem into its smallest subproblem that has a direct solution. Since the solution to the larger problem depends on this direct solution of the smaller subproblem, your program breaks down the large problem, and once it finds the smallest subproblem, it works its way forwards with the solutions from each step. You have then found a solution!
Programming is one of the most essential skills in science and engineering today. Many technical courses will either use programming or teach you to program, and you can always use programming to simplify calculations in assignments and labs. Many internships and jobs require programming experience, so it’s great that EngSci provides a solid introduction in first year.
Note: The course code for Introduction to Computer Programming used to be CSC180. You may still see it referred to as such on some websites (e.g. courses.skule.ca).
CIV102 is one of the most iconic and difficult courses in first-year Engineering Science. It even contains material normally taught to upper-year Civil Engineering students. But we promise we aren’t trying to scare you away; in this course, you will learn a lot and have a lot of fun.
CIV102 gives you an overview of civil and structural engineering and covers topics such as static systems, truss bridge analysis, bending beams, and concrete. Material is often introduced in its historical context, so you get both a technical understanding of the concepts and their societal relevance. You’re taught a set of equations and problem-solving techniques for each topic and are assessed using problems that ask you to apply these equations in new scenarios. The trick with this course is understanding how and where to apply your equations and rules, not necessarily how the equations and rules were derived.
Giant version of the old CIV102 notebook, located in the EngSci Common Room.
CIV102 is taught by Professor Evan Bentz. He is an expert in structural software; in particular, he explores the best methods for the upkeep, repair, and maintenance of structures before critical failures occur. Professor Bentz completed his PhD here at U of T and has been teaching CIV102 since 2021. He brings a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge from his many years working in the field of civil engineering while providing a unique perspective on structural engineering to EngSci students.
Fun Fact: Professor Bentz has also recently been appointed the Vice Dean Undergraduate, and he loves milk!
Professor Interview
“All of engineering is […] about managing uncertainty […] [We have to] make sure that things are safer than they need to be — not too much safer, or else we can’t afford to build it, or indeed the environmental consequences are too big — but appropriately safe given the statistical variation of all the things we have happening.”
“Hold on tight, it’s going to be an exciting time – it’s a development towards the next phase of your life and you’ll see that there’s a lot of people around here that are really sharp, and initially you’re going to say, “Geez, do I belong here?”. And the answer is, yeah, you do. If you’re getting in, you’ll succeed at it.”
Course Highlights
Matboard Bridge Project! For this group project (which many dub as the highlight of the first-year fall semester), every team is given a limited amount of adhesive and a cardboard-like material called “matboard.” Your job is to design a bridge to sustain as much weight as possible, applying your civil engineering knowledge and utilizing MATLAB, Python, and best engineering design practices. The best designers win special prizes from Professor Bentz and, more important, eternal bragging rights (especially if you make the “KiloNewton Club”). See this video from a past competition.
Nothing will bring you closer to your peers than the legendary weekly problem sets. The questions are challenging but essential to helping prepare you for the quizzes and the final exam.
Demonstrations and experiments are run by the instructors. We saw wood beams getting crushed and heavy weights dropping on the floor – don’t worry, we were safe… we think…
Stress will gain a whole new meaning, and you’ll have great positive moments! 🙂
Week in the Life of a CIV102 Student
Lectures
CIV102 lectures usually happen three times a week. They cover mathematical and physical concepts behind structures while providing historical background as to how these structural properties were discovered and used. These historical anecdotes will help you understand the societal implications of an engineer’s work, especially in civil engineering.
Practicals
While there are no dedicated tutorial slots for this course, the two-hour long practicals function as tutorials and are where students usually get the most value from CIV102. They vary weekly but typically consist of a material or design demonstration from Professor Bentz followed by a lab, or a teaching session and a 30-minute quiz. In a lab, you will need to build testing structures and analyze material properties you are learning in the course. In weeks without labs, a TA will walk you through course material and worked examples to help your understanding. Then, you will be given a quiz on the material. Your quiz marks add up by the end of the semester, so make sure you review each week. If you need help outside of practicals and tutorials, there are also plenty of extra TA office hours throughout the week.
Assessments
The ✨legendary CIV102 problem sets✨ are a staple of any EngSci’s Fall semester. You will analyze stress, strain, concrete, beams, and more. Working through the problem sets will help you understand course concepts and succeed on quizzes and the final exam, so make sure to stay on top of them! Upper-year EngScis may tell you about the stress these problem sets caused them. Nevertheless, the material is very interesting, and assignments are more manageable when you’re working alongside peers.
Midterms & Exams
There are no midterms in CIV102. No checkpoints. Nowhere to test your skills (except quizzes, problem sets and past exams). There is only a final. This is a difficult cumulative assessment. Because of the single-exam nature of this course, students often neglect it during the semester thinking, “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” However, you will not succeed in crossing the CIV102 bridge (like this one right here) by studying only for the final. The way the course content is laid out is very intuitive. There are several big topics and multiple smaller concepts related to each topic taught consecutively, so try and keep a mental map of how different concepts relate to each other throughout the semester. Use the weekly problem sets and quizzes as an example of how these concepts are going to be tested, as the final exam is effectively your weekly quiz questions tested together on one occasion.
\epsilon = \frac{\Delta L}{L} [Strain = Change in Length/Original Length]
\sigma = \frac{F}{A} [Stress = Force/Area]
A bending moment diagram (BMD) is represented as the area under the shear force diagram (SFD)
Know every equation related to reinforced concrete. There are so many that we can’t write them all here!
Quick Tips
CIV102 lectures include lengthy and complicated mathematical derivations of structural engineering concepts. Although you are not expected to know these, attempting to understand where certain equations come from can enhance your overall understanding of the content. In case you missed something, the official course notes are your friend!
Do not — we repeat, do not — wait until a couple hours before the deadline to start your problem sets. Start them early, which gives you time to not only complete them but revise them in case you realize a mistake, or to go to office hours for clarifications regarding the questions. Remember that you can work with peers so make sure to tackle these questions together.
Every assessment in CIV102 is open book. You are allowed to bring in the notebooks you used throughout the semester, equation sheets, and whatnot*. Pay attention and take detailed notes in class to stay on track. Don’t rely 100% on your available resources during an assessment as you only have a set amount of time to complete it. Advice from us as your blog admins is that your resources are there only as aids; do not underestimate the amount of studying needed.
*There may be restrictions on the material allowed (such as “no electronic devices”) so confirm with your professor/TA beforehand.
When answering a question on a quiz or an exam, be clear about what you know. Describe your process and don’t give up! If you answer the majority of the question properly but cannot produce a final answer, you could still receive 8-9 out of 10 marks.
The TAs for this course are some of the best you’ll have. They are either past EngScis who know exactly what position you’re in or very experienced civil engineering graduates. Office hours are extremely valuable; TAs will answer your questions, especially when you need some one-on-one time before quizzes, exams, and problem sets.
Beyond First Year
You will understand the physical world around you in terms of fundamental concepts. These can then be applied beyond the field of just civil engineering. For example, airplane wings act like cantilever beams. The former flies while the latter supports weight on the ground, but the basic principles of the two structures are the same.
The responsibility that comes with being an engineer will be emphasized quite a lot in this course. As an engineer, you need to be aware of people’s safety, a priority in all your designs.
Several concepts from CIV102 will show up in courses in the Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Physics and the Robotics Engineering majors.
From public transit and music streaming to CAD software, many companies offer free or hugely discounted services or software to university students that could help you save hundreds of dollars. It’s usually super easy to get these discounts – all you need is your University of Toronto email or TCard. Regardless of what you’re buying, always check for any discounts for (U of T) students.
AutoDesk is a company that provides various computer software for engineering, such as AutoCAD. To access these products for free, go to this AutoDesk page, select your desired software, and follow the instructions given.
U of T provides Microsoft 365 for free. This gives you access to programs like Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and more, along with 1 TB of OneDrive storage. Once you have installed Microsoft 365 with your U of T account, you’ll be able to access all these programs both online and offline. To install it, check out the Microsoft support page.
MATLAB is a programming language for numerical computation and mathematical visualization. You will learn MATLAB in ESC103, and will most likely use it in CIV102 and many upper-year courses. By creating an account with your U of T email account, you can download the newest version of the software for free. You will also have access to the online version of MATLAB and MATLAB Drive.
Mathematica is like MATLAB for computer algebra instead of linear algebra; you can use it for numeric methods, symbolic computation, and more! By creating an account with your U of T email account, you get access to both Mathematica Desktop and Mathematica Online.
In programming, an integrated development environment (IDE) is a digital environment where you can code, with various features. JetBrains makes IDEs for different programming languages, including Python and C which you’ll use in first year. To access their products for free, all you need to do is register your account with your U of T email.
Certain classes will provide you with licenses to obtain specific software for free. You will first encounter this in Praxis II; in the second half of the course, the teaching team will provide you with a license for Onshape (a cloud-based CAD software). Some upper-year courses with specific software requirements will give you licenses.
Engineering design teams often provide various software licenses for their members to use for free. Examples include Altium, Ansys, Fusion 360, SOLIDWORKS, and much more! For more information, reach out to your (sub)team leads.
ECF computers have extra software for student use. All engineering undergraduate students can access these computer labs 24/7 (in-person labs may be affected by closures, but remote access is always available). This will be very useful in classes such as ESC190, where you might need to use certain software such as Valgrind (which can be very tricky to configure on your own computer). To access the free software hosted on ECF computers, go to the U of T Engineering remote access information page. Sign in with your UTORID and password, just like when you sign in to computers on campus. From there, you can see all the applications hosted on the computer and can use them freely.
General Student Discounts
These products/services relate to daily expenses and recreation.
Public transit services often offer discounts for students. For example, the TTC Post-Secondary Monthly Pass offers unlimited travel on the TTC for $128.15 per month. Here’s how you can apply for a GO Student ID. Check your transit provider’s website for more details.
Some subscription-based services, such as streaming services, offer significant student discounts. Examples Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Premium, and Amazon Prime. To find more platforms which offer student discounts, read this article by Rolling Stone.
In addition to regular back-to-school sales, tons of technology companies offer huge student deals on personal technology such as laptops, tablets, and more. For example, here are Apple’s student deals. Furthermore, check with your cellular provider to see if you can get a student discount on your phone plan.
Various restaurants/grocery stores will have student discounts; you just need to ask! They’ll probably ask to see your student ID, so make sure to always carry your TCard.
Theatres, concerts, sporting events, and museums might offer student discounts; make sure to check before you book!
The Engineering Computing Facility (ECF) provides computing services to students. On-campus, there are five Windows labs and three Linux labs with a total of 368 workstations. There are also some Windows computers in the EngSci common room.
All engineering undergraduate students can access these computer labs 24/7. You can also access ECF workstations with their software and files remotely from your own computer via the Secure Shell protocol (SSH). This will be very useful in ESC190, in which you may need to use a debugging tool called Valgrind (which can be very tricky to configure on your own computer). By SSHing into an ECF workstation with a couple of basic commands, you can use Valgrind and many other tools right from your own computer.
The ECF labs are equipped with comfy office chairs, big screens, and always have an available computer. These are nice places to study in between classes and work on assignments.
You will receive an email regarding setting up your ECF account in the Fall. You are required to set up your account to access ECF workstations, printing, and more. Account activation instructions can be found on this page: ECF Account Activation.
All engineering students can print a limited number of pages for free at ECF printers. For your first-year EngSci courseload, you have 900 free pages of black-and-white printing per term, with a 25% discount for double-sided printing (i.e. 1200 pages). Color printing costs twice as much – keep this in mind if you need to print CIV102 notes, Praxis materials, or any other large documents.
ECF workstations are equipped with tons of useful software such as MATLAB, SOLIDWORKS, VS Code, and more. If you ever need to use software that your computer can’t run, the ECF is the place to go! The details of these computers are listed on the ECF Website.
ECF resources are strictly for academic use, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the ECF Account and Lab Rules and Regulations for Students. Using the workstations for unauthorized activities can result in serious consequences, including payment of damages, loss of computer access, and other sanctions.
Additionally, ECF conducts random spot checks; if you’re caught with food or drink in the labs, your access will be revoked, and you’ll need to reapply to regain it.
GEARS helps you integrate learning strategies with the content you need to learn to solve problems in your classes. Upper-year students help you develop key academic skills and answer questions related to your courses, the Engineering Science program, and opportunities within the Faculty and the university at large.
EngSci GEARS Schedule
The GEARS schedule for the Fall/Winter Sessions will be posted on the EngSci Info Hub, our online hub for key program information. You will get access to the Info Hub at the beginning of the semester. You can also ask Irma any questions about GEARS!
Note: The Core 8 has its own version of GEARS, but the one you’ll see advertised in the EngSci Info Hub is specifically for EngScis.
After first and second year, successful students are encouraged to apply for GEARS mentor positions to help the next generation of students!
GEARS Mentors (2024 – 2025)
Daniel | EngSci 2T7 + PEY
“Hello! My name is Daniel Hong and I’m currently a second year Engineering Science student. I currently have interests in specializing into ECE, Machine Intelligence, or Robotics. Outside of engineering, I love biking around the city and playing basketball. I’m also a massive fan of hackathons and software development. Life to me is all about trying new things, focusing on the moment, and dreaming big. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out on any social media!”
“Hello everyone, my name is Ian and I am an EngSci 2T6 in the Robotics option and also pursuing a Bioengineering Minor. I am interested in advancing healthcare solutions that improve patient outcomes and reduce strain on the hospital system. This summer I am developing wearable bioimpedance monitoring systems at the SleepdB lab in the KITE research institute. In my free time I love to cook, read, climb, run, and swim. Hope to see you in GEARS and get to know more about you!”
Ian | EngSci Robo 2T6 + PEY
Jessica | EngSci Physics 2T6 + PEY
“Hi! My name is Jessica and I’m an EngSci 2T6+PEY, majoring in Engineering Physics starting this fall. Right now I’m really interested in radio astronomy and physics instrumentation! Outside of school, I like to read, gym, paddle dragon boat (go Iron Dragons!), and hold Calpico.”
“Hi 2T8’s! My name is Joseph and I am entering my second year of Eng Sci. You will probably see me around at many Eng Sci events as I am part of Eng Sci Club and hang around the common room a lot. Apart from school, I also paddle for U of T Skule’s Dragon Boat team, the Iron Dragons which is always recruiting! I also enjoy scouting new food places and bbt so let me know if you find any good spots to try. I look forward to answering all your questions and guiding you through first-year Eng Sci courses, the Skule community, or how to enjoy the Skule experience in general!”
Joseph | EngSci 2T7 + PEY
Pasha | EngSci ECE 2T6 + PEY
“Hi everyone, my name is Pasha. I’m a 2T6 and am going to be one of your GEARS mentors this year. After really enjoying EngSci’s circuits and electromagnetism courses in the foundation years I have chosen the Electrical and Computer Engineering major. I’m really excited to support you in achieving your academic goals this year and help you succeed in your transition into university. In my spare time, I like playing sports and watching movies. Hope to meet you all in GEARS sessions!”
“Hi everyone! I’m Rhianna, an EngSci 2T6 in the ECE option. This summer I did research at the Intelligent Sensory Microsystems Lab, where I worked on designing a testing PCB for an event-driven Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) with neural interface applications. During the school year you can find me in Engineers WIthout Borders as an Internal Director, in the UTWind Power Systems subteam designing a small wind turbine, and in the UTSM Aero-Structural subteam designing a hydrogen-powered car. In my free time I like to sing, play piano, and read. I can’t wait to meet all of you and I hope you come by with any questions you might have!”
Rhianna | EngSci ECE 2T6 + PEY
Benefits of Attending GEARS
As you are transitioning into your first year, you might find that your schedules don’t always allow you to thoroughly prepare for an exam. By attending GEARS sessions and talking to successful upper year students, you can learn how to better review materials and prepare for tests even during the busier weeks.
Despite what its name suggests, GEARS isn’t just for academics. This is a place where you can get to ask upper years anything. EngSci tips? Major advice? Just ask! This is also a place for you to hang out and get to know your peers.
With all the different assignments, labs, homework, and midterms, it can be difficult to find a regular study time to review material covered in recent lectures. Since GEARS sessions are weekly, you can use this time to do just that. And since all the sessions are drop-in, you are free to skip a session if you have a particularly busy week.
Since GEARS sessions are led by current EngSci students, they can help you not only with learning course materials but also with advice on the most useful study skills for each course. For instance, some courses might require you to do practice problems often, while others may need you to spend more time understanding theoretical concepts. By chatting with upper-year students, you can develop these study skills and come up with a strategy that works for you.
GEARS sessions are completely separate from your courses, i.e., no marks will be issued and your attendance will not be reported to your instructors. So you can drop-in for a full session or even part of a session when you have the time without worrying about your participation affecting your grades.
Aside from being well versed in technical skills and scientific knowledge, a successful engineer must have excellent communication skills. They must be capable of communicating their ideas to people from many backgrounds in a concise and effective manner.
However, communication is not easy to master on your own. The Engineering Communication Program (ECP)will help you develop strong communication skills that will serve you throughout your career.
What Does the ECP Do?
The ECP provides integrated communication education and ensures that students can become top contributing professionals in their field. They provide many resources including the following.
Open to all undergraduate Engineering students, the ECP Tutoring Centre offers live online consultation with a tutor. You can also drop in during online drop-in hours and submit documents for review.
The ECP offers writing resources for students in their online handbooks. You can find general information and instructions on writing proposals, lab reports, referencing, oral presentations, etc.
We get it, things don’t always go your way. Maybe you’ve been sick for the past few days, or you have two midterms and an assignment this week, or personal matters have got you too stressed to prepare well for that exam tomorrow. Don’t worry, everyone has been there before. You can thankfully seek accommodations for certain situations, and petitions are one of the primary ways of doing so.
“A petition is your formal request for an exception to a Faculty or University rule, regulation or deadline. The University of Toronto acknowledges that students sometimes encounter unforeseen or uncontrollable circumstances that can severely interfere with their ability to fulfill their academic obligations.”
The three types of petitions that you can submit are discussed below. For the most up-to-date informationabout petitions at U of T Engineering, visit this site – About Petitions.
Term Work Petition is applicable for term work such as, graded homework, midterms, quizzes, assignments, labs, etc. If you unavoidably missed a term work due to severe personal illness, personal or family crisis or other extenuating circumstances, you should discuss the matter with your instructor immediately. If necessary, you can submit a term-work petition through the Engineering Portal. The deadline to submit a term-work petition and the accompanying supporting documentation, if needed, is seven days after the missed or affected term work.
Any final exam petitions and accompanying documentation should be submitted within seven days of your last examination. Keep in mind that the final exam petition cannot offer you an exemption from writing an exam. Deferred exams and re-writes for courses are also not standard practice in the FASE. If the petition is approved, you will likely be assigned an assessed mark based on closely supervised term work as compared to the closely supervised term work the rest of the class in relation to their final examination performance.
When making a decision about submitting a final exam petition, you should consider how well you feel at the time of the exam, whether you can obtain supporting documentation for the petition, and how prepared you may feel for a possible later examination date. If you are having difficulties with a course, always speak with your professor/instructor. If they are unable to answer your questions, you should consult with your academic advisor.
Special Consideration Petition can be submitted to request exemption from a faculty regulation. If you need clarification on any rules or regulations in the Academic Calendar, you should reach out to your Academic Advisor. Since you have to provide sufficient reasoning for the exemption, it is also highly recommended that you discuss with your Academic Advisor before submitting a petition for special consideration.
Some of the reasons for submitting a petition are personal illness, illness or death of a close family member, personal or family crisis, or other extenuating circumstances. However, note that these are extenuating circumstances; petitions will not be granted due to personal carelessness. Note that U of T Engineering students may file one term-work petition per term without documentation (i.e. self-declare their own illness) for term-work valued at 14% or lower through the Engineering Portal. The petition may not cover term-work worth 15% or greater (without a Verification of Illness form) and cannot span a period longer than three calendar days.
Upper Year Insights
Some of you might feel like you don’t need petitions, or that petitions are an unfair advantage. Of course, petitions should only be submitted when absolutely necessary, and by the end of the term, you would have still submitted the same assignments and completed the same exams as everyone else (so a petition would leave theoretically leave more work for you in the future). However, you should never avoid petitions out of principle. Even if you have a 4.00 GPA, you can submit a petition; petitions don’t relate to your academic abilities. Your health and wellbeing always come first. If you have any questions about petitions, be sure to book an appointment with your Academic Advisor.
Located in BA2110 right next to the EngSci Common Room, the EngSci office is comprised of the people responsible for making Engineering Science a reality. They organize courses, students, Professors, external communication, internal communication, events, and more. So, without further ado, here are the people that make EngSci possible.
Cathy Pettigrew
Cathy Pettigrew
Front Line Student Advisor and Office Administrator (Acting)
Cathy is our acting Front Line Student Advisor while Mandana is away. She can help with all your questions about courses, schedules, and more, and can direct you to where you can find additional help. Cathy has experience working in education and adult learning and ran a small business for over a decade. She has worked extensively with neuro-diverse clients and students, with for-profit and non-profit organizations. She is an alumna of the University of Toronto, and has fond memories of student life, which has made returning to the campus a full-circle moment.
Most recently, Cathy has been counselling people living with ADHD, autism, and learning challenges, providing mental health, academic, and pathways counselling, as well as conducting psychometric assessments to assist with diagnoses. She has served on various community initiatives, including a CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) research study at the Institute of Better Health, and as a Special Needs Consultant for the Archdiocese of Toronto.
Cathy is an outgoing person and enjoys doing public speaking engagements, advocating for people living with special needs, and promoting strengths-based learning and inclusivity.
Fun Fact: Cathy was offered the role of Glinda in the first national tour of Wicked but declined to join EngSci.
Don Newton
Don Newton
Curriculum and Research Officer
Most of Don’s work is behind the scenes but is crucial to providing EngSci students the opportunities to travel and perform summer research. Don works on curriculum changes for the program and collaborates on ensuring EngSci remains an accredited engineering program, which means you have the opportunity to pursue your engineering designation once you graduate from EngSci. Don also manages the Engineering Science Research Opportunities Program (ESROP), which is an EngSci-exclusive program that gives students the opportunity to do summer research at U of T and abroad.
Fun Fact: Don has been to Hawaii 10 times and is hoping to one day establish an ESROP placement for students to conduct research there.
Stephen Johns
Stephen Johns
Academic Advisor, Years 1 and 2, Domestic Students
Stephen is our advisor for first- and second-year domestic students, which means he will be the person who supports you during both the transition into EngSci and, later, into your major. His role is like your guidance counsellor’s in high school. Stephen can advise you on Faculty rules and regulations, scheduling issues, electives, minors, major selection, and campus resources like academic support and financial aid. When Stephen doesn’t know an answer, he can always direct you to someone that does.
Another major part of Stephen’s role is aiding students with their holistic transition to university. Stephen is always available to meet with students to discuss time management, EngSci-specific study tips, and other personal matters. If you ever want to have a conversation on whether you think EngSci is truly the right place for you, Stephen is always around to listen.
Fun Fact: To the best of our knowledge, Steve is the only person who has ever seen Pearl Jam 48 times, The Phantom of the Opera 29 times, and held seasons tickets to professional sports teams in two different countries.
Irma Berardi
Irma Berardi
Academic Advisor, Years 1 and 2 (International)
Irma’s role is very similar to Stephen’s, the main difference is she works with first- and second-year international students. Irma is well-versed with the resources available within U of T Engineering, and all of the academic regulations and policies, in addition to supporting international students transition into the program and to a new country as a whole. Irma is always available to meet with students to discuss their experiences in Canada and how the Faculty can better support them. She can also help you get connected with the Centre for International Experience, and their Immigration Advisors if you have questions related to your study-permit.
Irma also leads Eng Sci Guided Engineering Academic Review Sessions, or GEARS. GEARS Leaders are upper-year students who were successful in the first-year courses you may need help with; they are great resources as you transition into EngSci. These sessions take place weekly, and are designed as drop-ins. If you want to know more, just ask Irma!
Fun Fact: Her cat’s name is Lana del Meow…can you guess the influence?
Brendan Heath
Brendan Heath
Academic Advisor, Years 3 and 4
Brendan will be your academic advisor in third and fourth year, which means he is well-versed in each of the major options and can provide support for you within your choice of specialization. When you get around to picking your major, Brendan is a great resource for learning about potential career paths (like industry or grad school). For some majors, your electives may cause course conflicts or you may want to take more courses than necessary (called “overloading”). Brendan can help you handle conflicts, get approval for overloads, plan for minors and understand when courses should be marked as extra credit. Topics related to graduation, like meeting your accreditation or complementary studies requirements, are also within Brendan’s considerable expertise.
Fun Fact: Brendan grew up on an apple orchard in Quebec! He also started his undergraduate degree as a computer engineer at Waterloo but ended up graduating from Peace and Conflict Studies at U of T.
Christina Heidorn
Christina Heidorn
External Relations Officer
If you go to any EngSci events, you’ll be sure to see Christina helping run the show. She oversees events like the Engineering Science Education Conference (ESEC), which you’ll attend in your first two years in EngSci. You’ll hear exciting speakers from many engineering-related fields share their (sometimes surprising) career and life experiences.
As EngSci’s External Relations Officer, Christina helps inform prospective students about EngSci (things like “What is EngSci?” or “What does it mean to be an EngSci?”). Maybe you’ve seen her at one of our recruitment events this past year. She also works with U of T Engineering’s huge online alumni network, U of T Engineering CONNECT. CONNECT is a platform you can sign up for once you become a student in the fall. It can help you get in touch with alumni for things like career advice, job opportunities, and more!
One way you can be a part of EngSci’s external relations is by signing up to be an EngSci Ambassador in September; keep an eye on your email for application instructions! As an EngSci Ambassador you volunteer at recruitment and promotion events to talk to prospective students about the program and your experiences.
Fun Fact: Christina is an EngSci 9T1 graduate in the Chemical option (unfortunately it no longer exists) 😢. She used to be a television documentary producer for programs like CBC’s The Fifth Estate, and she favours colorful shoes.
Diane Giang
Diane Giang
Manager of Finance and Administration
As manager, Diane is involved in various high-level tasks for EngSci. Diane manages the finance, human resources and operational needs of the Division. She works with the EngSci Club, and helps support students that participate in the ESROP program, students that become TAs, and students that work for the EngSci Office at any time (as GEARS leaders, for example). An additional way she’ll directly work with you is when you submit a reimbursement form for a course project.
Fun Fact: Diane enjoys playing board games, video games, and going on roller coasters with her kids.
Kimia Moozeh
Kimia Moozeh
Senior Officer, Program and Student Experience
As part of her role, Kimia is involved in curriculum change/innovation, program review and enhancing student experience in Engineering Science. She is also involved in the accreditation process. Please feel free to contact her if you have suggestions/comments about the curriculum or the program.
Fun Fact: She is now addicted to Krispy Kreme donuts after trying one for the first time since joining EngSci.
Mandana Esmaeili
Mandana Esmaeili
Front Line Student Advisor and Office Administrator (On Leave)
Mandana, currently on leave, is usually the first friendly face you see in the office, sitting at the front desk ready to help. As the Front Line Student Advisor, she can answer all your questions about schedules, courses and more. Mandana is the best person to ask your questions first. She often knows the answer but if she doesn’t, she’ll direct you to where you can get the answer. Mandana also writes the EngSci newsletters every week, summarizing all things going on in EngSci so that it is easy for you to stay up to date. You will start to get these newsletters in September; make sure you read them every week, because there is a lot of very valuable information condensed in there.
As the office administrator, Mandana can also deal with issues in the Common Room, help EngSci-related clubs book rooms on campus for events, borrow technologies, and tell you what forms you need to fill out for certain activities. Mandana also knows the schedules of everyone else in the office, so if you’re thinking of dropping by for a quick appointment you can ask her when someone’s free.
In short, if you don’t know who to talk to, ask Mandana and she’ll help you find where you need to go.
Fun Fact: Her hobbies include photography and cinematography.
Did you know? Quercus is the Latin genus name for the oak tree, which is an important symbol in U of T’s coat of arms. The symbol of the oak tree also reflects U of T’s motto, which translates to “may it grow as a tree through the ages.”
Quercus
Throughout your time at U of T, you will use an online platform called Quercus. Quercus, based on the Canvas Learning Management Engine, hosts everything you will need for courses and other important modules, such as the EngSci Info Hub.
Quercus course modules hold course syllabi, assignment submissions and feedback, grades, and important course announcements. Professors may also post slides or lecturematerial for classes, and other resources. If professors prefer to use different platforms to host their courses (such as a custom website), this information will also be on their Quercus page. There is also a Quercus (Canvas) mobile app for Android and iOS devices, so you can quickly check up on your courses on your and may make task management easier.
Starting in September, you’ll also see the EngSci Info Hub on your Quercus Dashboard, where you’ll find EngSci-specific academic resources, events, summer internship/research opportunities, graduate school information, and more!
Note: Some Professors may customize their Quercus layout. However, they are usually intuitive, and there will be a home page with instructions on navigating the course page.
Sample Quercus Dashboard where you can find your courses and other resources like the EngSci Info Hub
While navigating the platform is quite intuitive, you can also refer to this video to learn how to use Quercus. For more information, consider the following resources:
Turn all Quercus notifications ON! Quercus and your U of T email are the official channels through which professors, academic advisors, and the university will communicate with you. Important announcements will be sent to you through Quercus; it’s your responsibility to pay attention.
Quercus (Canvas) mobile app for Android and iOS [Source].
Outlook Mail
UTmail+ will be your official student email account. UTmail+ accounts end in @mail.utoronto.ca, and can be accessed through the Microsoft Outlook app on Windows, Android, iOS and macOS devices. All university correspondence is done through your UTmail+ account, so download the app on your laptop and cellphone to stay updated regarding course updates, grades, important announcements, and more. You can also have Quercus notifications sent to your UTmail+ inbox.
Discussion Boards
Online discussion boards are used by professors to provide students with a forum to ask and answer questions about course content, assessments, administration, and more. Questions can be sent publicly to the entire class, or privately to the teaching team. For public questions, students and the teaching team can answer and ask follow ups.
You can ask questions during office hours, tutorials, and/or after lectures; however, discussion boards are very helpful for seeking quick clarifications when preparing for assignments or midterms or revising tricky concepts.
The most common discussion boards are Piazza and Ed Discussion. Don’t worry about signing up for these boards just yet: when classes start, your course instructors will permit you to access the course-specific discussion boards.
Note: Instructors will often have rules for what you can share on discussion boards. For instance, if you have questions about your specific solution for an assignment, you will likely not be allowed to create a public thread visible to all students. When in doubt, refer to the course syllabus or reach out to your professors.
Discussion Board Tips
As stated above, make sure you’re allowed to post your question in the first place! General inquiries or clarifications for assignment questions will likely be allowed for public posts; however, if your question pertains to your particular solution, make sure that your post either won’t give away your answer or is sent privately to the teaching team. Consult the course’s syllabus for the discussion board rules!
If you have a question, make sure you attempt to solve it before asking on a discussion board. Read through your notes, the textbook, or syllabus, or try a quick Google search. If you still can’t find an answer, then you can post your question and briefly outline how you’ve attempted to answer it (e.g. “I already checked my notes and the textbook, but I’m unsure how to approach this practice problem…”).
Before you post anything, check other posts to make sure that nobody else has already addressed your inquiry. That way, you might find an answer to your question instantaneously. This also prevents redundant posts on the discussion board.
If you posted something and ultimately solved it, post a follow up outlining how you were able to get it resolved. That way, students who may have the same question as you in the future have a post to refer to. This also helps the teaching team, as they can refer to your post when addressing student concerns and knowledge gaps in class.
Discussion boards are places where all students can learn and engage with their peers. Whenever you make a post, you should write as though you are talking to someone in-person; ensure you use professional language, be patient, and don’t belittle anyone for their questions or answers. Common courtesy and constructive criticism are key!
On discussion boards, everyone’s contributions are valuable! Try your best to provide insight into a question. If you’re an expert in the topic, take some time to help your peers, while refining your knowledge and communication. If you’re somewhat uncertain about your answer, don’t simply comment, “I don’t know.” Instead, make an honest attempt towards addressing the question and mention if certain aspects of your answer are limited or uncertain. Your contributions can be recognized by the teaching team (for better or for worse)!
Grading and Assessments
Assessments for each course will be either marked by hand or scanned and then marked digitally, depending on the type of assessment and the instructor’s preferences. In Year 1 courses, tutorial quizzes are typically marked by your TAs by hand and the physical copies will be returned to you once marked. However, most midterms and final exams will be scanned and graded through online grading platforms such as Crowdmark and/or Gradescope. In addition, Gradescope is often used to submit assignments and problem sets for courses such as ESC180, ESC190, and MAT185.
Similar to the discussion boards, you do not have to sign up for these platforms just yet. Usually, your grades will be tied to your U of T email address, and once they are published by the professors you can access them by logging in to the appropriate platform with your U of T email.
Note: Gradescope has two different instances – Gradescope.com and Gradescope.ca . Your accounts on each platform, and the associated courses and grade data will be separate and cannot be merged. So, if grades have been published for a certain course and you are not seeing that course when logged into Gradescope.com, try Gradescope.ca, and vice versa.
Online Grading Tips
The transition from high school to university is challenging for everyone. If you receive a grade lower than expected, let it be a chance for you to read through all the feedback and determine your next improvement strategies. Similarly, if you are satisfied with your results, reflect on the process to understand which strategies were most effective and create a plan to continue your achievement. Remember, grades are only a fraction of your university experience!
You can learn a lot about course content and test-taking strategies by diligently reviewing your graded feedback. Identify where you made errors or where you may have overlooked concepts and determine how to improve upon this for next time.
If you want to request a regrade, you will have to specifically point out where you believe you deserve more marks and why; only then will your regrade request be considered by the teaching team. You can learn a lot about course content and test-taking strategies by diligently reviewing your graded feedback.
Sometimes class-wide grading accidents happen. If you receive a shockingly low grade, it may be due to a grading error that wasn’t your fault. If this happens, respectfully notify the teaching team and they will resolve it as soon as they can!
Course Content and Homework
Although Quercus is most often used by professors to share course content and accept assignment submissions, some professors may require you to access course content and/or submit textbook homework problems through an external online platform. Three such platforms used for Year 1 courses in previous years include McGraw Hill Connect,Top Hat, and Pearson eText.
Note: While these platforms were used for courses in previous years, instructors may choose to structure course contents and assessments differently for Fall 2024. Always refer to the course syllabus and check in with your professors for the most up-to-date information. And in the meantime, feel free to browse the Fall and Winter Courses pages to know more about Year 1 courses.
Collaborative Tools for Team Projects
Throughout your time at EngSci, you will work in multiple team projects, including the Praxis I and II Engineering Design projects, the CIV102 Bridge project, and many more. A lot of these team projects will include multiple deliverables, requiring you to store, share, and collectively work on documents, reports, and the like. OneDrive and Google Drive are two of the more popular options in terms of sharing files and documents.
You can also use specialized platforms such as Overleaf (for writing physics lab reports or problem sets in LaTex), GitHub (for coding projects), and MATLAB Drive (for sharing and collaborating on MATLAB coding files).
For communications, you and your team can discuss which platforms work best. Historically, Discord has been a common choice for Praxis teams due to its comprehensive messaging, voice, video, and file-sharing capabilities. Clubs and design teams may use Discord, Slack, or Microsoft Teams.
Research Tools
Research Databases
Throughout your academic and professional career, you will likely conduct a lot of research to learn about new topics, before writing reports, designing, etc. During your time at U of T, you will have free access to over 30 databases containing thousands of research papers, handbooks, academic journals, and conference proceedings. You can find a list of available databases on the Engineering and Computer Science Library here. This library and your status as a U of T student will be useful as you access any source, whether for Praxis or your thesis! If you want to develop your research skills or learn more about how to research a certain topic, you can reach out to the library research team here.
RefWorks
When you are doing research for a project or report, chances are you will have to write a bibliography to cite your sources. While there are free online tools to generate citations, as an active U of T student, you can use the citation management tool ProQuest RefWorks to generate, store, and organize your sources more efficiently.
If you want to learn more about something from the convenience of your computer, U of T offers a student plan for Coursera. Coursera is an online platform where universities and institutions from around the world can create online courses about literally any topic in existence, for anyone to learn from! From simple classes about Microsoft Excel to extremely technical concepts about computer architecture and machine learning, Coursera has something for everyone. As a U of T student, you have access to plenty of Coursera courses and certifications for absolutely free!
Just like in high school, you will have a timetable for each semester of university. In first year, your timetables are made for you. You can access your timetables in early July on ACORN, U of T’s student information service and a hub for everything you need to manage your student life. A timetable provides the times, locations, and sections for the lectures (LEC), tutorials (TUT), and practicals (PRA) for each one of your courses throughout the week. Above is a sample first-year EngSci timetable from 2024 Fall. You’ll see similarities with your timetable for the upcoming semester.
It may seem overwhelming at first glance, but don’t worry! For example, the PRA time slot for ESC101 from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday is optional time allotted for meeting with your Praxis group.
Don’t worry if details such as room numbers haven’t shown up on your own timetable yet – they will be added before the start of classes. It is also typical to see timetable conflicts between courses early in the summer while the timetable is being finalized. We advise you to wait at least until mid-August to report any conflicts to your academic advisors as they should be resolved before then. Also, make sure to check your timetables right before the first day of classes, as last-minute changes may occur.
Sample First-Year EngSci Fall Semester Timetable (2019)
Reading Your Timetable
The Different Classes
Each colour in your timetable corresponds to a different course. For example, all ESC180 classes will be the same colour, while all ESC101 classes will be a different colour from ESC180, and so on. However, while the boxes are coloured the same, the text will be different. Each block will have either a “LEC,” “PRA”, or “TUT,” followed by a number.
Reading Locations
The first two letters indicate the building code. For example, the code for the Galbraith building is GB. To learn more about all the buildings and their codes, check the Campus Buildings section of our blog.
The three or four numbers indicate the room number itself, with the first number indicating the floor the room is on. For example, GB144 is Room #144 on the first floor of the Galbraith Building, and BA2195 is Room #2195 on the second floor of the Bahen Centre. If you’re having trouble locating any of the buildings for your classes, then check out this great interactive campus map.
Sections
On the same line as the LEC/PRA/TUT label are four numbers. Examples include LEC 0102 or TUT 0107. First-year EngSci is a large group, so students are divided into smaller cohorts for lectures. If your LECs include 0101, you are in cohort #1, and if they include 0102, you are in cohort #2. Some lectures, such as those for ESC101, are common to both cohorts: all shared lectures will be indicated as LEC 0101 by default.
Within your cohort, there are smaller sections for tutorials and practicals, which is why TUTs and PRAs can have numbers like 0107 or 0111. These groups are distinct for each class; you will have the opportunity to meet many different classmates throughout your coursework in first year! You will remain in the same cohort throughout first year, but your section may change in second year.
This ESC194 lecture occured from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Sandford Fleming Building (SF), on the first floor, in room 1101. It was for students in Section #2 (hence, the “0102”).
Important Things to Note
All your lectures, tutorials, practicals, and midterms in first year will be during the school week (Monday – Friday) from 9 AM – 6 PM. In your timetable, there will be two-hour gaps during which midterms will be scheduled; in the sample timetable above, this test block was on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 AM – 11 AM (this may be different for your year).
Final exam schedules come out later in the semester, but they are usually held Monday – Saturday in either a morning (9:30 AM – 12 PM), afternoon (2 PM – 4:30 PM), or evening slot (6:30 PM to 9:00 PM).
Every day, you will have at least one hour-long break between classes, which acts as a lunch period (this break may not occur at the same time every day). We recommend you use it to take a break and eat with friends! Be sure to check out some of our food recommendations.
One unique thing about U of T is “U of T time”! All classes start ten minutes after the hour. For example, if your timetable indicates you have a class starting at 2:00 PM, the instructor will begin teaching at 2:10 PM. This gives you time to travel between buildings to get from one class to another.
Many of your back-to-back classes will be in different buildings. This may seem odd at first, but walking is an excellent healthy break between the long sitting times in lectures! Due to the proximity of the engineering buildings, the classes are also within reasonable walking distance; plus there’s U of T time, so you won’t need to run.
First-year schedules usually cannot be rearranged unless religious, medical, Varsity athletic, or other important accommodations need to be made. If you have a significant request, we encourage you to speak with your academic advisor.
You should follow your timetable and attend your designated lectures and tutorials. However, because tutorials and practicals may include attendance or quizzes for marks, if you have a proper justification for attending a different time slot, you can speak with that course’s teaching team to make a request. However, if you require recurring accommodation, speaking with your Academic Advisor is the best option.
In first year, between going to class, doing homework, and studying, you will likely put in around 50 hours of work per week (this number may increase or decrease based on midterms, projects, and exams). This will likely be more than what you had in high school, and it is okay to feel a little bit overwhelmed! Yes, first year will be challenging, but you can absolutely get good grades, engage in extracurricular activities, and make time for personal endeavours with proper time management, focus, and effort.
Try your best to attend all lectures, tutorials, and practicals (especially those which take attendance). Try and find a schedule that works for you and always remember to take breaks and relax. There are plenty of supports available to you through the university. We also encourage you to talk to upper years to learn their strategies for success in EngSci and beyond; they will always be happy to help!
