Program Chair
Calin Stoicoiu, P. Eng.
A2205-5 Cambridge Campus
519-748-5220 ext. 2272
cstoicoiu@conestogac.on.ca

Administrative Assistant to Program Chair:
Fatima Armas
A2205 - Cambridge Campus
519-748-5220 ext. ​​3342​
farmas@conestogac.on.ca​

Program Coordinators
Andrew Campbell P. Eng. (fall/winter terms)
A3206 - Cambridge Campus
519-748-5220 ext. 2233
acampbell@conestogac.on.ca 

Florin David, P. Eng.  (winter/spring terms)
A3206 - Cambridge Campus
519-748-5220 ext. 2288
fdavid@conestogac.on.ca

Paula Meyer, P.Eng.
A3206 - Cambridge Campus
519-748-5220 ext. 2272
pmeyer@conestogac.on.ca

Tam Nguyen, P.Eng.
A3206 - Cambridge Campus
519-748-5220 ext. 2273
tnguyen@conestogac.on.ca

Christian Pop, P.Eng
A3206 - Cambridge Campus
519-748-5220 ext. 4596
cpop@conestogac.on.ca

Mohammad Toorani, P.Eng.
A3206 - Cambridge Campus
519-748-5220 ext. 4587
mtoorani@conestogac.on.ca

​​​Program Description

The Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Systems Engineering (MSE) program, delivered at the honours level, is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) allowing graduates to become professional engineers after completing their mandatory work experience and writing a professional practice exam. The program integrates a rich blend of interdisciplinary topics covering mechanical, industrial and control engineering to enable graduates to design complex computer-controlled mechanical systems. Automated manufacturing systems, comprised of mechanical components, conveyors, electrical and pneumatic actuators, sensors, and robots are examples of such mechanical systems. The MSE program is delivered in a unique project-based curriculum model allowing students to learn by doing while developing strong skills in business methodologies, project management, environmental protection and interpersonal and team dynamics. As they work on increasingly complex projects, students progress from the technical fundamentals to advanced leading technologies in design, manufacturing, and automation. This project work, combined with twelve months of paid co-op opportunities, thoroughly prepares MSE graduates for a successful career in a variety of engineering fields.

Every accredited engineering program in Canada is regularly assessed by CEAB to ensure that its graduates are academically qualified to begin the process to be licensed as a professional engineer. There are four major criteria for a program review:

1. graduate attributes
2. continual improvement
3. student related policies and support systems
4. quality curriculum

Graduate attributes ensure that a graduating engineering student is technically prepared with the knowledge and skills required to work as a professional engineer. They also ensure that graduates are prepared for the professional responsibilities required of an engineer, and that they are employable. Students in the MSE program are regularly required to demonstrate these attributes in the series of projects they complete each semester.

As part of the continual improvement process, feedback is regularly gathered from MSE program stakeholders, including students. This feedback is reviewed at the end of each semester and academic year to ensure both student success and academic and operational quality.

As documented in the rest of this Program Handbook, both Conestoga and the MSE program have numerous policies, procedures, and support services in place. Students are made aware of these during Orientation activities.

The engineering curriculum is required to ensure a foundation in mathematics and natural science, a broad preparation in engineering science and design, and an exposure to non-technical complementary studies. The quality and balance of a program is assessed using a tally of Accreditation Units (AUs) as defined by CEAB. The MSE program is designed to ensure students receive more than the minimum curriculum components required for accreditation.

There are three ways for applicants to enter MSE:

1. Students can apply to enter level 1 on the basis of their high-school marks. 
2. Students with a suitable three-year technology diploma, for which a pathway to MSE has been established, may apply to bridge into MSE; acceptance into the bridging process is based on a case-by-case analysis of each applicant's background and final interview with the MSE bridging panel.  After successful completion of a set of bridging courses, students can enter MSE at an advanced level, either at the second or third-year level.  To find out more about the bridge entry to MSE, see the transfer credits for bridging into the MSE program. 
   
3. Students who have partially completed a CEAB accredited engineering program at another institution may apply to enter MSE with advanced standing.  Acceptance into an advanced level is based on a case-by-case analysis of each applicant's background by the program coordinator in consultation with other MSE faculty and the program chair.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Outcomes are located on the Mechanical Systems Engineering program page under "Courses".​

Accreditation

The engineering curriculum is required to ensure a foundation in mathematics and natural science, a broad preparation in engineering science and design, and an exposure to non-technical complementary studies. The quality and balance of a program is assessed using a tally of Accreditation Units (AUs) as defined by CEAB. Bachelor of Engineering programs are designed to ensure students receive more than the minimum curriculum components required for accreditation.

Every accredited engineering program in Canada is regularly assessed by CEAB to ensure that its graduates are academically qualified to begin the process to be licensed as a professional engineer. There are four major criteria for a program review:

1. graduate attributes
2. continual improvement
3. student related policies and support systems
4. quality curriculum

Graduate attributes ensure that a graduating engineering student is technically prepared with the knowledge and skills required to work as a professional engineer. They also ensure that graduates are prepared for the professional responsibilities required of an engineer, and that they are employable. Students in Bachelor of Engineering programs are regularly required to demonstrate these attributes in the series of projects they complete each semester.

As part of the continual improvement process, feedback is regularly gathered from Bachelor of Engineering program stakeholders, including students. This feedback is reviewed at the end of each semester and academic year to ensure both student success and academic and operational quality.

As documented in the rest of this Program Handbook, both Conestoga and the Bachelor of Engineering programs have numerous policies, procedures, and support services in place. Students are made aware of these during Orientation activities.

A flow chart showing how MSE promotional decisions are made is shown below.​

Promotional Decisions for Students Bridging into MSE

Bridging students' acceptance into the MSE program is conditional on successful completion of the assigned bridging course module with an overall bridging GPA of 2.5 over a period of no more than 1.33 years.  Courses failed during the bridging module need to be retaken during the next academic year and this will extend the bridging period to 1.33 years.

In the event that not all bridging courses are passed during the extended 1.33-year bridge, students with an overall bridging GPA of at least 2.0 may reapply for one more four-month bridging term during the fall term of the next academic year.  These students will receive credit for any past bridging courses for which a final mark of 65% was achieved and will need to repeat all other courses.  At the end of the additional four-month term, students will be assessed for eligibility to enter MSE based on successfully completing all bridging courses and achieving an overall bridging GPA of at least 2.5.  If at the end of the additional four-month term the candidate has still not met the requirements, no further opportunities will be available to bridge into MSE.  In all cases, bridging course credits older than 2.33 years will not be considered.

Supplemental Evaluation

During a student's academic career, there may be occasions when the student's performance results in a failing grade for a course.  Conestoga grants students the opportunity to raise this grade to the minimum passing grade under very specific circumstances (i.e. eligibility criteria) outlined within the Clearance of Academic Deficiency Policy and Procedure.   In addition to the eligibility criteria outlined in the policy, the MSE academic team has identified the following criteria in accordance with Conestoga's policies and procedures.  To be eligible for a supplemental evaluation, the following conditions must be met:

1. The final overall course mark is at least 50%.
2. At least one of the examinations in the course must have been passed.  For courses without examinations, the course professor will select the evaluation that students must have passed.
   
3. The student must not have any academic offences in the course. 
4. The student is not in a position to be discontinued (as specified in the official promotion policy for degree programs). 
5. The student is allowed no more than two supplementals per term and no more than eight over the course of the program.
   
6. The student has not previously had a supplemental in the course.
   

The form of the supplemental will be determined by the course professor and will either be an examination, an assignment or a combination of the two.  If the supplemental is not an examination, a learning contract must be established.

Decisions regarding supplemental eligibility will be made at the marks and promotion meeting by the promotion committee, after which students will be informed of their eligibility by the professor using college email. Students must register for the supplemental following the process outlined by their course professor, prior to the start of any supplemental work.   Any fees for the supplemental must be paid before the date of the supplemental.

If a student successfully passes a previously failed course through either a supplemental examination or a learning contract, the previously awarded grade for the course will be changed to 60%. If a student repeats a course or module, the grade earned on the repeated course will be recorded and used to calculate the program cumulative average and Grade Point.   The process is outlined in full detail within the Clearance of Academic Deficiency Procedure.  

Students Repeating Courses

A student who has contacted the faculty member and determined that they are ineligible for a supplemental or a student who has failed a supplemental must repeat the course at the earliest possible time. The student must contact the Program Coordinator with the details of the course to obtain a Special Timetable. Timetabling conflicts due to students taking courses in multiple years is often unavoidable. Students should note that a single failure often results in an additional year to complete the degree.

Students repeating courses must repeat all evaluations in the course.

Students Taking Courses at other Institutions

It may be possible for a student to locate a suitable course at another institution to serve as a make-up course when an MSE course is failed.  This will only be permitted for make-up purposes.  The student must have completed the MSE course and not withdrawn part-way through the semester.  It will be necessary for the student to apply for a letter of permission to take the other institution's course.  Students should contact their program coordinator to assist with this process. 

Students Repeating a Semester/Year

A decision of 'special timetable same level' will result from conditions shown in the MSE promotion diagram.  Students will need to clear any failures or dropped or missing courses before being promoted to the next level. This will add one more year for the program completion. 

Probation

A student with a program GPA between 2.0 and 2.5 and two (2) or fewer missing courses will be placed on academic probation. MIssing courses must be cleared and the student's GPA must be raised in order to return to normal academic status. Students on academic probation are eligible to continue in the program with academic conditions as defined by the prerequisite and corequisites of the program and to apply for co-op placements as long as they meet the academic requirements specified in Co-operative Education section.

A student on probation will be discontinued if their session GPA in any subsequent academic term is below 2.0 and if they have not made reasonable progress in passing courses and clearing missing courses within one calendar year.

Students will be taken off probation once their program GPA is at least 2.5 and they have cleared all missing courses.

Re-admission

All applications for re-admission must be approved by the Program Chair. Students that have been discontinued from the program may be readmitted subject to the following requirements:

1.    Re-admission will not be granted sooner than one year after the discontinuance decision.​

2.    The student must complete one of the following academic upgrading activities during the one-year absence from the program:​

• Successful completion of two full-time semesters (minimum of five courses per semester) in one of Conestoga College's engineering technology diploma programs (Design and Analysis or Robotics and Automation) with a minimum average of 80% in EACH semester and with no final grade less than 65% in individual courses.  It is the applicant's responsibility to identify appropriate engineering technology programs if not attending one of the above-mentioned Conestoga College programs.
• Re-take all courses within the level preceding the discontinuance decision.  If the discontinuance was solely the result of failing the same course three (3) times then all failed courses must be cleared within a year. 
  

Period Required to Graduate

For students beginning MSE in level 1, the program must be completed within seven (7) years of its start. 

Students who enter the program by bridging or advanced standing must complete the program in the normal time required to complete the remaining levels plus one year.

Leaves of absence or exceptions must be approved by the Program Coordinator and Program Chair.

Students may request an exemption for a course by filling out an application for credit transfer which can be found on the Student Portal. Select the "My Courses" tab, "My Credit Transfer" sub-tab, and submit the application to the Credit Transfer Office. In addition to the completed form it will be necessary to provide the following information:

1. An official transcript
   
2. Course outline

Course outcomes need to encompass at least 80% of the MSE course for which the exemption is sought and be taught at a degree level. Care will also be taken to ensure that the institution/program in which the course was taught has engineering accreditation. As the MSE program is accredited by the CEAB, we must also follow the requirements for credit transfer found in the CEAB document Accreditation Criteria and Procedures Report.

A student should be referred to the Program Coordinator if they have:

1. Transcripts from an unrecognized institution
2. Transcripts from a foreign institution

3. Considerable work experience which may be eligible for a Recognition of Prior Learning assessment (see below)

Note that in MSE the project-based nature of the program may require students to continue a course regardless of courses taken from previous institutions.

Exemptions are not granted for courses completed more than seven years previously.

The maximum credit allowed through Transfer of Credits is 50% of the program credits. Therefore, at least 50% of the program credits must be taken under the direct supervision of Conestoga College faculty.

Equipment, Supplies, and Texts

Laptops: MSE is a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. Each student is required to own and maintain a laptop device that meets the minimum specified requirements as outlined on the Conestoga BYOD Website. It is the student's responsibility to have a device that meets all specified requirements available for the first week of classes and when it is required for class, during evaluations, etc. During the first week of the program, students will be instructed on how to download certain software products and how to access other products through the college server. The laptop must be equipped with anti-virus software. The College will provide access to engineering software as required by each course. Students are required to purchase an electric kit in Year 1 that will be used in labs/projects in several courses during their studies. Students are expected to purchase the textbooks required by each course.

Electronic Kit: Students are required to purchase an electric kit in Year 1 that will be used in labs/projects in several courses during their studies. The cost of the electronic kit is paid to the bookstore and directions as to how to secure the kit will be provided upon purchase and via the course professor.

Sign-Outs:    There will be times when students sign out equipment, parts, or resources. Each student is responsible for anything signed out and is expected to return the item in a timely manner in its original condition. Deposits may be required. Students will be required to pay replacement value for parts that they have signed out but not returned.

Books:    Each year students are required to purchase a number of textbooks. Students are expected to purchase the textbooks required by each course. The faculty team has made every effort to selects texts that will help students learn the concepts required for success in the program.

Assigned reading lists are provided for many classes. Most of these readings will be from the specified textbooks. Each student is responsible for completing this reading before class.

Use of Electronic Devices in Classrooms and Labs

Electronic devices may be used for learning or instructional purposes. Professors or technologists may request devices be put away when a safety issue or distraction occurs. Devices used for accommodations are always welcome. Unauthorized devices in a testing situation will result in an academic offence and at minimum, a mark of zero.

Extra Credit

Machine Operation and Safety

Students are expected to practice safe working habits at all times while in the machine shop.  Failure to follow the rules that result in injury to yourself or others will result in disciplinary measures. Faculty/technologist supervision is required at all times​.

1. Machines may only be used under college supervision.
2. Long neck or wrist chains must be removed while operating machinery.
3. Through ways are marked with wide yellow lines; nothing is to be placed within the marked areas.
4. The machine power knife switch located just beside each machine must be turned off before making any adjustments to a machine.
5. Never reach into a machine for a part.
6. Never leave a machine until it has come to a full and complete stop.
7. Machines with computers or electronic control assistance are particularly dangerous in that they may appear to have or be stopped but in fact may start up again unexpectedly.
8. Know where the red emergency palm buttons are located on every machine; activate the emergency button if an accident warrants its use.
9. Do not lift objects that weigh in excess of 30 lbs/13 kilos; a lifting apparatus is available for heavier objects.
10. Electrical/electronic equipment/devices must be properly shut off when not being used, such as solder machine, power supply, etc.
    
11. Protective safety devices shall not be removed from any of the equipment.
12. Machine set-ups are to be checked by faculty to verify safety.​

Note: If you have any special needs that may affect you safely working machinery, you must notify your instructor prior to entering your first class.

Refer to your Student Guide for Conestoga's Safety and Security services and procedures.  Other rules may be set by supervisory faculty/staff in shops and labs.

PPE - Program Standard

1. Hearing protection is mandatory in designated areas.
2. Safety glasses/eye protection must be worn when operating mechanical/electrical tools, such as jigsaw, handsaw, file, drill, etc.
3. Foot protection must be worn in designated areas-- No sandals or open-toed shoes are permitted in the work area.
4. Steel-toed safety shoes must be worn when heavy objects are to be lifted.
5. Long hair must be restrained so as not to become entangled in the machines
6. Loose clothing is not allowed.  Tuck in shirts and pull up pants.
7. Long pants must be worn when working in the lab.​
   

Date: June 19, 2022
Type of Revision: Annual revisions

Date:  July 16, 2021
Type of Revision: Annual revisions

Date:  July 10, 2020
Type of Revision: Annual revisions

Date:  July 2, 2019
Type of Revision: Annual revisions

Date:  July 5, 2018
Type of Revision: Annual revisions, updates to Attendance

Date:  July 3, 2017

Type of Revision: Minor annual updates/revisions

Date: June 16, 2016
Type of Revision: Co-op Update