UT Master of Engineering in Telecommunications -- CIN

Core Networking Courses

The immersion component is arranged as a series of 1.5 hour modules each taught by a faculty or industry expert. The modules in the immersion term are grouped into four core networking graduate courses that have been created specifically for this program. Faculty members are drawn from the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science, the Faculty of Law, and the Joseph L. Rotman Centre for Management. Industry experts are selected because of their expertise in state-of-the art technology or leading-edge issues.

ECE1801 and 1802, led by Professor Alberto Leon-Garcia, provide an up-to-date, in-depth technical introduction to telecommunications and internetworking. These courses involve assignments, laboratories and projects addressing emerging technologies, standards, service and applications.

ECE1803 and 1804 are led by Professor Tony Yuen. The teaching methodology in these two courses has a strong element of the business school format, where students are expected to interact and participate during class. Since the courses are aimed at giving the students the most current view of the telecom and Internet industry dynamics, many industry speakers are invited to give special lectures. The MET Advisory Board members are a subset of the potential industry speakers, and other subject matter experts are also invited as required to share their expertise and insight.

ECE1802 begins with a full-time, one-week "bootcamp" format in mid-August. ECE1802 and ECE1803 are offered in the Fall Term, and ECE1801 and ECE1804 are offered in the Spring Term. The lectures for ECE1801, ECE1802, 1803, and 1804 are usually held every Saturday during the Fall and Spring Term; 9am - 5pm. Some may be scheduled on Fridays; 9am - 5pm as well.

ECE 1801 Telecommunication Networks
This course provides a technical introduction to telecommunication networks:

Digital transmission, switching and signalling.
Transport Networks: Optical fiber systems, SONET, optical networks.
Wireless Networks: Radio transmission systems, mobility, spread spectrum, cellular communications, WiFi networks.
Access Networks: Digital subscriber line systems, cable access, wireless access, optical access.
LAN, Bridges, Spanning Tree and IGP Routing.
Ethernet, WiFi and other LAN Infrastureture.
Internet Layered Architecture: TCP/IP Protocols.
Hands-on Lab Exercises.
Routing Protocols and Internet Scalability

ECE 1802 Computer Networks and Internetworking
This course provides in-depth coverage of computer networks and internetworking.

Transport Layer Protocols: TCP, UDP, SCTP.
HTTP and Web-based Services.
SIP and Multimedia Services.
Peer-to-Peer Networking.
QoS in Internet.
Intelligent Networks.
Next Generation Operations and Support Systems.
Service Level Management.

ECE 1803 Telecommunication and Internet Infrastructure
This course provides an introduction to the foundations of the telecommunications, networking, and information technology industries:

Overview of the telecom industry, both wireline and wireless.
Overview of the Internet industry, both infrastructure providers and application providers.
Overview of related IT industries that play a role in the telecom/IT convergence.
Current industry dynamics and the competitive environment, including competition at the industry level and national level.
An in-depth analysis of telecom deregulation worldwide, including its anticipated and unanticipated consequences.
A closer examination of the telecom equipment vendor industry, covering both incumbent vendors and new start-ups.
A framework for managing technology innovation and commercial introduction.

ECE 1804 Design of Network-Based Services
This course provides in-depth coverage of computer networks and internetworking.

Business models behind the telecom/IT convergence and the deployment of new network-based services.
An in-depth examination of the North American market, with emphasis on similarities and differences between the U.S. and Canada.
Selective case studies on the use of the Internet as an enabling technology to create network-based enterprises.
A framework for the design and implementation of network-based services, covering voice, data, and multi-media.
A group design project involving the definition and specification (as well as potential simulation or prototyping) of a network-based service.
A parallel exercise in determining the business viability of such a network service.

Project

ECE1800 Project
The project, equivalent in weight to two courses, is usually initiated during the summer, after the students have at least completed all four of the core courses. (For full-time students, the project should be the final phase towards graduation.)

The project provides the student with the opportunity to conduct an in-depth study on a topic related to emerging telecom network architectures and services, from a technical and/or business point of view. Project topics are developed by the MET program in collaboration with companies and organizations represented in the MET Advisory Board. Projects sponsored by member companies are supervised by a Co-Director and a subject matter expert within the sponsoring companies. Projects can also be sponsored and supervised by a Co-Director of the MET Program or another faculty member of the ECE Department.

The duration of the project is normally four months long. Although students are encouraged to work on their own to acquire research skills, group projects are encouraged to increase the scope and coverage of a project.