Graduate EMC Education At Concordia University

This paper outlines the graduate degrees and programs available at Concordia, and the course offerings for students interested in electromagnetics. "Techniques in Electromagnetic Compatibility" provides a broad, comprehensive introduction to EMC problems, analysis techniques, instrumentation and solutions at the graduate level. It is also aimed at working engineers who encounter practical EMC problems, which they describe in the course and provide motivation and realism to the course content. The lecture segment of the course covers the essential topics, and is followed by a series of student project seminars. Contact with modern measurement requirements and instrumentation is provided with demonstrations and site visits. Historical Background Educational programs in Electromagnetic Compatibility tend to have special characteristics, which are best understood in the light of their historical development and the local demands and resources which shape objectives and content. Concordia University was created in 1974 from the amalgamation of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University. At the time of amalgamation, the authors were involved in the development of an undergraduate electrical engineering curriculum at Loyola which had strong links to the local industrial community and in an initial research program for the development of EMC prediction techniques [ 11 for avionics systems. After amalgamation, the research activity was extended to the application of computational electromagnetics to the modelling of radiation and coupling problems for complex structures and special problems such as the interaction of broadcast antennas and power lines [2] and specific aerospace projects [3]. The scope of this activity and the size of the research team became sufficient for the EMC Laboratory lo be recognized as such. At the same time the graduate program in electromagnetics was strengthened to provide a coherent set of relevant courses for graduate students. During 1985 an opportunity presented itself for the extended visit of Dr. Andrew Marvin of York University to Concordia, and it was most opportune to exploit his experience and expertise for the organization of the first EMC course [4] in Quebec. This course has evolved somewhat since, but continues to be offered on a yearly basis and provides, together with the EMC-related research activity, a focal point for EMC graduate interest. Its present content and emphasis is best understood from the perspective of the graduate program requirements at Concordia.