Smith Engineering

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Stephen J. R. Smith Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, commonly called Smith Engineering, is the engineering faculty at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. It offers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs and works with other Queen’s faculties for dual degrees.

History and name changes
Smith Engineering began in 1893 as the Kingston School of Mining and joined Queen’s University in 1910. It was the Faculty of Applied Science from 1910 to 2010, then the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science from 2010 to 2023. In 2023, it was renamed the Stephen J. R. Smith Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science in honor of Stephen Smith, a graduate and donor.

Programs and entry paths
The faculty offers a range of programs, including Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) and graduate degrees. Most undergraduates share a common first year, with some programs (Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering, and Electrical Engineering) entering directly into their disciplines. The faculty also offers dual-degree options with other Queen’s programs. Graduate options include MASc (two-year research), MEng (one-year coursework), PhD, and graduate diplomas.

Women in engineering and diversity
The first woman graduated from the faculty in 1946. As of 2023, about 27% of undergrad engineering students are women, which is among the higher percentages for engineering programs in the country. In 2021, Queen’s Engineering joined the IBET PhD Project with several other universities to create fellowships for Indigenous and Black students pursuing doctoral studies in mathematics and engineering.

Degree timelines and requirements
The Bachelor of Applied Science program is designed for four years, with a maximum of six academic sessions to complete. Extensions are possible for internships, exchanges, dual-degree work, or disability accommodations, and requests are handled by the Faculty’s Operations Committee.

Student life and facilities
The Engineering Society of Queen’s University (EngSoc), formed in 1896, is one of the oldest engineering student bodies in Canada. It runs events, supports services, and manages Clark Hall Pub, a long-standing gathering spot on campus. Traditions include student celebrations and activities around the jacket “bars” and other engineering rites.

Smith Engineering’s facilities include the Integrated Learning Centre, opened in 2004 as Beamish–Munro Hall. It provides multi-purpose teaching spaces, laboratories, prototyping workshops, and project rooms, plus a three-storey living wall used as a teaching tool (the living wall was removed in 2015 and replaced with artwork by Kwest). The Tea Room opened in 2006 as a student-run, environmentally conscious café. Clark Hall houses the EngSoc lounge, the Campus Bookstore, and Clark Hall Pub, a historic student venue.