BIOL 361Biostatistics and Experimental Design
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Science
- Subject
- Biology
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
An introduction to hypothesis testing and experimental design in biology. Topics will include exploratory data analysis, analysis of variance, categorical data analysis, correlation, linear regression, multiple linear regression, power analysis, and visualization tools. Statistical software will be used in computer laboratories to explore examples and applications.
Prerequisites
Antirequisites
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6618 | 0 / 204 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 701 | 2479 | 166 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LAB 101 | 6878 | 0 / 34 | F 10:30–12:20 |
| LAB 102 | 6879 | 0 / 34 | F 12:30–14:20 |
| LAB 103 | 6947 | 0 / 34 | F 14:30–16:20 |
| LAB 104 | 6948 | 0 / 34 | F 08:30–10:20 |
| LAB 105 | 7001 | 0 / 34 | Th 10:30–12:20 |
| LAB 106 | 7002 | 0 / 34 | Th 08:30–10:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
69% liked it69% easy91% useful
From 52 ratings and 20 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
great course truly fantastic and super useful. if you took stat 202 and thought it was enough for the real world it isnt. This is true statistics of scientific data i highly recommend. The lab/tut weren't very helpful online i kinda just watched them do a demo but it didnt help for the assignments. for the assignments i would just read over the lectures, and the lab answer pdf. make sure you join a class groupchat youre allowed to help each other since the TAs never respond probably too busy with their phds so keep that in mind. overall the course wasnt hard you can easily get a 90 if you start assignments early and prepare for exams. 4 assignments are most of the grade, 2 take home exams…
Apr 2021 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The professor is a lovely, wonderful man, who is also very aware of how boring the course is. The assignments are really rather brutal - you'll but a LOT of time into them, and still only get a mid-80. The rubrics are really really specific. The lectures were pretty dry, and not all of the content was tested - the prof does a very good job telling you what will be on the midterms and finals. DO THE PRACTISE FINAL - it is REALLY similar to the actual one. The content is very useful for future courses.
As another commenter said, and this is really important, memorize the degrees of freedom equations, and the assumptions for each statistical test (really easy marks!) for the midterm and…Apr 2016 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
chill course, three assignments + online midterm + in person exam (new for w26). the final was similar to the midterm and practice exam he gave us, not too bad. you don't need to memorize everything on the slides, just the different tests and like one calculation. you don't technically need to go to labs because he posts the answers after, but they're super useful to go to imo
Apr 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
the exam was so cooked (near a 50% avg). worth 30%. rest of the course is free 90s tho
Apr 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
tbh assignments were pretty straightforward and easy marks to get (depends on your ta, mine was goated). i missed the midterm tho so now my final is 40% but it's still bbq chicken from here !! grade breakdown is basically: midterm 10%, assignment 1: 10%, A2: 25%, A3: 25%, and final: 30%. this is NOT bird course anymore because the final is in person and if you are taking a full course load.. girl take the course out and put yourself first queen because this is a heavy content to study for the final... overall great class tho !! would #recommend if you are in your upper year with a flexible and lighter schedule. took this in W26 !!
Apr 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
34 posts and comments in 27 threads mention BIOL 361, June 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Winter 2024
BIOL 361 SPSS Program 5 points, 0 comments
u/YoghurtFinal1845: “I'm taking BIOL 361 this term (W24) and we have to get the SPSS program. There's a 6 month, $65 version and there's a free version. In the syllabus it says the free version crashes and glitches. Can anyone who's taken the course put their input on this? …”
Fall 2023
Any info on BIOL 361, BIOL 355, BIOL 302 1 point, 4 comments
u/penguins188: “… I can't seem to find anything about BIOL 361 so if anyone has any info like how math heavy is it or the course breakdown I would really appreciate it!!”
u/dumbo-en-waterloo: “BIOL 361 is insanely easy, it’s not that math heavy”
u/CranberryRegular7837: “Biol 361 is a pretty easy course you just use the stat program which is pretty straightforward if you attend tutorials too and the breakdown of the course is really easy”
Winter 2023
Biol 361 or Biol 359 2 points, 1 comment
u/Dauwdon1: “I'm looking for the easiest 300 or above biology course for this term(my final term) and right now it's between biol 361 and 359 so if anyone whose taken either or both of them can tell me how the course went that would be great!”
Spring 2022
One stop shop for course selection+tips to all biomedical/science students 6 points, 3 comments
u/-Leviathan-: “… For electives, I chose CLAS 104, HLTH 101, and FR 152 (or if not following French pathway, BIOL 361). CLAS104 in hindsight is a complete trap if you are not going into the course with friends or do not like history. …”
Winter 2022
Anyone taking Biol 211, Biol 361, and Biol 165 this semester? I am looking for study partners. 0 points, 4 comments
u/sh2hu: “Im taking Biol 361 :)”
Ontario's new COVID public health guidance and resuming in-person classes 94 points, 43 comments
“See https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001386/ontario-updating-public-health-measures-and-guidance-in-response-to-omicron for the new isolation rules and public health guidance announced today. …”
u/riccooks: “2 of my profs already moved the classes to online 🙃”
u/riccooks: “Biol 361 and biol 449”
Spring 2021
thinking about what to do with my biology degree (again) 1 point, 7 comments
“I'm in Honours science since im pretty indecisive but im doing courses of a biology student. so far in my biology career i have developed a passionate hatred for molecular biology and chemistry and …”
u/ginavalentinaa: “yup, bioinformatics is ubiquitous in modern biological research and has revolutionized the field of biology. …”
u/buttercupbeuaty: “funny enough I plan to add biol 469 and CS 115 to my course selection. Should I try to prepare for these courses? Ive only taken biostat (biol 361) and biol 266. thanks for the advice!!”
Winter 2021
Biostats courses 2 points, 1 comment
u/smolstate: “Maybe biol 361?”
Looking for BIOL 361 or Upper Year Stats Tutor 1 point, 0 comments
u/biolhelp123: “Is there anyone who got over a 90% in BIOL 361 (biostatistics and experimental design) or a upper year stats student with a high stats GPA that could tutor me? …”
Fall 2020
Statistics options for science students 1 point, 3 comments
“As the title says, I was wondering if there were any courses that went into statistics and would be open for a science student to take. I'm in 3rd year chem, and I've already taken STAT202. …”
u/Laeriana: “… Looking at some of the other courses that require STAT 202 as a pre-req though, BIOL 361 might be a good starting option to see if you like that kind of Science focus, but it's only offered in Winter terms. …”
Winter 2020
What are the easiest 4th-year bio courses? 2 points, 3 comments
“I'm looking for the easiest courses for a grade boost. Don't really care about the content so long as it's easy/memorization based. Thanks!”
u/cauliflowerlasagna: “BIOL 361 is definitely a good course to consider, the best mark I have gotten in a BIOL course”
How is BIOL 361 Midterm? 4 points, 1 comment
u/blopp199: “How is the midterm for this class, there is so much content so idk what to expect”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them