CO 673Optimization for Data Science
- Units
- 0.50
- Level
- Graduate
- Faculty
- Mathematics
- Cross-listed
- CS 794
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 1 lecture section. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Techniques for formulating data science models as optimization problems. Algorithms for solving data science problems with an emphasis on scalability, efficiency and parallelizability including gradient-descent based algorithms, derivative-free algorithms, and randomized algorithms. Theoretical analyses of algorithms and approaches for recognizing the most suitable algorithm for solving a particular problem.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 7264 | 0 / 20 | MW 08:30–09:50 |
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
5 posts and comments in 4 threads mention CO 673, August 2020 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.
Fall 2023
CS 794/CO 673 Advice 1 point, 0 comments
u/AnyRock7826: “Hello all, A friend of mine and I are taking CS794/CO673 (Optimization in Data Science) this Fall term. Prof. Stephen Vavasis is teaching it. It being a grad course, we don't find any reviews about it on UWFlow/Reddit. …”
Spring 2023
Course with a prof I want or course for credit on transcript 1 point, 2 comments
u/Novel_Brain9700: “I really wanted to take CO 673 Optimization for Data Science next Fall. However, it's currently full and I might actually ask for size override, but I'm not really sure whether I want to go with it. I really wanted to take this course with Prof. …”
u/djao: “I may be biased being from CO but I've heard that Vavasis is outstanding for CO 673. He rarely teaches it and there are people who have been waiting a long time to take it with him.”
c&o vs stats (math major) 1 point, 7 comments
“I just want to know how tough is c&o, and in terms of industry relevance, which major is better? For context, I also didn’t do too well in stat230 so I’m wondering if doing a stat major would be …”
u/Solid_Phrase: “You can audit some c&o/stats lectures and see how you like it. That's what I'm planning to do next term. I would say CO 367 is a good one to start, since it's highly correlated with ML. Also CO 673 is literally called Optimization in Data Science, which is super cool.”
Spring 2020
CS 794/CO 673 Advice 7 points, 3 comments
u/Math_Finance_2022: “Hello all, A friend of mine and I are thinking about taking CS794/CO673 (Optimization in Data Science) this Fall term. Prof. Yaoliang Yu is teaching it. It being a grad course, we don't find any reviews about it on UWFlow/Reddit. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Graduate Calendar, Fall 2026The 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