CS 685Machine Learning: Statistical and Computational Foundations

Units: 0.50
Level: Graduate
Faculty: Mathematics
Subject: Computer Science

When it runs

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Extracting meaningful patterns from random samples of large data sets. Statistical analysis of the resulting problems. Common algorithm paradigms for such tasks. Central concepts: VC-dimension, Margins of classifier, Sparsity and description length. Performance guarantees: Generalization bounds, data dependent error bounds and computational complexity of learning algorithms. Common paradigms: Neural networks, Kernel methods and Support Vector machines, Applications to Data Mining.

Prerequisites

None listed.

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
Section	Class	Enrolled	Meets
LEC 001	6428	4 / 20	TTh 16:00–17:20

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

4 posts and comments in 4 threads mention CS 685, October 2014 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 2023

Apr 28, 2023 Any graduate level CS courses recommended for students with non-CS background 1 point, 3 comments

“Hi, I am looking for any interesting Computer Science (graduate level) courses offered for students with non-computer science background, so that I can learn some new skills in this spring. …”

u/jhwyz: “You may take cross-listed courses with ungrad. Most of them are pretty good but also hard like cs685”

View on Reddit Remove this

Winter 2019

Apr 28, 2019 What courses do you recommend for a Masters in MMath CS? 6 points, 3 comments

“I know amongst Computing Technology, Mathematics of Computing, Applications there are many course codes. what set of courses do you recommend for a masters in MMath CS? …”

u/randomuwguy: “What are you interested in?”

u/randomuwguy: “… CS 680 or 685 are statistical machine learning courses. CS 698 is a course that has different topics, but winters should have a neural networks course. It goes over the math behind neural networks (mostly back propagation) and some other neural networks topics. …”

View on Reddit Remove this

Winter 2017

Apr 27, 2017 Undergraduate VS Graduate courses? 2 points, 9 comments

u/Applepie213: “Looking at this site here https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/ppoupart/teaching/cs485-winter16/ It seems to me that CS 485 and CS 685 are basically the same thing, except the weights are different and 685 requires a project. Is that really the case?”

View on Reddit Remove this

Fall 2014

Oct 23, 2014 MMath in Computer Science, is it really worth it? 2 points, 11 comments

u/ammsa: “… CS 685 Machine Learning Background: I'm an international student, did my bachelor in a Canadian CS university, no work experience but did research in Data Mining, published my undergrad paper in an IEEE conf, first author. …”

View on Reddit Remove this

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

Calendar versions

Graduate Calendar

Older Graduate Calendars

In 33 terms, Fall 2009 to Winter 2024