MSCI 331Introduction to Optimization
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Last listed
- Spring 2024
No longer offered. It was in Waterloo’s course catalog since at least Winter 2020 (as far back as Open Data goes) to Spring 2024 and last ran in Spring 2024. It isn’t in the 2024–25 or later calendars.
When it ran
- W20
- S20
- F20
- W21
- S21
- F21
- W22
- S22
- F22
- W23
- S23
- F23
- W24
- S24
Ran in 14 terms, Winter 2020 to Spring 2024.
This first course in optimization uses a quantitative approach to problem solving involving, mathematical modelling and formulations, solution methods, and output analysis. Students are introduced to a variety of practical problem formulations in management and engineering, a number of solution methods, including, but not limited to, linear optimization, network models, project management, and decision analysis. Students are also involved in a group project, where they go through conceptual and operational model design, analytical solution, output analysis, and recommendation. [Offered: F,W,S]
Requirements, as last listed
Prereq: Not open to students in the Faculty of Mathematics except for Software Engineering. Antireq: BME 411, CHE 521, CIVE 332, CO 250, ENVE 320/335, SYDE 411
In today’s calendar
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
33 posts and comments in 29 threads mention MSCI 331, May 2011 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 2024
easy te's 4a/4b ECE 5 points, 1 comment
u/AdFar6976: “What are some easy TEs for 4A/4B ece? I've heard of MSCI 331, lmk if you know some other good ones! Thanks”
easy te's 4a/4b ECE 5 points, 0 comments
u/AdFar6976: “What are some easy TEs for 4A/4B ece? I've heard of MSCI 331, lmk if you know some other good ones! Thanks”
easy te's 4a/4b ECE 3 points, 0 comments
u/AdFar6976: “What are some easy TEs for 4A/4B ece? I've heard of MSCI 331, lmk if you know some other good ones! Thanks”
SCI 238 Online vs Psych 207 vs SCI 250 2 points, 1 comment
u/JasonAhn91214: “… However as it got conflicted to the MSCI 331 (which was MSE 331 before), I got kicked out of the enrollment. …”
Winter 2024
Does anyone have a discord link to ece2024 1 point, 1 comment
u/Winter_Shoal4014: “Is there a Discord channel for MSCI 331 as well?”
Fall 2023
which course is the most useful/useless of ur major? 24 points, 44 comments
u/suiyui: “Useful: MSCI 342/245 - Full stack development MSCI 240 - OOP MSCI 446 (TE) - Machine learning Useless: Everything else, especially the non-MSCI courses”
u/suiyui: “All useless - MATH 115 (lin alg) - MATH 116/118 (calc) - MSCI 271 (calc) - MSCI 251/253 (stats) - MSCI 331/332 (optimization) - MSCI 431 (stochastics)”
Spring 2023
What are the best TEs and NON-ECE TEs to take in 4B? 1 point, 0 comments
u/cinderguy23: “For TE, I have CS 458 and for NON-ECE TE, I have MSCI 331 in mind, but not sure what else would be good to take.”
Winter 2022
Management Eng v.s. Computer Eng v.s. SYDE? 0 points, 9 comments
“This might not be the place to ask this question, sorry if it isn’t. I’m interested in a software engineering/developer career. …”
u/wagwanm0n: “Easiest to get into management and prospects for software jobs are great. Good amount of coding courses too”
u/Alternative_Way_3534: “… MSCI 331 Intro Optimization 2. MSCI 332 Deterministic Optimization Models and Methods And of course, you get two courses in probability and stats, which lays the groundwork for many other courses. …”
Spring 2021
What are Best/Worst courses you took during the two Online years? 21 points, 45 comments
u/1000Ditto: “best: msci331 prof alev is knowlegeable, fair, enthusiastic, open to communication hosts amazing office hours, the TAs are knowledgeable and support the lecs, everything (lecture, tut, project, quiz) fits perfectly, beautiful team synergy you'd only see once or twice in your …”
Job Opportunities and Workload: SYDE, Tron, and Management 1 point, 9 comments
“I have recently been thinking of switching from mechanical engineering and am deciding between SYDE, Tron, and Management. …”
u/wagwanm0n: “Management does have a good number of coding courses”
u/original-random: “… If you're into data analytics/science, the stat and OR courses are awesome: MSCI 251/253 Prob stats 1 and 2 MSCI 331/332/435 Optimization galore, which is central to all machine learning MSCI 431/531 Stochastic models, and stuff like Markov Decision Processes, which is really …”
Winter 2021
Admissions / High School Megathread (Fall 2020) 316 points, 7,386 comments
“I think we lost track of the old one somewhere, and this is to also help reset the expiry date (these threads archive after six months) Engineering Admissions Blog: https://theroadtoengineering.com/ …”
u/Kbreadman: “\++I applied to management engineering because I love the idea of streamlining processes + working with data and using it to solve problems or draw conclusions, etc. …”
[deleted]: “… Looks like a mix to me of mechanical engineering (MODs, Thermo, Mechanics, Material Science), software (MSCI 101, 240, 245, 342), and more vague systems-y stuff (MSCI 211,331,334?). …”
Fall 2020
Have you ever got 100 in a course? 10 points, 27 comments
“Is it possible to get 100% in a math, cs, or eng course? How rare is it?”
u/mathematicalengineer: “I've gotten 100% in MATH 235 and MSCI 331.”
Check it elsewhere
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2023–24Its last calendar entry, on ucalendar
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them
In the scanned calendars
How it read in each calendar from 1985–86 to 1994–95, newest first. The text is OCR of the scanned pages; years whose wording matches are shown once, from the clearest scan. Each year links to its page on uwloo and to that page of the scanned PDF.
1985–86 to 1994–95 8 calendars
The Operations Research approach to problem solving. Deterministic mathematical programming including linear programming, transportation method, assignment problem, network methods, and dynamic programming. Elements of deterministic inventory models.
Offered Fall, Winter, Spring · 3 class hours a week · 0.5 credit