MSCI 431Stochastic Models and Methods
- 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 Winter 2024. It isn’t in the 2024–25 or later calendars.
When it ran
- W20
- W21
- W22
- W23
- W24
Ran in 5 terms, Winter 2020 to Winter 2024.
Introduction to operations research models and methods for problems with random, stochastic, and probabilistic components. Topics include birth and death processes, branching processes, waiting line models, and Markov decision processes. Applications include the design, modelling, and analysis of service and manufacturing systems, with emphasis on important functions such as queueing, inventory, reliability, equipment replacement, and maintenance. [Offered: W]
Requirements, as last listed
Prereq: (One of BME 411,CHE 521,CIVE 332,CO 250,ENVE 335,MSCI 331,SYDE 411) and (One of AE 224,BME 213,CHE 220,CIVE 224,ECE 203,306,ENVE 224,MSCI 251,252, ME 202,MTE 201,NE 215,STAT 206,211,231,241,SYDE 212); Not open to Math students except SE. Antireq: STAT 333
In today’s calendar
- MSE 433 lists it in its requisites
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
7 posts and comments in 7 threads mention MSCI 431, May 2021 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
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)”
Waterloo Engineering Programs Help: Electrical vs Mechatronics vs Computer 1 point, 9 comments
“Anyone have advice on how I can decide which of these programs to apply to? Was initially planning to apply to Mechanical Engineering, however I believe these have better job prospects. …”
u/cogintheshell: “read my guide https://www.reddit.com/user/cogintheshell/comments/13is3n4/engineering\programs\at\uwaterloo/”
u/suiyui: “I guess you're right, MSCI 251 (Statistics I)+253 (Statistics II) are pure stats and MSCI 431 (Stochastics) is also arguably stats though it focuses more on queueing theory I still wouldn't consider our program a data science-engineering hybrid based off these 3 courses though”
Spring 2023
What are your core courses? 8 points, 11 comments
“Basically title - What are several courses that you think really define your program? Any thoughts on them, and how they went? Looking forward to the discussion (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ\:･ﾟ✧”
u/1000Ditto: “Might as well take a stab at my own discussion post: MSCI 342 (SWE | CS247 equiv) MSCI 253 (Stats 2 | STAT 231+STAT 332 equiv) MSCI 431 (Stochastics| STAT 333 equiv) MSCI 332 (opti despair) MSCI 334/434 (operations, inventory control, scm)”
Winter 2023
Should I commit to Management Engineering? 12 points, 35 comments
“I got into MGTE at Uwaterloo! It was my top choice alongside Statistics and Computer Science at McGill, and somehow I got into both! However I’m stuck on which to choose. …”
u/Emotional_Wonder_123: “… With stochastics (MSCI 431) and then the optional MSCI 531, you covers lots more about probability and most importantly get into Markov Decision Processes, which are a big AI topic. 5. …”
MSCI 431 and 531 1 point, 0 comments
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 431 Stochastic Models and Methods 2. MSCI 531 Stochastic Processes and Decision Making 3. MSCI 452 Decision Making Under Uncertainty 4. MSCI 435 Advanced Optimization Techniques 5. …”
Spring 2021
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: “… 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 just more AI/ML stuff. …”
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 9 calendars
Classification of stochastic processes. Recurrent events including birth and death processes, and branching processes. Waiting line models and applications. Markov processes and decision problems. Applications include inventory control, reliability, equipment replacement, maintenance, design of service facilities, etc.
Prereq: M SCI 251 or equivalent and M SCI 331
Offered Winter · 3 class hours a week · 0.5 credit