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MSCI 546Advanced Machine Learning

Faculty
Engineering
Last listed
Spring 2024

No longer offered. It was in Waterloo’s course catalog from Fall 2022 to Spring 2024 and last ran in Winter 2024. It isn’t in the 2024–25 or later calendars.

When it ran

  1. W23
  2. F23
  3. W24

Ran in 3 terms, Winter 2023 to Winter 2024.

This course provides a deeper understanding of machine learning (ML) techniques by utilizing students' prior background in ML and operations research to understand the drivers of ML methodologies rather than using black-box processes. The course first reviews supervised and unsupervised learning methods, and then dives deeper into their assumptions, mathematical models, and underlying algorithms to help students systematically develop and enhance ML processes. Using the same approach, the course covers more advanced topics in ML, such as neural networks and reinforcement learning. Application areas within this course may include, but are not limited to healthcare, energy, sports, transportation, and manufacturing. [Offered: W]

Requirements, as last listed

Prereq: MSCI 332; One of CS 480, ECE 457B, MSCI 446, SYDE 522

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

9 posts and comments in 9 threads mention MSCI 546, April 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.

Spring 2024

Course Selection for AI/ML + imaging 7 points, 6 comments

“I'm a TRON student trying to plan out my courses and wanted to see if anyone has input for any of the courses I've been eyeing regarding your personal experiences, difficulty, workload, content …”

u/ConsequenceNo3618: “… This course is great for image processing via CNNs https://sites.google.com/view/aliayub/teaching/syde-572-fall-2023 other courses MSCI 546: I heard it's math heavy and it does have a final exam. The professor is good though SYDE 599 (Adv. …”

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Winter 2024

ML Application Course in MSCI and ECE, Advice 2 points, 5 comments

“I am currently a computer science student who's interested in sit in (and probably try asking professor for some of the assignments) of some of the machine learning related course. …”

u/1000Ditto: “i think you should take SYDE 572 with ayub ali/paul figueth you can see the info here https://sites.google.com/view/aliayub/teaching/syde-675-winter-2024?authuser=0 you should also talk with sirisha …”

u/Impossible_Ebb2433: “I looked through SYDE 572 and it seems too mathematical for my taste. Wondering if you have any more applied/hands-on recommendation? Also, how would you recommend me approaching her? I know she's teaching MSCI 546 this term and heard good things about it.”

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Best Intro to ML/AI course? 15 points, 14 comments

“After going through UWFlow, I found a shocking amount of Intro ML/AI courses like: CS 480: Introduction to Machine Learning CS 485: Statistical and Computational Foundations of Machine Learning CS …”

u/1000Ditto: “msci 452 isnt ML it's decisionmaking under uncertaitny why not just take cs480 then msci 546”

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Spring 2023

Any AI-related courses? Non-CS? 1 point, 5 comments

“hey there, just wondering if you all know of any AI related courses, that aren’t beginning with CS since I’m not a programmer. …”

u/_UW_Student: “Look into MSCI courses, pretty cool (but I think require alot of prereqs).”

u/1000Ditto: “https://uwflow.com/course/msci446 ML1 ( technical course ) https://uwflow.com/course/msci546 ML2 ( technical course ) https://uwflow.com/course/syde522 Foundations of AI ( technical course )”

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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: “… You have courses focused on AI-topics that you can take: MSCI 446 (intro to machine learning), MSCI 546 (advanced ML), and MSCI 436 (decision support systems). 6. There are operations research and information systems courses that are complementary application areas, e.g. …”

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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: “… Advanced Machine Learning (MSCI 546) 10. Decision Support Systems (MSCI 436) - (course is 50% operations research) Are taught as they would be in a CS program, for the most part. The courses are primarily taught by professors with PhDs in CS. …”

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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: “… information systems + a dash or two of AI/ML) Electives: MSCI 446 Intro to Machine Learning MSCI 546 Advanced Machine Learning MSCI 541 Search Engines MSCI 543 Analytics and User Experience https://ugradcalendar.uwaterloo.ca/page/ENG-Management-Engineering So, it is easy to have …”

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Winter 2021

Management Engineering 10 points, 14 comments

u/1000Ditto: “1. ok depending on you as a person, one of the easiest, be wary of 3b esp msci332, me 235, msci 261, msci 263 2. pm/data/general business/basic mech stuff/ programming 3. …”

u/original-random: “… 4th years did not have, including natural science electives, MSCI 251 and 253, MSCI 302, MSCI 546, MSCI 543, and English in 1B, and more.”

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