uwloo

MSE 251Probability and Statistics 1

Units
0.50
Faculty
Engineering
Subject
Management Science and Engineering

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

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

A first of a two-course sequence that introduces fundamental concepts in probability and statistics. It covers probability concepts, random variables, graphical display of distributions and data, discrete and continuous probability distributions, sampling, estimation, confidence intervals, experimental design, hypothesis testing, and simple linear regression and correlation. Students learn how to graphically explore data, conduct, and analyze a two-treatment experiment, and model data with linear regression, and interpret its fit. Students learn to use statistical computing software (e.g., R) to perform data analyses. Emphasis is placed on gaining experience with data collected from student-conducted experiments.

Prerequisites

Antirequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
      • AE224 - Probability and Statistics (0.50)
      • BME213 - Statistics and Experimental Design (0.50)
      • CHE220 - Probability and Statistics (0.50)
      • CIVE224 - Probability and Statistics (0.50)
      • ECE203 - Probability Theory and Statistics 1 (0.50)
      • ECON221 - Statistics for Economists (0.50)
      • ENVE224 - Probability and Statistics (0.50)
      • ME202 - Statistics for Engineers (0.50)
      • MTE201 - Experimental Measurement and Statistical Analysis (0.50)
      • NE215 - Probability and Statistics (0.50)
      • STAT231 - Statistics (0.50)
      • SYDE212 - Probability, Statistics, and Data Science (0.50)
    • Not completed any of the following:

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001528478 / 96TTh 13:00–14:20
LAB 201528678 / 96F 10:00–11:20
TUT 101528578 / 96W 13:30–14:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

71% liked it40% easy80% useful

From 21 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • I enjoyed this course and think it was a good introduction to probability and statistics. I had Fatih Safa Erenay as a prof. I enjoyed the lecutes and he kept them engaging, although sometimes he would go slightly 'off script' and make up examples/derive things on the spot which often just led to the class being more confused. I wish the course had weekly assignments or more involved lab assignment though to help get more practice in throughout the term. Exams were fair and reasonable.

    Dec 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Focus on this course in 2A.

    Dec 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This is essentially AP Statistics minus a few topics. Lots of connections to MDM4U (Data Management) in the Ontario High School curriculum, so if you still remember those concepts, you'll do well in this course. Reasonable course load, knowledge-type MCQ short quizzes, application-type assignments (with tutorial questions that cover very similar questions), and labs focused on R and visualization. Final examination was fair and mostly MCQ (lack of practice questions though). Feedback is fast, it only takes a week. Easy to do well if you put in the effort

    Dec 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

2 posts and comments in 2 threads mention MSE 251, April 2024 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

How hard is 2A compared to first year? 3 points, 1 comment

“MGTE student that completed 1A and 1B, can I expect 2A to be just as hard, or would it get easier from here on out? …”

u/ConsequenceNo3618: “… a DSA course; it's easy to understand but a lot of work due to the programming assignments MSE 251 (Stats): High school review but with a bit more distributions MSE 261 (Econ): Mostly new content and will require a fair bit of work, but its of moderate difficulty MSE 271 (Calc …”

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Winter 2024

Questions for Management Engineering students: this program or UTSG CS? 1 point, 11 comments

u/KINGBLUE2739046: “- It’s an Engineering workload, it’s a lot better than ECE, much more time to do side projects, almost a joke honestly, other programs will be making fun of you for not being real engineers, no big …”

u/nyephe: “… They changed MSE 121/240 but I've never used Python in MGTE before (aside from MSE 446) R is pretty much just copy and paste from the MSE 251/253 tutorials but it's never tested I remember Excel being used in MSE 100/131/251/253/331/263/334/431/332/333/343, and this is only up …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar