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MSE 331Introduction to Optimization

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 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

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.

Prerequisites

None listed.

Antirequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
      • BME411 - Optimization and Numerical Methods (0.50)
      • CHE521 - Process Optimization (0.50)
      • CIVE332 - Civil Systems and Project Management (0.50)
      • CO250 - Introduction to Optimization (0.50)
      • ENVE335 - Decision Making for Environmental Engineers (0.50)
      • MSE232 - Modelling in Operations Research (0.50)
      • SYDE411 - Optimization and Numerical Methods (0.50)
    • Not open to students enrolled in H-Computing & Financial Management, or H-Management Engineering
    • Not open to students enrolled in Bachelor of Computer Science or Bachelor of Mathematics programs

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 001529759 / 94TTh 11:30–12:50
TUT 101529859 / 94W 08:30–09:20

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00150400 / 84TTh 11:30–12:50
LEC 701203668 / 9999Online or by arrangement
TUT 10150410 / 84Th 17:30–18:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

79% liked it68% easy77% useful

From 48 ratings and 11 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Course content is mostly basic level university math as far as Engineering and Math people would be concerned (one 4th year ECE course does the entire MSCI331 material in ONE day). The final group project has some landmines where you need to make sure that your problem breaks down to a small LP problem, or else you end up with problems where you really should be using meta-heuristic algorithms instead (to which the prof's hasty suggestion was to 'reduce the problem until it's LP). And this is with Excel programming.

    Mar 2016 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • 2 Midterms, 1 Final, 1 project, and 9 weekly assignments. Found the exams to be more than fair. Although the workload seems high, the assignments took around 20 minutes a week and the project didn't take too long either.

    Apr 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I really enjoyed this course! Good introduction to optimization. The course is very well-paced, with few assignments (only one final project that does a good job of teaching course content).

    Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Took this course in fall 2023, the course covers mainly linear programming models, solving LP/MIP using the Simplex method, big M and sensitivity analysis and branch-and-bound method. The course is 50% exam(midterm and final), 20% homework and the rest is a group project of 3 people. The midterm was somehow difficult and had an average of 68 but the final was very fair and somewhat easy. The homework question is a bit challenging compared to the exam but shouldn't take long and the project has a presentation and report. Useful and a good intro to optimization overall

    Dec 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Not a difficult course; there are only a few topics and the assessment questions are similar to what's covered in the lectures. The content can be interesting and even applicable at times

    May 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

2 posts and comments in 2 threads mention MSE 331, 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.

Fall 2024

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: “… 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 to 3B and excluding TEs”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar