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PHYS 267Probability, Statistics, and Data Analysis for Physics and Astronomy

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Physics

When it runs

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

Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Probability, probability distributions, errors, descriptive statistics, statistical inference (hypothesis testing, fitting, confidence intervals), computational methods in Python, including algorithms for numerical integration; examples from physics and astronomy.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • CS114 - Principles of Computing for Science (0.50)
      • CS116 - Introduction to Computer Science 2 (0.50)
      • CS136 - Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction (0.50)
      • CS146 - Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH118 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
      • MATH119 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
      • MATH128 - Calculus 2 for the Sciences (0.50)
      • MATH138 - Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
      • MATH148 - Calculus 2 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH227 - Calculus 3 for Honours Physics (0.50)
      • MATH237 - Calculus 3 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
      • MATH247 - Calculus 3 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Complete 1 of the following
      • Must have completed the following:
        • PHYS122 - Electricity and Magnetism (0.50)
      • Earned a minimum grade of 80% in each of the following:

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:

Leads to

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 00169300 / 80TTh 11:30–12:50
LEC 701259619 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

94% liked it75% easy88% useful

From 31 ratings and 10 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • There were no exams, all assignments and weekly workbooks, with one final project. I really like this structure because I think it helps you learn rather than just memorize. The content was pretty clear and the statistics were all calculated using python (so no ugly equations by hand).

    Apr 2023 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The most useful course this school has

    Jul 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Take STAT220/221 if you actually want to learn about these topics, this course was completely useless.
    Lectures were incredibly slow and convoluted — but there were no course notes so you just had to suffer through...

    Aug 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Relatively easy course. Final project is fun. Took it during my first co-op. Weekly assignments are really straightforward, and the notes are amazing. The instructor also put up videos for those of us not in person, so that was great. Had a discord server to chat, much friendlier than Piazza that many other courses default to. Prof was generous when it came to deadlines, often pushing it back as much as 4 days if we complained enough on discord XD. Heck, even the final assignment got pushed back!
    That being said, if you aren't too much into statistics (like me) it might be slightly difficult to keep focussed. Fun course nonetheless :).

    Apr 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • As mentioned this course will probably be the most useful course in 2nd year you will take. The content is very interesting and taught very well. My only two complaints are that grading took ages (though it was clear this was due to lack of TAs) and that some assignments had problems with how questions were worded which were addressed very late. Still, this is a fantastic course and Brenda Lee was a fantastic prof.

    Aug 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

7 posts and comments in 5 threads mention PHYS 267, May 2020 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

Birdy Physics Course? 3 points, 5 comments

“Hi guys! I need some course requirements to graduate on time, and I just need one more Physics course. Are there any physics courses you'd recommend? The less work the better. …”

u/Laur-xnn: “Phys 267 if you like Python”

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Spring 2022

Winter 2021

Phys 267 3 points, 4 comments

u/chikaisbestgorl: “I have take Phys 267 for Spring 2021 but it’s not showing up for me on quest when I try to add it. Is this happening to anyone else?”

u/Razerspection: “PHYS 267 doesn’t seem to be a course lol at least when i search for it”

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Spring 2020

New Physics course 3 points, 3 comments

u/CrazyFace334: “So I was supposed to graduate in physics this term and I looked back on the undergrad calendar and I'm seeing a new course PHYS 267 that is required for graduation. I have no memory of this course existing before, and I'm kinda panicking. …”

u/purpplanet: “check the archived undergraduate calendar for the year that you entered university. you’re probably looking at the 2020-2021 calendar, where they’re replacing PHYS 270 (I think) with PHYS 267 for the incoming Physics first-years.”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar