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STAT 231Statistics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Statistics

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, 7 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course provides a systematic approach to empirical problem solving which will enable students to critically assess the sampling protocol and conclusions of an empirical study including the possible sources of error in the study and whether evidence of a causal relationship can be reasonably concluded. The connection between the attributes of a population and the parameters in the named distributions covered in STAT 230 will be emphasized. Numerical and graphical techniques for summarizing data and checking the fit of a statistical model will be discussed. The method of maximum likelihood will be used to obtain point and interval estimates for the parameters of interest as well as testing hypotheses. The interpretation of confidence intervals and p-values will be emphasized. The Chi-squared and t distributions will be introduced and used to construct confidence intervals and tests of hypotheses including likelihood ratio tests. Contingency tables and Gaussian response models including the two sample Gaussian and simple linear regression will be used as examples.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • 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)
    • Complete 1 of the following
      • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
        • STAT230 - Probability (0.50)
        • STAT240 - Probability (Advanced Level) (0.50)
      • Earned a minimum grade of 70% in each of the following:
        • STAT220 - Probability (Non-Specialist Level) (0.50)
    • Complete 1 of the following

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • STAT221 - Statistics (Non-Specialist Level) (0.50)
    • STAT241 - Statistics (Advanced Level) (0.50)

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 0016017122 / 150MWF 13:30–14:20
LEC 002653974 / 150MWF 09:30–10:20
LEC 0036540137 / 150MWF 11:30–12:20
LEC 081637593 / 150Online or by arrangement
TUT 1016257119 / 150F 10:30–11:20
TUT 1026258114 / 150F 12:30–13:20
TUT 1036422100 / 150F 12:30–13:20
TST 2016544333 / 450Nov 3 19:00–20:50

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 00155870 / 150MWF 09:30–10:20
LEC 00258050 / 150MWF 10:30–11:20
LEC 00358170 / 150MWF 13:30–14:20
LEC 00460220 / 150MWF 14:30–15:20
LEC 08160470 / 145Online or by arrangement
LEC 7012274268 / 9999Online or by arrangement
LEC 702232365 / 9999Online or by arrangement
TUT 10158030 / 150F 11:30–12:20
TUT 10258600 / 150F 13:30–14:20
TUT 10360650 / 150F 12:30–13:20
TUT 10460660 / 150F 10:30–11:20
TST 20161280 / 600Feb 4 19:00–20:20
Mar 18 19:00–20:20

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

39% liked it49% easy63% useful

From 833 ratings and 231 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • worst course this term. assignments are purely copy/paste r code and regurgitate the values and graphs generated. mobius modules are really shallow and dont teach you anything other than the definitions. the only other source of learning is the course notes, which is written in a way not for human comprehension. profs dont explain concepts, even if its a question on piazza (most of the time, the response is: "refer to page xxx in the course notes" or just a link to a previous piazza question). had to teach myself the entire course, ended up with the lowest marks this term.

    Nov 2020 · didn’t like it · 9 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Online during COVID semester sucked - long 25 page assignments and 5000 word PPDACs for exams. Whole course needs a rewrite.

    Dec 2020 · didn’t like it · 7 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • final was 28 pages of stats proofs

    Apr 2023 · didn’t like it · 6 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Winter 23 in person exam was unreasonably hard. Spent hours and hours doing practice problems for nothing because the questions on the exam was nothing like them.

    Apr 2023 · didn’t like it · 6 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • L course, L content, L TA, L assignment, W Prof (tutorial), Mid Curve?
    Probably the worst online course. Video lectures are recital of the textbook and brings next to 0 expected value and teaches you nothing about the math behind concept, which is heavily tested on mobius. Assignments are long and dry, often 10+ pages of you doing the same monke business of copy and pasting R-code, ctrl+f on the textbook. TA have next to no flexibility when it comes to marking and the questions are poorly worded 100% of the time (in 19 out of 20 cases) with loads of ambiguity, same applies to answer rounding, where they will chase you down to the last decimal place. Piazza is useless, with prof and ta…

    Nov 2021 · didn’t like it · 6 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

2,619 posts and comments in 1,623 threads mention STAT 231, October 2011 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

STAT231 online outline 2 points, 4 comments

u/Leonardo_Lai: “I would like to enroll stat 231 online in winter 2025, and wondering if the assessments are online. I can’t find the outline anywhere so if someone has already enrolled in this section can you please tell if there are any in-person assessments?”

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Will I survive if I take these courses in a term 1 point, 4 comments

u/Delicious_Deal_962: “I’m considering taking stat231, actsc231, co370, cs330 in the winter term. How difficult are these courses?”

u/Breadfruit-Turbulent: “… Maybe add a bird stat 231 isn’t difficult if you understood stat 230 especially closer to the end of the course. Actsc 231 isn’t hard per se. But if you’ve never seen stuff like that, might need some time to understand the large amount of concept in the beginning. …”

u/Delicious_Deal_962: “Thanks! And will you recommend taking stat231 and cs330 online or in person?”

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2B CS course selection 2 points, 3 comments

u/Standard-Lecture-950: “As of now, these are the classes I am enrolled into: \- CS 245, 246, Math 239, Stat 231 and an elective Could someone walk me through how the term would look like if i go ahead with this option? …”

u/iamanaybaid555: “Your best combination would be: • CS 246 (pre-requisite for CS 241 and CS 240) • CS 251 (pre-requisite for CS 350) • MATH 239 (pre-requisite for CS 341) • CS 245 (pre-requisite for CS 240) • One …”

u/Standard-Lecture-950: “cheers thanks for the really insightful answer - if i was to take cs 251 in place of stat 231, my only concern is that i would have about 4 weekly deadlines for assignments for all of my courses + keeping up with the course content would also need to be done... …”

u/Howardwang0315: “I took CS245 246 MATH239 STAT231 for 2A and i think if you can get a coop in cycle1 or 2then you can do it well, but if you can't do it like me, then it may be kind of hard.”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

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