STAT 241Statistics (Advanced Level)
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Mathematics
- Subject
- Statistics
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
STAT 241 is an advanced-level enriched version of STAT 231.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Enrolled in an Honours Mathematics program
Antirequisites
Leads to
- ACTSC 362
- ACTSC 447
- AFM 207
- AFM 244
- AFM 483
- AMATH 345
- AMATH 383
- CS 335
- CS 457
- CS 476
- CS 480
- CS 482
- CS 486
- ECON 323
- ECON 406
- ECON 407
- ECON 408
- ECON 409
- ECON 421
- ECON 422
- ECON 423
- ECON 424
- ECON 425
- ECON 452
- ECON 456
- ECON 457
- ECON 496
- MATBUS 371
- MSE 334
- MSE 422
- MSE 431
- MSE 432
- MSE 446
- MSE 452
- MSE 531
- MSE 541
- MSE 543
- MSE 551
- SMF 400
- SMF 404
- SMF 494
- SMF 496
- SMF 499A
- SRF 400
- SRF 404
- SRF 494
- SRF 496
- SRF 499A
- STAT 321
- STAT 322
- STAT 330
- STAT 331
- STAT 332
- STAT 334
- STAT 337
- STAT 340
- STAT 341
- STAT 371
- STAT 372
- STAT 373
- STAT 374
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5771 | 0 / 60 | MWF 13:30–14:20 |
| LEC 701 | 2272 | 42 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 6303 | 0 / 60 | F 12:30–13:20 |
| TST 201 | 5956 | 0 / 60 | Feb 3 16:30–17:50 Mar 10 16:30–17:50 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
87% liked it43% easy91% useful
From 63 ratings and 28 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Straight moon runes bro.
Mar 2026 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Insanely goated course. 100% worth taking, even if you didn't like STAT240 (like me). Convinced me statistics is cool actually.
Apr 2026 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I took this in W23 with Mu Zhu. The following Fall term I took stat 330 and stat 241 honestly taught me more than stat 330. Mu Zhu's textbook for this course is the same one as his intro to statistics for Data Science Masters students. Contents wise this course covers most of the main content of stat 330 less rigorously and more intuitively. The problems on tests are definitely still quite difficult and are probably on par with stat 330. Stat 241 also dives into more advanced topics such as Bayesian statistics which is only covered in 4th year stats courses. Stat 241 also covered advanced computational techniques such as expectation maximization and bootstrap.
May 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
My biggest surprise this term, for 2 different reason. This course teaches you the fundamental of statistics, which is supposed to be more applied than STAT 230 in some sense. We care more about estimators and statistical procedures rather than concerning ourselves with probability like STAT 230. Like Prof Zhu says, 230 and 231 are like Yin and Yang of Statistics.
Professor Zhu has made STAT 241 probably the most exciting lecture I would like to attend weekly because unlike the conventional approach of doing things like Chapter 1, Chapter 2, he will take you along with a series of natural questions and make you question about why we would think about some concepts that we will discuss in…Apr 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Just so boring...still worth taking to avoid 231, however. The prof (Wallace) was amazing and made it infinitely more engaging than it otherwise would have been, but the content is very dry overall. If you have them, your marks are based entirely on two midterms and a final exam, which are all open book. Wallace also releases practice exams a week or two before each one, and if you review those you're pretty much good to go for the actual exams. I put in very little effort and got an 84, but I definitely wouldn't take this again.
Jun 2022 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
156 posts and comments in 108 threads mention STAT 241, April 2013 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
Help with Honors Mathematics 1B and 2A term 9 points, 3 comments
“For preface, I am finishing my 1A term in mathematics, and want to end up working in data science eventually, (this is important). I am in sequence 4 so I will be studying in the summer. …”
u/EnvironmentLonely382: “If you’re serious about DS you should prepare yourself for some theory and rigor. I would recommend Stat 240, 241 in 2A, 2B and maybe the advanced math courses in 1B.”
Most academically difficult term so far? 25 points, 39 comments
“Wondering which year/term was the most challenging for you? Preferably students in engineering or more specifically mech eng.”
u/Osteospermum: “2B CS, CS 240E, STAT 241, PMATH 351, and CLAS 252”
Spring 2024
STAT 231 vs. STAT 241 3 points, 4 comments
u/Sweaty_Catch5933: “I've heard that STAT 231 is not too great of a course and am considering taking STAT 241 in the winter term instead of STAT 231 in the fall term. I've already taken STAT 230 and really enjoyed the material. I would like to learn as much STAT as early as I can. …”
Rank the courses you've taken from hardest to easiest 20 points, 43 comments
“I'm curious”
u/Different_Guess7202: “CO 471 >>>>>>> CS 146 > CO 255 > CO 442 > CS246E > STAT 241 > CS 145 > MATH 148 > CO 463 > MATH 247 > STAT 240 > CS 240E > MATH 245 > MATH 145 > MATH 146 > PMATH 351 > MATH 147 > MATH 249”
What's the difficulty of stat231 like? 13 points, 15 comments
“I heard bad things about the course. What part of it is hardest? Does it start off easy and end off hard, or the other way around, or same ish difficulty throughout?”
u/gamesatosi: “Harder than stat 241”
Winter 2024
How much work is STAT 241? 6 points, 3 comments
u/Stranger_Natural: “Title. Thinking about taking it, I'd say I have decent math background (I've taken a couple of PMATH and CO), and I have some knowledge of measure theory (taking PMATH 451 rn, I vaguely remember), but I'm a bit rusty on my STAT 230. …”
Fall 2023
Will enrolling in advanced courses like Math 145 and 147 affect my GPA? I must maintain an 85 average to retain my scholarship. 1 point, 1 comment
“While I currently fall within the lowest 10% of class assignments, I still have a strong grasp of the teacher's lectures.”
u/tabescence: “I think advanced math courses are actually easier to maintain a high grade in than the standard versions because they have fewer tests/quizzes and are more based on assignments, which you get time to …”
u/tabescence: “… stat 231/41 is required for some upper year cs courses i guess i could've taken stat 230 -> stat 241 in 2a -> 2b, but i cared more about doing other courses in 2b (in particular for prerequisites), and i didn't see much gain in taking the advanced version because i hated …”
Spring 2023
STAT Courses Coding Prep 1 point, 2 comments
u/Impossible_Ebb2433: “… I'm afraid of doing the coding related courses because my coding experience is only the first year CS course, and that's it (STAT 241 has really little coding) -- still I struggle quite a lot in the coding related courses. …”
Winter 2023
Question about CS Undergrad Research Opportunity 3 points, 2 comments
“I have no experience in research before, and I'm hoping to get to do research over a work term using MURA as a starting point. (Can't do URA because only 1 study term left). …”
u/tyxchen: “… You don't need to have super-relevant upper year coursework; I got my first part-time URA position in stats after only having taken STAT 241, and one of my friends did a full-time URA in a highly specialized field despite having only completed the general 3rd year CS courses. …”
Fall 2022
how to balance a heavy pmath load. 13 points, 8 comments
“Hi there. Next term I have pmath351 , 352, 365 and 348. I know it sounds like hell and probably will be but I am wondering what your advice is for people who did a huge load like this? …”
u/blank_anonymous: “… So I did a similar term in W21 (348, 365, 450, and stat 241, plus elective), and since I’ve done two terms with 5 PMath (F21 I did 440, 445, 451, 453, 465, W22 I did 446, 464, 467, 833, 950), and so I’m possibly the best person to give advice on this. …”
is STAT 241 that worth it over 231 5 points, 12 comments
u/Deathtrigger03: “I'm currently registered in STAT 241 for next term with Mu Zhu. However, now I'm wondering whether I should just take another course and drop it to STAT 231 instead in some other time in the future, and take other course instead, say like STAT 333 or something. …”
u/Muxxy: “… I heard STAT 241 is an alright course from my friends.”
u/Potential-Series8491: “stat 241/231 are boring af so if u think u like the mathy parts of stats bc u liked the mathy parts of 230/240 then i wouldnt bother id only do it if i had michael wallace as a prof again, because they're awesome”
u/Fatdayuu: “Stat241>>231”
Spring 2022
Reviewing CS courses (Up until 2B) 42 points, 12 comments
“Since I started CS, I’ve wanted to review all the mandatory courses we’re meant to take for the first two years. Some good, some horrendous. …”
u/Osteospermum: “My stance on these courses MATH 247 = CS 146 > MATH 135 > MATH 146 > CS 241E > CS 246 > STAT 241 > CS 135 >>> CS 240E > MATH 239 > MATH 137 > CS 245 > CS 251 > MATH 235 >>> MATH 148 (online snew :( )”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them