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STAT 441Statistical Learning - Classification

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

Classification is the problem of predicting a discrete outcome from a set of explanatory variables. Main topics include logistic regression, neural networks, tree-based methods, support vector machines, and nearest neighbour methods. Other topics include model assessment, training, and tuning.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
      • STAT341 - Computational Statistics and Data Analysis (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • STAT331 - Applied Linear Models (0.50)
      • STAT371 - Applied Linear Models and Process Improvement for Business (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

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 001602636 / 96TTh 16:00–17:20

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 00159420 / 125TTh 16:00–17:20
LEC 701232668 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

22% liked it10% easy83% useful

From 129 ratings and 15 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • I am not sure if this is prof dependent. But mine was not good. If you want to learn machine learning or have experience with kaggle (final project is kaggle), I recommend doing it yourself. It’s not worth it by ruining your grade. This is the course that final exam decides whether you fail or not; i found it so unfair. All the assignments were coding based but none of the questions on final was. He give slides (not enough info) and course notes. Slides are kinda useless so you need to read the notes that are wordy. You sometimes miss the point while reading it just because of how disorganized it is.
    It would be a better course if he at least gives one mock exam to be prepared for…

    Nov 2022 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This course was a nightmare. If you think 'hey, machine learning sounds cool' or you're just looking to stay competitive, you'd be better off reading the keras doc online. Everything that was taught was deeply theoretical, the kind of information that doesn't help anyone trying to run a neural network; and the assignments were pointless. We had to build a neural network from scratch, with almost no help from the lectures or slides, a task that could've been done with keras in 5 minutes, as part of one assignment. The data challenges were interesting, but all the coding had to be self-taught, because the prof only taught the theoretical parts. Don't know how to use python generators? Have…

    Jan 2018 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This is the best class at UW to learn about machine learning algorithms

    Jan 2015 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • prof was Subha Maity. great professor who will answer questions well in office hours. in class we learn a lot of math and the questions are all coding (so you have to know how to translate math into code). we could code in any language we wanted. learned a lot in this class which was cool

    Mar 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • not a lot of math or coding, felt like I could have learnt the concepts my self, probably wouldnt have taken it.

    Apr 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

282 posts and comments in 217 threads mention STAT 441, August 2012 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

Course selection: should I take STAT 441/841 and 444/844 in the same term? 3 points, 5 comments

u/Not_So_Deleted: “I'm deciding between different courses, and there's a tentative schedule for the 2025 winter term. Both courses are statistical learning courses, which I've been told are a fair amount of work. Would it be reasonable to take both courses in one term with that in mind? …”

u/Ok-Conclusion-5481: “… how bad are the upper year stat courses lol If you're looking for toned-down versions, try considering similar courses in other departments like SYDE 675 instead of STAT 441. …”

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Spring 2024

STAT444 VS STAT443 5 points, 0 comments

u/poeticorange: “I’m currently taking CS480 and is planning to take STAT441 and CS486 in future terms. Should I take STAT444 with Alex Stringer or STAT443 with Jeremy VanderDoes? Appreciate any advice or comments on the courses or profs.”

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Winter 2024

Fall 2023

Easy 90 GPA booster 21 points, 22 comments

“Does anyone have any suggestions for easy gps booster courses which I desperately need for my transcript. …”

u/suiyui: “CS 452 and STAT 441 just for you because you didn't specify the program Jokes aside you can go on UWFlow, search for all, then filter by easiest courses and set number of ratings over a certain threshold”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar