uwloo

STAT 454Sampling Theory and Practice

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

Sources of survey error. Probability sampling designs, estimation, and efficiency comparisons. Distribution theory and confidence intervals. Generalized regression estimation. Software for survey analysis.

Prerequisites

  • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
    • STAT332 - Sampling and Experimental Design (0.50)
    • STAT372 - Survey Sampling and Experimental Design Techniques for Business (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Reviewed on UW Flow

80% liked it56% easy75% useful

From 5 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • I took this course expecting it to be a follow-up to STAT 332, diving deeping into the sampling concepts. I felt that it was a recap of the sampling practice from 332, with a little bit of new concepts, but it still felt very surface-level. I felt like I barely left with anything I didn't already know from 332, and in my experience, it was presented wayyy better in 332. The grading scheme consisted of 2 term tests, 2 reports and a final report. The term tests were basically a regurgiatation of lecture examples and the practice problems, but with the time limit it was still a little difficult. The reports were an interesting addition to the grading scheme, as it had us choose 2 topics and do…

    May 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I would consider it an advanced version of the sampling portion from STAT 332. Instead of application, this course focuses on the theory of survey sampling. You need to be very flexible with using the random indicator to derive the biases and variance of many complicated estimators. It no longer relies on materials from STAT 330 since in survey sampling, you no longer have i.i.d properties and don't have access to the distribution(so no pdf/pmf/CDF) but only the inclusion probability and whether they are in the sample or not. You will learn a completely new aspect of statistics in this course.

    Apr 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • It was decent. The first two tests (online) were easy, and then we got hit with an in-person test which was pretty hard in my opinion. The term report and proposal for the final project both had unclear grading schemes, but the final project was marked fairly? I'm confused, but the course was alright even though it was highly theoretical.

    Apr 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

59 posts and comments in 43 threads mention STAT 454, February 2016 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.

Spring 2024

Stat 454/Stat 341 4 points, 14 comments

u/miss270202: “… I was deciding which Stat course to take as my last math elective, and I'm stuck between Stat 454 and Stat 341. I'm open to other Stat courses as well, I've taken Stat 230,231,371, and 372. …”

u/ConsequenceNo3618: “I dropped STAT 341 to take another course but I recommend taking STAT 454 for the smaller class size (this term, STAT 341 is 200 people shoulder-to-shoulder in a big theatre with no desks) STAT 341 course notes are posted online so you can skim through them and see how you find …”

u/mmooner: “stat 341 will be way easier, especially since you've already taken stat 372. stat 454 is on the easier side for a 4th year stat course, but all 4th year stat courses are harder and have more work than 3rd year stat courses.”

u/miss270202: “… I guess this course is highly prof dependent, I just need to find someone whos taken Stat 454 before and try to compare the two before selecting my courses.”

u/Osteospermum: “Warning if you take 341 with Ryan Browne, his exams are no joke. Way harder than normal course material and worth 80% when I took it.”

u/miss270202: “I didn't know that, one of the pros of Stat 454 is the grade breakdown, I've read that there is just one oral exam, and the rest are just final projects. Does Ryan Browne curve his exams?”

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Winter 2024

STAT 443 vs STAT 454 1 point, 1 comment

u/Forsaken-Egg-6732: “I'm debating on taking either STAT 443 or STAT 454 based on what is easier and I could get a higher mark in. STAT 443 is with Reza and STAT 454 is with Christian Boudreau. Has anyone taken these courses with these profs? I heard Reza makes his exams hard”

u/omwtokillEuronymous: “… For STAT 454, if you liked the sampling part of STAT 332/372, then you'll probably like STAT 454. Honestly, it'll probably be easier to pick the course that interests you the most rather than which one is perceived to be easier. …”

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Winter 2023

Fall 2022

What's easier Stat 443 or Stat 454? 3 points, 4 comments

u/notreallysureayt: “I need one more 4th year stats course and these two seem to be my options. Both seem like okay topics, just want to know what's a lighter courseload. Thanks”

u/luizloo: “If you take stat 454 with Changbao Wu, it's definitely going to be easier than 443. Content wise it may not seem so, but the work load is just way better. I took it with Wu in the winter, and there were 2 online midterms and 1 in person midterm, which allowed a cheat sheet. …”

u/notreallysureayt: “Hmm what if Changbao and Reza both aren't teaching those courses this term haha Would the stat 454 still be easier? At this point I don't care too much about learning more about stats, I'm not going to be pursing a career in it, just need a major to graduate lol”

u/AcademicAdvisorBot: “If Changbao and Reza aren't teaching Stat 454 this term, then you will have to look at other professors and see who is teaching the course, and what reviews they have received. Depending on the professor, the course could be easier or more difficult. …”

u/luizloo: “Then I think stat 454 would be easier. I cannot guarantee the same workload with other prof, but the contents would be a bit more organized and you don't have to remember as much for tests and assignments I guess.”

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Course selection: STAT441 STAT444 STAT454 3 points, 4 comments

u/LGprogram: “Thanks to my crazy course schedule, STAT441,444,454 are the only three 4-level courses I can take. I have to choose one to add to my class list. I don't mind if there is a heavy workload, but could you help me to rank the courses based on the difficulty? …”

u/GuessEnvironmental: “theoretically stat 441 is the most difficult but because it is so prof dependent stat 441 or stat 444 could be harder or easier than stat 454. However martin lysy is known to be a theory type of guy. So because of inconvenience Stat 441 > Stat 444 > stat 454”

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Stat course without Final Exam 4 points, 11 comments

“Is there any Stat course no final exam? Thanks”

u/luizloo: “STAT 454 by prof Wu this winter did not have a final but a project. It's an interesting course if you are really into the theoretical part of sampling methods.”

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Winter 2022

Winter 2021

Course outlines 6 points, 4 comments

u/waffle4days: “… classes I’m looking for course outlines for CO250, PMATH330 this term So far, I have: STAT454: 40% tests, 10% oral final, 15% project proposal, 35% final project STAT 443: 30% homework, 10% quiz, 20% report, 10% midterm and 30% forecasting contest (final project)”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

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