uwloo

SYDE 212Probability, Statistics, and Data Science

Units
0.50
Faculty
Engineering
Subject
Systems Design Engineering

When it runs

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

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Engineers need to draw upon concepts and techniques from probability and statistics to tackle the challenges posed by uncertain, complex systems and large, high-dimensional data sets. Provides a strong foundation in probability and statistics as well as an introduction to ideas from data science and machine learning (parameter estimation, detection, classification, dimensionality reduction, Markov chains). Prepares students for upper-level electives that use probabilistic reasoning, including AI and machine learning.

Prerequisites

Antirequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
      • BME213 - Statistics and Experimental Design (0.50)
      • CIVE224 - Probability and Statistics (0.50)
    • Not completed any of the following:

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 001474497 / 110T 10:30–12:20
Th 10:30–11:20
TUT 101474597 / 110Th 11:30–12:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

59% liked it60% easy92% useful

From 76 ratings and 28 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Fuck my chud life

    Nov 2025 · didn’t like it · 11 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • One valuable lesson this course teaches is acceptance. I've written a haiku:
    Struggle without end.
    At mercy of the prof’s pen.
    Failure brings me peace.

    Dec 2025 · didn’t like it · 10 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • My relationship with SYDE 212 has a negative covariance cuz the more effort I put into studying, the lower my expected grade on the final becomes. I am such a sad little chud.

    Dec 2025 · didn’t like it · 10 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • DO NOT BE FOOLED BY REVIEWS OF THE PAST. SYDE28's got Yingli who has never taught this course in the past.
    I kid you not, we were taught STAT230 and STAT231 in one course. If you want a comprehensive summary of what a brutal math prof will do to you in this, read the descriptions of STAT230 and 231 instead.

    Dec 2025 · didn’t like it · 8 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • this was so hard that during the last lecture i cried mid class after the prof spent 1 hour long on a contingency table proof. i had to quiet down my crying because we only had a five minute break inbetween a second proof in the next hour

    Dec 2025 · liked it · 6 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

5 posts and comments in 5 threads mention SYDE 212, October 2017 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 2023

Winter 2022

Fall 2017

Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “… 470R SYDE 101 SYDE 101L SYDE 111 SYDE 113 SYDE 121 SYDE 161 SYDE 181 SYDE 182 SYDE 202 SYDE 212 SYDE 252 SYDE 262 SYDE 283 SYDE 286 SYDE 292 SYDE 292L SYDE 401 SYDE 411 SYDE 461 SYDE 533 SYDE 543 SYDE 553 SYDE 575 SYDE 631 SYDE 677 SYDE 682 SYDE 740 SYDE 750 SYDE 770 SYDE 780 …”

View on RedditRemove this

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar