SYDE 572Introduction to Pattern Recognition
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Systems Design Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Pattern recognition as a process of data analysis. Pattern features as components in a random vector representation. Classification techniques; distance measures in feature space, probabilistic (Bayesian) decision theory, linear discriminants. Clustering and feature extraction. Applications; optical character recognition, speech recognition, industrial robot vision, medical diagnosis, remote sensing and satellite image analysis, fault detection and diagnosis in complex systems such as nuclear reactors.
Prerequisites
- Complete 1 of the following
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 3A or higher
- Enrolled in H-Biomedical Engineering
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 3B or higher
- Enrolled in H-Systems Design Engineering
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 4A or higher
- Enrolled in H-Mechatronics Engineering
- Enrolled in Biomechanics Option, or Mechatronics Option
- Complete all of the following
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5189 | 31 / 60 | M 13:00–14:50 W 13:00–13:50 |
| TUT 101 | 5190 | 31 / 60 | W 14:00–14:50 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
71% liked it42% easy75% useful
From 7 ratings and 5 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
The course is essentially mathematics for machine learning. Programming is not formally covered but assignments require basic proficiency in Python for implementing and visualizing classifiers. The math is not difficult; it's basic linear algebra and some multivariate calculus. The assignments are short yet very time-consuming (implementing ML algorithms; you'll get much better at Python by the end of the term). The F23 breakdown is 4 assignments (4x17%), and an individual project (32%). For F23, the content was delivered by chalk and board so attendance is mandatory (the notes online are not pre-filled), but it's easy to follow along. The professor is fun, organized, and highly adaptive to…
Sep 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Super useful but honestly really difficult. There are four assignments and a final project but no exam. Don't be fooled by no exam, this course is hard and took a lot of time and had a fair amount of students drop. But if you put the time into the assignments you will learn a ton and be able to get a great mark.
Nov 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Learned lots of great stuff on pattern classification. Do the whole labs as practice for the midterm and final.
Mar 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Great course. Some unnecessary proofs, but you never need to derive anything. Alex Wong is a powerhouse, and draws lines between what I'm sure are pretty basic concepts and industry standard ML stuff. Despite being called "Pattern Recognition", the course mostly deals with ML concepts. Labs are pretty easy, but I think there were only 2 -- would've been nice to have another. Took it online during COVID, but was easy to do really well (high 90s).
Nov 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
All math. Prof taught alright but I expected more programming and less math-- probably my fault but it was basically advances stats for ML. Grades were not horrible but I didn't understand much of it so it all seemed a tad hand-wavy
May 2021 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
26 posts and comments in 19 threads mention SYDE 572, July 2020 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
“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. …”
u/Ok-Conclusion-5481: “… I took the undergrad offering (SYDE 572) and I learned a lot without having to spend too much time”
Spring 2024
CS 484 vs SYDE 572 1 point, 1 comment
u/OkYogurtcloset2917: “I’ve been trying to learn more about computer vision + ML and found CS 484 and SYDE 572. But it seems like the 2 look similar? I’m trying to gauge if it’s worth taking both or only one of them (and if so, which one). …”
u/ConsequenceNo3618: “I've taken SYDE 572; it's more math-based but there's some practical image processing via PyTorch. Here's the course notes https://sites.google.com/view/aliayub/teaching/syde-572-fall-2023 The offering I had was low workload, no tests/exams. …”
Course Selection for AI/ML + imaging 7 points, 6 comments
u/jawyau: “… ECE 457A ECE 457B SYDE 522 MSCI/MSE 446 SYDE 575 SYDE 572 ECE 495 CS 488 CS 484 I ideally want a lighter term but I also understand that some of the good courses are difficult so I'm willing to put in the effort if it's really worth it in the long run. …”
u/ConsequenceNo3618: “… There's some degree of image processing but not much SYDE 572 (w/Ali Ayub): Very math-heavy course but the assignments and project are almost entirely Python-based and very useful because of that. …”
Winter 2024
ML Application Course in MSCI and ECE, Advice 2 points, 5 comments
“I am currently a computer science student who's interested in sit in (and probably try asking professor for some of the assignments) of some of the machine learning related course. …”
u/1000Ditto: “i think you should take SYDE 572 with ayub ali/paul figueth you can see the info here https://sites.google.com/view/aliayub/teaching/syde-675-winter-2024?authuser=0 you should also talk with sirisha rambhatla about ml in general”
u/Impossible_Ebb2433: “I looked through SYDE 572 and it seems too mathematical for my taste. Wondering if you have any more applied/hands-on recommendation? Also, how would you recommend me approaching her? I know she's teaching MSCI 546 this term and heard good things about it.”
Interesting ML course from Engineering Department from Math Student 7 points, 8 comments
“I am an undergrad from the Faculty of Mathematics interested in data preprocessing and AI/ML stuff. Most of my courses so far in my undergrad has consisted of numerous ML/Data Science course offered …”
u/suiyui: “… Includes coding in the tutorials MSCI 546 // SYDE 572: Math-heavy and very in-depth. …”
Fall 2023
biol487/syde572 1 point, 2 comments
u/bibbenbap: “Gas anyone taken either BIOL487 or SYDE572? I’m thinking of doing one of them but I haven’t been able to find too much information on what these courses are like, esp BIOL487. Any insight is greatly appreciated and thanks in advance! :)”
u/suiyui: “I'm taking SYDE 572 right now and I think it's going to be slightly different based on who's teaching it but the F23 offering has 4 assignments and 1 project (no exam). Will definitely need a background in Python since you'll be writing classification algorithms. …”
Resume Building Courses 7 points, 2 comments
“List some courses preferably that requires no prerequisites or does, that teaches you software or any skill that would boost a resume. …”
u/suiyui: “… - ECE 457A for Metaheuristics, game theory, reinforcement learning, and fuzzy logic - SYDE 572 for Mathematics of machine learning - MSCI 333 for Simulation analysis and design”
SYDE 552 vs. SYDE 556 vs. SYDE 572 1 point, 1 comment
u/SnooOnions2981: “I'm struggling to decide which one to choose, and the comments in UWflow are from many years ago. Could someone who has taken any of these courses please share their insights on their usefulness and difficulty? Thanks”
u/suiyui: “Don't do SYDE 572, I'm taking it right now and it's pure math - not useful at all for machine learning”
u/suiyui: “See course notes here: Fall 2022: https://sites.google.com/view/aliayub/teaching/syde-572-fall-2023 Fall 2023: https://sites.google.com/view/aliayub/teaching/syde-572-fall-2023 It's not a difficult course but it's too theoretical and focused on the math behind machine learning. …”
Is ECE 406 do-able on co-op term? 1 point, 3 comments
u/Safi_world: “… as mentioned above (if there is a lab many of them seem to be online): MSCI 446, SYDE 522, SYDE 572, ECE 417, ECE 451, ECE 452, ECE 453, ECE 457B, ECE 459. …”
How to declare BCS Artificial Intelligence Specialization 1 point, 3 comments
“Hi! Did anyone take the AI specialization as a BCS? I’m in 2A and I’m super interested in AI, but I heard it’s a really competitive specialization. …”
u/DemocracE404: “… 4A planning on taking CS 452, SYDE 572 and 4B CS 486 and 492 Go look at the requirements and make sure to read the footnotes, there are a lot of course substitutions that can get you out of having to take some annoying engineering courses and all their prereqs.”
Spring 2022
NE 451/ SYDE 572 1 point, 0 comments
u/7BluePanda: “Hey, another post asking about courses... I'm thinking of taking one of these two courses, so I was wondering for those who have taken one or both of them, what your experiences were with them. Like regarding to workload, and maybe a bit more into the contents. …”
A GUIDE ON HOW TO PLAN AN OPTION 29 points, 15 comments
u/1000Ditto: “Hey all, here's an example (by yours truly) of how to plan an option. as someone who has been trying to get many options in but having a hard time, might as well write down my process so others can kind of benefit from it. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
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