Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - STAT 652 G100

Statistical Learning and Prediction (3)

Class Number: 7128

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 3 – Oct 11, 2025: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Oct 12 – Oct 22, 2025: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Oct 23 – Dec 2, 2025: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 9, 2025
    Tue, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    STAT 302 or STAT 305 or STAT 350 or STAT 604 or STAT 605 or ECON 333 or equivalent.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the essential modern supervised and unsupervised statistical learning methods. Topics include review of linear regression, classification, statistical error measurement, flexible regression and classification methods, clustering and dimension reduction. Open only to graduate students in departments other than Statistics and ActSci. Students with credit for STAT 452 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Outline:

1. Statistical Learning and Prediction
2. Measuring prediction error
3. Linear regression essentials and extensions
4. Classification: Predicting categorical data
5. Variable selection in linear regression
6. Non-linear regression methods
7. Trees and ensembles
8. Additional modern prediction methods
9. Unsupervised learning: clustering and dimension reduction

Grading

  • Assignment 10%
  • Midterm Exam 25%
  • Class Project 25%
  • Final Project 40%

NOTES:

Above grading is subject to change.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

An Introduction to Statistical Learning with Applications in R. Gareth James, Daniela Witten, Trevor Hastie and Robert Tibshirani (2013). New York: Springer. 

Book is available for free online through the SFU Library
ISBN-13: 978-1461471370.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.