Fall 2026

Statistical Experimental Design

STAT 424 introduces statistical experimental design, covering randomization, blocking, factorial designs, and response surface methodology with engineering applications.

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Fall 2026 Peter Chien3.4/5Sifan Tao

Summary

1 / 7

Workload involves writing R code for homework, while exams are often predictable and similar to practice problems, though self-study via the textbook is recommended.

Grade history

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average GPA
letter grades
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All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

(MATH/​STAT 310,STAT 333, or 340) or (declared in Mechanical Engineering BS and one ofSTAT 240, 301, 302, 312, 324, 371, orI SY E 210), or graduate/professional standing

STAT 424 used by

“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.

Prerequisite text tree

Professors

Fall 2026
/5Adjusted rating
/5RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.06/5 from 18 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

For this course: 3.2/5 raw quality · 3.4/5 difficulty · 17 reviews

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

Peter Chien is praised for clear explanations, engaging examples, and inspiring students. Reviewers note he is available for questions and provides helpful practice problems, with some finding the class easy and fun when attending lectures and office hours.

Other reviewers criticize Chien as unorganized and ineffective, stating lectures lack direction. They report that self-study is necessary, exams are predictable, and communication with TAs is poor, though some find the material itself manageable despite the teaching style.

No course-specific feedback yet.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Historical reviews for Wei-Yin Loh describe conflicting experiences. Some praise his energy and clear teaching, while others find his exams tricky and lecture slides insufficient. Historical reviews for Pixu Shi highlight patient instruction and clear notes. Reviewers report her exams are long but fairly graded, requiring consistent effort.

EDWARD ERKER is recorded teaching in Spring 2022. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

NIMAL WICKREMASINGHE is recorded teaching in Fall 2024. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

PIXU SHI is recorded teaching in Spring 2019, Spring 2020. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

WEI-YIN LOH is recorded teaching in Fall 2006, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2015, Fall 2022. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Calendar & sections

Fall 2026

Schedule loads here as you scroll.

SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist
LEC 001Classroom Instruction70 / 723
DIS 311Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 312Classroom Instruction23 / 240
DIS 313Classroom Instruction23 / 243

Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.

Meeting source records
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Student experience

the class

Peter Chien receives high praise for clear explanations, engaging examples, and inspiring students, with some noting easy exams and accessible office hours.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.55 GPA, 68.6% A/AB (n=51 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.55 GPA, 76.3% A/AB (n=59 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.67 GPA, 76.7% A/AB (n=60 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

Workload involves writing R code for homework, while exams are often predictable and similar to practice problems, though self-study via the textbook is recommended.

Some students find lectures unorganized, rambling, and confusing, with concerns about TA communication and unclear direction, contrasting with positive experiences.

Topics

  • Randomization, blocking, and replication.
  • Randomized blocking and Latin square designs.
  • Full factorial, fractional factorial, and response surface methodology.
  • Digital transformation and A/B testing applications.

Skills

  • Statistical design and analysis of experiments.
  • Design principles including randomization, blocking, replication, and factorial designs.
  • Engineering applications of experimental design.
  • Application of experimental design to digital transformation and A/B testing.

Grades

Historical instructor

Fall 2026 · Projected

Before grades are released

– average GPA

Approximate 80% prediction interval

About this estimate

The course’s semester-average GPA, not an individual student’s grade. The center uses 5 same-season terms, weighted toward recent results.

The range uses the finite-sample 80th-percentile rank of absolute errors from earlier same-season forecasts. Each forecast uses only records from earlier terms. At least four forecasts are required; bounds are rounded outward and limited to 0–4. This is an empirical estimate: changing instructors or grading policies can reduce its coverage.

8 earlier forecasts · 0.07 GPA average error.

Grades over time

Through Fall 2026

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Where this course fits relative to

Latest available grades · Spring 2026 · all course levels

GPA

Higher than % of other courses in this group.

Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range

letter grades

More recorded grades than % of other courses in this group.

Typical course in this group: letter grades.

About this comparison

1283 courses over the same term, each with at least 30 recorded letter grades. Cross-listed courses count once. GPA is not a measure of difficulty or teaching quality. The typical course is the median by recorded grade count; tied values are not counted as lower. Grade counts describe course scale, not unique students or typical section size.

Descriptions compare GPA with this group’s average: at least 0.20 higher or lower; otherwise close to average. Section size uses median recorded enrollment: small up to 30, mid-sized 31–99, large 100+. Lectures and discussion/lab sections are described separately.

Sources & history

UW–Madison

Catalog & offerings

Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.

Catalog observation history

Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.

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Selected offering source records
STAT 424 · Fall 2026

Statistical Experimental Design

Recorded 2026-09-07
Raw records
[
  {
    "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4",
    "semester": "1272",
    "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1272:932:018463",
    "course_id": "STAT 424",
    "course_uid": "course_3c746e3add116a6aa2b49441",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "018463",
    "source_subject_id": "932",
    "title": "Statistical Experimental Design",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Fall, Spring, Summer"
  }
]
Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

Read original reviews
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Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Dataset & model

Recorded 2026-09-07

Download the original dataset
Model outputs & technical records
nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4
LLM outputs across runs
Download part 1
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Download part 1
Model & dataset provenance
{
  "model": "nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4",
  "model_revision": "1355db6a052410cfd62085d94b58866fd0f2c3c5",
  "task_version": "14",
  "output_id": "1f5f07da8f186e5749f7c87d96eecee720fc7c71ab9d610648f0b696ca4f034e",
  "requirements_status": "needs_review",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}