Sinclair enforces strict deadlines and requires diligent self-study. Wadle’s lectures are criticized as unhelpful or confusing, requiring heavy independent work.
“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Raw average: 3.83/5 from 40 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: 3.8/5 raw quality · 2.8/5 difficulty · 30
reviews
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Reviewers describe Setareh Behroozi as caring and knowledgeable, noting she explains material clearly during weekly discussions. They highlight her availability during office hours and her provision of resources to help students navigate the course content.
One reviewer reports that Behroozi is hard to reach outside of class and provides non-answers to grading questions. This reviewer notes that grading is largely handled by others, which limits her direct helpfulness despite her in-class clarity.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2024: 3.50 GPA, 75.4% A/AB (n=126 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.44 GPA, 70.1% A/AB (n=87 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.39 GPA, 71.4% A/AB (n=126 letter grades).
Raw average: 3.25/5 from 8 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.
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Shayne Wadle is praised for explaining concepts well, caring about student understanding, and providing helpful office hours and responsive lectures. Reviewers note he is transparent about test content and finishes class early for questions.
Other reviewers criticize the course structure, citing confusing slides, minimal problem-solving in lectures, and a requirement to self-learn material. They report that lectures are often unhelpful and that success relies heavily on homework and pattern recognition rather than lecture content.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.43 GPA, 66.8% A/AB (n=217 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.39 GPA, 69.1% A/AB (n=97 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.47 GPA, 67.6% A/AB (n=139 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.
Matt Sinclair receives criticism for a condescending tone and frustration when students ask questions or seek clarification via email. Reviewers describe his lectures as monotonous and discouraging, noting that his attitude shifts negatively outside of class interactions.
Other reviewers praise Sinclair for his clear slides, helpful office hours, and rapid Piazza responses. They highlight his ability to explain concepts well and provide necessary materials, contrasting sharply with the negative interpersonal feedback.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 3.51 GPA, 71.1% A/AB (n=211 letter grades); Spring 2024: 3.33 GPA, 68.5% A/AB (n=184 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.54 GPA, 73.9% A/AB (n=115 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.
Historical instructors & teaching patterns
Matt Sinclair, Setareh Behroozi, and Shayne Wadle have no specific review evidence in this dataset. Historical reviews for Karu Sankaralingam highlight clear explanations and interesting pacing, while Parmesh Ramanathan is noted for caring about learning and accepting late work.
ADIL IBRAHIM is recorded teaching in Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
DAVID A. WOOD is recorded teaching in Spring 2008, Spring 2009. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
ERIC HOFFMAN is recorded teaching in Spring 2019. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
GURINDAR SOHI is recorded teaching in Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2016. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
JOSEPH KRACHEY is recorded teaching in Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Spring 2022. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
KARTHIKEYAN SANKARALINGAM is recorded teaching in Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2021, Fall 2024. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
KATHERINE MORROW is recorded teaching in Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
MARK D. HILL is recorded teaching in Spring 2007, Fall 2007, Fall 2009, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2015. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
MATT SINCLAIR is recorded teaching in Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
MICHAEL MORROW is recorded teaching in Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Spring 2016. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
MIKKO LIPASTI is recorded teaching in Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2018, Spring 2020. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
SETAREH BEHROOZI is recorded teaching in Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
SHAYNE WADLE is recorded teaching in Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026. 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.
Section
Mode
Enrolled / capacity
Waitlist
LEC 001
Classroom Instruction
0 / 0
0
LEC 002
Classroom Instruction
152 / 152
0
LEC 004
Classroom Instruction
152 / 152
0
LEC 003
Classroom Instruction
0 / 0
0
LEC 001
Classroom Instruction
132 / 130
4
LEC 002
Classroom Instruction
0 / 0
0
LEC 004
Classroom Instruction
0 / 0
0
LEC 003
Classroom Instruction
93 / 92
8
Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.
Setareh Behroozi is praised for clear explanations and helpful office hours, though one reviewer notes she is hard to reach outside class. Matt Sinclair and Shayne Wadle receive polarized feedback regarding lecture clarity and responsiveness.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.41 GPA, 69.0% A/AB (n=699 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.41 GPA, 70.4% A/AB (n=570 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.40 GPA, 64.3% A/AB (n=589 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
Sinclair enforces strict deadlines and requires diligent self-study. Wadle’s lectures are criticized as unhelpful or confusing, requiring heavy independent work.
Behroozi and Wadle are praised for clarity and support. Sinclair's Piazza responsiveness is appreciated, though some reviewers find his tone condescending. Homeworks are noted to closely mirror exams.
Topics
Logic components and transistors
Boolean algebra
Combinational logic design
Synchronous sequential logic design
Computer organization and design
Machine- and assembly-language programming
Skills
Understanding logic components built with transistors
Understanding basic computer organization and design
Introductory machine- and assembly-language programming
Grades
Historical instructor
Fall 2026 · Projected
Before grades are released
3.093.09–3.633.63average GPA
Approximate 80% prediction interval
0.04.0
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 · 0.11 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
3.403.40GPA
Higher than 2222% of other courses
in this group.
Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range
589589letter grades
More recorded grades than 9898% of other courses in this group.
Typical course in this group: 66.066.0 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.