Fall 2026

Advanced Computer Networks

COMPSCI 740 covers advanced topics in computer communications networks including congestion control, routing, and network services.

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Fall 2026 Ming Liu3.8/5

Summary

1 / 6

One review criticizes class management and grading transparency, describing the experience as unfair due to mystery quizzes and exam proctoring issues.

Grade history

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average GPA
letter grades
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Prerequisites

Course map

Graduate/professional standing

  • Graduate/professional standing
COMPSCI 740

This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.

Prerequisite text tree
  • Graduate/professional standing

Professors

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

Raw average: 4.40/5 from 5 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.

Ming Liu is described as knowledgeable in networks and passionate about teaching, with reviewers noting he makes complex concepts easy to understand. Students value his clear explanations of papers and describe him as an excellent mentor and researcher.

One reviewer criticized Liu's class management, citing unclear grading and inconsistent quiz difficulty. This student also reported unfairness regarding final exam time limits, contrasting with the generally positive sentiment found in other reviews.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2023: 3.92 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=13 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.74 GPA, 84.2% A/AB (n=19 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.82 GPA, 94.7% A/AB (n=19 letter grades).

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Ming Liu is the current instructor for COMPSCI 740. Historical reviews for Paul Barford show conflicting experiences, with one praising his interactive lectures and another offering no positive feedback.

MING LIU is recorded teaching in Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2024, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

PAUL BARFORD is recorded teaching in Spring 2014, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2020, Fall 2022, Spring 2025. 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 Instruction16 / 300

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

Reviewers praise Ming Liu as an extremely knowledgeable and passionate instructor who makes complex network concepts easy to understand.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2024: 3.74 GPA, 84.2% A/AB (n=19 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.66 GPA, 75.0% A/AB (n=16 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.82 GPA, 94.7% A/AB (n=19 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

One review criticizes class management and grading transparency, describing the experience as unfair due to mystery quizzes and exam proctoring issues.

Students appreciate Liu's clear explanations of abstract network concepts and his excellent selection of papers, recommending the course for both entry-level and graduate studies.

Topics

  • Congestion and flow control
  • Routing
  • Rate-based protocols
  • High speed interfaces and technologies
  • Network services

Skills

  • Advanced computer communications network analysis and design

Grades

Latest available · Fall 2025— not enough history to project Fall 2026.

average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
Instructor

Grade distribution · % of letter grades

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AB
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BC
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D
F

Grades over time

Through Fall 2025

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Not enough comparable courses for Fall 2026 in UW–Madison.

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
COMPSCI 740 · Fall 2026

Advanced Computer Networks

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": "1272:266:004323",
    "course_id": "COMPSCI 740",
    "course_uid": "course_b599104ce744034adf49c985",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "004323",
    "source_subject_id": "266",
    "title": "Advanced Computer Networks",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Occasionally"
  }
]
Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

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Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

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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": "6505e228f5976c7bb0dbf5c5cb6ff67d483b345557a4817af76d873e57f07fb5",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}