Fall 2026

Principles of Microeconomics

ECON 101 introduces microeconomic principles focusing on value, pricing, and income distribution across individuals, firms, and industries.

offering recorded4 credits

Summary

1 / 7

Reviewers describe weekly cycles of textbook reading, video lectures, participation activities, problem sets, and quizzes. Assessments include multiple midterms and a final exam, with some professors dropping one midterm or offering open-note exams.

Grade history

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

Prerequisites

Course map

Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A. Not open to students with credit forECON 111.

    • Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A
    • not eligible with
    take all
ECON 101 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
  • All of
    • Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A
    • Not eligible with

Professors

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

Raw average: 4.56/5 from 70 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: 4.5/5 raw quality · 2.5/5 difficulty · 67 reviews

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

Steve Trost is praised as an engaging, clear lecturer who uses real-life examples and organized slides. Reviewers highlight his fairness, availability, and graph-heavy teaching style. Many recommend him for ECON 101.

Some find lectures boring or long, noting attendance is optional due to recordings. One reviewer criticized the final for tricky questions. Another noted discussion quality varies by TA.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.24 GPA, 60.4% A/AB (n=331 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.17 GPA, 57.0% A/AB (n=755 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.14 GPA, 50.3% A/AB (n=296 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

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

Raw average: 3.71/5 from 62 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: 3.6/5 raw quality · 2.7/5 difficulty · 36 reviews

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

Recent reviewers praise Fran Flanagan for clear slides, helpful graphs, and practice exams mirroring actual tests. They describe the class as easy, with recorded lectures and straightforward exams.

Early reviews criticized Fran Flanagan for poorly worded, trick questions and dry lectures, though test wording reportedly improved in Spring 2023.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 3.06 GPA, 48.6% A/AB (n=208 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.44 GPA, 70.0% A/AB (n=353 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.21 GPA, 58.9% A/AB (n=304 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

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

Raw average: 2.77/5 from 91 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 · 3.0/5 difficulty · 36 reviews

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

Rebecca Glawtschew is described as kind, fair, and helpful, with clear guidelines and slow, understandable explanations. Reviewers note her dry lectures but appreciate that she ensures students grasp the material and provides helpful slides.

Some students found the course extremely difficult and test-heavy, with hard exams and excessive content. These reviewers criticized the lack of engagement and reported that the grading structure made achieving good scores very challenging.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2021: 2.99 GPA, 41.8% A/AB (n=433 letter grades); Spring 2023: 3.09 GPA, 44.1% A/AB (n=304 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.15 GPA, 49.7% A/AB (n=334 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 3.18 GPA, 53.5% A/AB (n=327 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.25 GPA, 59.2% A/AB (n=390 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.15 GPA, 56.2% A/AB (n=377 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2022: 3.04 GPA, 52.7% A/AB (n=419 letter grades); Spring 2023: 3.09 GPA, 44.1% A/AB (n=304 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.22 GPA, 52.2% A/AB (n=203 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.21 GPA, 58.9% A/AB (n=304 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.08 GPA, 47.1% A/AB (n=280 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

No course-specific feedback yet.

No course-specific feedback yet.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Historical reviews of David Johnson, Gregory Pac, Kanit Kuevibulvanich: Kanit Kuevibulvanich received a negative review, while David Johnson was highly recommended. Gregory Pac was communicative but relied on slide-reading, requiring independent study.

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

DAVID JOHNSON is recorded teaching in Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

ELIZABETH KELLY is recorded teaching in Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2022. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

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

GEOFFREY WALLACE is recorded teaching in Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2014, Fall 2016. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

GRZEGORZ PAC is recorded teaching in Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Fall 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

GWYN PAULEY is recorded teaching in Fall 2017, Spring 2019. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

JOHANNA J HERTEL is recorded teaching in Spring 2007, Fall 2007. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

KANIT KUEVIBULVANICH is recorded teaching in Fall 2013. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

MARK COLAS is recorded teaching in Spring 2013, Fall 2013. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

MARLENA ELEY is recorded teaching in Fall 2022, Spring 2023. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

OLIVIA WILKINSON is recorded teaching in Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

REBECCA GLAWTSCHEW is recorded teaching in Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Spring 2023, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

STEVE TROST is recorded teaching in 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.

WENDY EUDEY is recorded teaching in Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015. 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 Instruction312 / 3120
LEC 002Classroom Instruction384 / 3840
LEC 003Classroom Instruction384 / 3840
DIS 304Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 309Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 311Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 312Classroom Instruction24 / 240
LEC 004Classroom Instruction382 / 3840
DIS 306Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 307Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 344Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 313Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 392Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 331Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 332Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 333Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 334Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 335Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 336Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 338Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 339Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 340Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 356Classroom Instruction23 / 240
DIS 357Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 359Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 362Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 351Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 384Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 385Classroom Instruction0 / 00
DIS 389Classroom Instruction23 / 240
DIS 301Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 386Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 390Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 308Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 388Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 363Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 358Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 303Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 352Classroom Instruction25 / 240
DIS 302Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 337Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 343Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 353Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 354Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 382Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 381Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 305Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 341Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 360Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 361Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 355Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 391Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 364Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 330Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 310Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 342Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 365Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 383Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 387Classroom Instruction23 / 240
DIS 393Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 395Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 345Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 394Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 350Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 396Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 397Classroom Instruction24 / 240

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

Meeting source records

Student experience

the class

The course features recorded lectures and weekly problem sets, with assessments including multiple midterms and a final. Students report that utilizing practice exams and completing homework helps them understand the material and prepare for tests.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.15 GPA, 50.4% A/AB (n=1085 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.17 GPA, 55.4% A/AB (n=1411 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.18 GPA, 50.7% A/AB (n=908 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

Reviewers describe weekly cycles of textbook reading, video lectures, participation activities, problem sets, and quizzes. Assessments include multiple midterms and a final exam, with some professors dropping one midterm or offering open-note exams.

Some students value clear guidelines and practice exams that mirror actual tests. Others find the material dry or struggle with confusing exam wording, particularly in sections taught by Fran Flanagan or Rebecca Glawtschew.

Topics

  • Economic problems of individuals, firms, and industries
  • Value, price, and distribution of income

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 · 0.08 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.

Selected offering source records
ECON 101 · Fall 2026

Principles of Microeconomics

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": "1272:296:005546",
    "course_id": "ECON 101",
    "course_uid": "course_921b4908221d05cbad377045",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "005546",
    "source_subject_id": "296",
    "title": "Principles of Microeconomics",
    "credits_min": 4,
    "credits_max": 4,
    "typically_offered": "Fall, Spring, Summer"
  }
]
Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

Read original reviews
Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Model outputs & technical records
nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Model & dataset provenance
{
  "model": "nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4",
  "model_revision": "1355db6a052410cfd62085d94b58866fd0f2c3c5",
  "task_version": "14",
  "output_id": "6deb4da9f165dbf83b116482b04831b4fd9148c960f002cf418fa6e4c860c364",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}