Fall 2026

Introduction to Applied Econometrics

ECON 400 introduces applied econometrics, teaching statistical methods to evaluate empirical relationships and test economic theory using real-world data.

offering recorded4 credits
Recorded instructors · Fall 2026 Christopher Mckelvey4.5/5Julie KimMasahiro Nishida

Summary

1 / 7

The course features reasonable problem sets and challenging exams. While tests are considered tricky or hard, reviewers find them fair and note that they are curved.

Grade history

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

Prerequisites

Course map

ECON 310, (STAT 240 and 340), STAT 302, 303, 311, 324,STAT/​MATH 309, or 431. Not open to students with credit forECON 410.

ECON 400 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

Christopher Mckelvey

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

Raw average: 4.66/5 from 92 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: 5.0/5 raw quality · 3.6/5 difficulty · 12 reviews

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

Christopher Mckelvey is consistently praised for making difficult economic concepts accessible through clear explanations and engaging lectures. Reviewers highlight his passion, availability for help, and supportive nature. While some note exams are tricky or hard, others find them fair or easy, with consistent mentions of curve adjustments and clear expectations.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.11 GPA, 43.9% A/AB (n=205 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.07 GPA, 42.0% A/AB (n=143 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.06 GPA, 42.6% A/AB (n=197 letter grades).

No course-specific feedback yet.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Historical reviews of James Walker: James Walker is described as nice but extremely boring, causing students to struggle to stay awake. Reviewers found the class unengaging despite an interest in economics.

CHRISTOPHER MCKELVEY is recorded teaching in Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Spring 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.

MATTHEW FRIEDMAN is recorded teaching in Spring 2020, 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 Instruction184 / 809
DIS 301Classroom Instruction22 / 102
DIS 302Classroom Instruction24 / 101
DIS 303Classroom Instruction23 / 103
DIS 304Classroom Instruction21 / 101
DIS 305Classroom Instruction23 / 100
DIS 307Classroom Instruction24 / 102
DIS 308Classroom Instruction23 / 100
DIS 306Classroom Instruction24 / 100

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

Christopher McKelvey is described as an engaging lecturer who makes difficult material accessible. Reviewers note his passion for economics and his willingness to help students succeed through clear explanations and support.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.11 GPA, 43.9% A/AB (n=205 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.07 GPA, 42.0% A/AB (n=143 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.06 GPA, 42.6% A/AB (n=197 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

The course features reasonable problem sets and challenging exams. While tests are considered tricky or hard, reviewers find them fair and note that they are curved.

Students appreciate recorded lectures, posted solutions, and responsive office hours. Success is associated with attending class, completing problem sets, and understanding the material.

Topics

  • Empirical relationships and economic theory testing.
  • Application of econometrics to real-world data.

Skills

  • Applying econometric methods to real-world data using statistical software.
  • Understanding and evaluating empirical economic research.

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.

6 earlier forecasts · 0.05 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
ECON 400 · Fall 2026

Introduction to Applied Econometrics

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": "1272:296:025031",
    "course_id": "ECON 400",
    "course_uid": "course_67164e31bc510b3170f584a8",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "025031",
    "source_subject_id": "296",
    "title": "Introduction to Applied Econometrics",
    "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
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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": "84a24ca1fa9dc98cf16838fe1a9d1b45f6d21637abb334c792e22b85bebfa92e",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}