Fall 2026

Fundamentals of Data Analytics for Economists

ECON 570 introduces the data underlying quantitative economic analysis, teaching students to formulate research questions, access data sources, conduct analysis, and report findings professionally.

offering recorded3–4 credits

Summary

1 / 7

John Brauer's course involves significant Python coding for econometrics, which reviewers find difficult without prior CS or econometrics background, though one Data Science student found it easy.

Grade history

average GPA
letter grades
A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

[ECON 310, (STAT 240 and 340), or (STAT 303 and 333)], and (ECON 301 or 311)

ECON 570

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: 4.50/5 from 2 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.

Ashley Swanson delivers impeccable, interesting, and informative lectures that cover many topics quickly but not deeply. Reviewers describe her as friendly and the class as straightforward with low time consumption, though she is noted as a tough grader despite heavy curving.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 3.77 GPA, 88.5% A/AB (n=96 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.80 GPA, 92.1% A/AB (n=89 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.79 GPA, 91.5% A/AB (n=82 letter grades).

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

Raw average: 3.67/5 from 3 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.

John Brauer teaches ECON 570 with a heavy emphasis on coding econometrics in Python, though one reviewer notes he explains little code and the course is mislabeled regarding prerequisites.

Other students found the course easy with low stress and good content, while another reviewer described Brauer as fair and understanding for those who attend class.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.81 GPA, 92.2% A/AB (n=129 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.82 GPA, 94.6% A/AB (n=74 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.79 GPA, 91.1% A/AB (n=157 letter grades).

No course-specific feedback yet.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Historical reviews for Kim Ruhl describe him as caring, accessible, and clear, with students valuing his supportive feedback and project-based learning. Conversely, recent reviews criticize his lectures as unengaging and report inconsistent grading standards, including a dispute over an F grade for a well-researched paper versus an A+ for a simple suggestion.

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

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

KIM RUHL is recorded teaching in Spring 2020, Spring 2022, Fall 2023. 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 Instruction94 / 969
DIS 301Classroom Instruction24 / 241
DIS 302Classroom Instruction23 / 245
DIS 303Classroom Instruction24 / 243
DIS 304Classroom Instruction23 / 240
LEC 002Classroom Instruction96 / 962
DIS 311Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 312Classroom Instruction24 / 242
DIS 313Classroom Instruction24 / 240
DIS 314Classroom 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

Students report mixed experiences with current instructors Ashley Swanson and John Brauer. Swanson offers clear, fast-paced lectures with tough grading, while Brauer provides valuable Python content and is viewed as fair and understanding.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.81 GPA, 92.2% A/AB (n=129 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.80 GPA, 92.9% A/AB (n=156 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.79 GPA, 91.1% A/AB (n=157 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

John Brauer's course involves significant Python coding for econometrics, which reviewers find difficult without prior CS or econometrics background, though one Data Science student found it easy.

Ashley Swanson is praised for impeccable, interesting lectures and fairness despite tough grading. John Brauer is viewed as fair and understanding, with students noting that attending class and paying attention leads to an enjoyable experience.

Topics

  • Quantitative economic analysis, research question formulation, economic data sources, preliminary and formal analysis, professional reporting.

Skills

  • Formulating research questions, accessing economic data sources, conducting preliminary and formal analysis, and reporting findings professionally.

Grades

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

average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
Instructor

Grade distribution · % of letter grades

A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

Grades over time

Through Spring 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 570 · Fall 2026

Fundamentals of Data Analytics for Economists

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": "1272:296:025570",
    "course_id": "ECON 570",
    "course_uid": "course_05d67a715fdacf96f5e1d957",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "025570",
    "source_subject_id": "296",
    "title": "Fundamentals of Data Analytics for Economists",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 4,
    "typically_offered": "Not Applicable"
  }
]
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": "b660c15dd91fa4ba738ef3996e509e7bda2aa60337528ead1c7dedefa46a1a48",
  "requirements_status": "needs_review",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}