Spring 2027

Advanced Topics in Geology

Advanced Topics in Geology covers special topics in Geoscience, focusing on evaluating research, assessing scientific information, and communicating results to peers.

offering recorded1–3 credits
Recorded instructors · Spring 2027 Stephen Meyers4.5/5Shanan Peters4.3/5Clay Kelly4.2/5 +11 more

Summary

1 / 6

Past student reviews · David Lovelace

The review did not provide specific details regarding workload, assessment methods, or concrete difficulty demands.

What you’ll be able to do

  • Evaluate research in a specific field.

  • Assess scientific information and ask thoughtful questions.

  • Communicate scientific material to peers.

Source: UW Guide

Grade history

↗
average GPA
letter grades
A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

Graduate/professional standing

  • Graduate/professional standing
GEOSCI 875

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

Prerequisite text tree
  • Graduate/professional standing

Professors

Spring 2027

Stephen Meyers

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.81/5 from 58 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.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=7 letter grades); Fall 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Spring 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=6 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Shanan Peters

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.38/5 from 96 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.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=9 letter grades); Fall 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Spring 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=6 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Clay Kelly

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.47/5 from 45 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.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2016: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=7 letter grades); Fall 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Spring 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=9 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.78/5 from 9 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.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=9 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.97 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=15 letter grades); Spring 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=6 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.23/5 from 26 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.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=9 letter grades); Spring 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=7 letter grades); Spring 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=14 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.62/5 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.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=14 letter grades); Spring 2026: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=6 letter grades).

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.48/5 from 23 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.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2019: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.33/5 from 9 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.

No course-specific feedback yet.

Annie Bauer

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 2.59/5 from 17 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.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=9 letter grades); Fall 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Spring 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=6 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades).

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2019: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Fall 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=9 letter grades); Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=6 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

No course-specific feedback yet.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=9 letter grades); Spring 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=15 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

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

ANN BAUER is recorded teaching in Fall 2020, Fall 2021, 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.

ATHENA NGHIEM is recorded teaching in Spring 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

BASIL TIKOFF is recorded teaching in Fall 2006, Spring 2007, Fall 2008, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

BRADLEY S. SINGER is recorded teaching in Fall 2006, Spring 2007, Fall 2007, Fall 2010, Spring 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Fall 2024, Fall 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

CHLOE BONAMICI is recorded teaching in Spring 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

CLAY KELLY is recorded teaching in Spring 2007, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Fall 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

DAVID LOVELACE is recorded teaching in Spring 2020, Fall 2020. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

KEN FERRIER is recorded teaching in Spring 2019. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

SELVA MARROQUIN is recorded teaching in Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

SHANAN PETERS is recorded teaching in Spring 2008, Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2012, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, 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.

SHAUN MARCOTT is recorded teaching in Fall 2014, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, 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.

STEPHEN MEYERS is recorded teaching in Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, 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

Spring 2027

Schedule loads here as you scroll.

SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist
SEM 001Classroom Instruction0 / 150
SEM 006Classroom Instruction0 / 150
SEM 004Classroom Instruction0 / 150
SEM 002Classroom Instruction0 / 150
SEM 003Classroom Instruction0 / 150
SEM 005Classroom Instruction0 / 150
SEM 007Classroom Instruction0 / 150
SEM 008Classroom Instruction0 / 150
SEM 009Classroom Instruction0 / 150

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

Meeting source records
Download part 1

Student experience

the class

Past student reviews · David Lovelace

Past students described the course as a directed study experience that required students to contact the instructor directly to participate.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=57 letter grades); Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=28 letter grades); Spring 2026: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=6 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

Past student reviews · David Lovelace

The review did not provide specific details regarding workload, assessment methods, or concrete difficulty demands.

Past student reviews · David Lovelace

A former student noted that the instructor cared deeply about students and readily facilitated undergraduate research, particularly with a paleontology focus.

Topics

  • Special topics in Geoscience.

Skills

  • Evaluating research in a specific field.
  • Assessing scientific information and asking thoughtful questions.
  • Communicating scientific material to peers.

Grades

Latest available · Spring 2026— not enough history to project Spring 2027.

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

Not enough comparable courses for Spring 2027 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.

Download part 1
Selected offering source records
GEOSCI 875 · Spring 2027

Advanced Topics in Geology

Recorded 2026-10-14
GEOSCI 875 · Spring 2027

Petroleum Geology

Recorded 2026-10-14
GEOSCI 875 · Spring 2027

Earth Science Writing

Recorded 2026-10-14
GEOSCI 875 · Spring 2027

Justice Focused Geoscience

Recorded 2026-10-14
GEOSCI 875 · Spring 2027

Adv Topic:Sed Points of Light

Recorded 2026-10-14
GEOSCI 875 · Spring 2027

Geochronology

Recorded 2026-10-14
GEOSCI 875 · Spring 2027

Course Design in Geosciences

Recorded 2026-10-14
GEOSCI 875 · Spring 2027

Reactive Transport Modeling

Recorded 2026-10-14
GEOSCI 875 · Spring 2027

Nebraska Sand Hills

Recorded 2026-10-14
GEOSCI 875 · Spring 2027

AppliedTectonicGeochemPetro

Recorded 2026-10-14
Raw records 
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Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

Read original reviews
Download part 1
Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Dataset & model

Recorded 2026-10-14

View the dataset on Hugging Face
Model outputs & technical records
Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B
LLM outputs across runs
Download part 1
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Download part 1
Model & dataset provenance 
{
  "model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
  "model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
  "task_version": "17",
  "output_id": "83c17b26a461a15f9a8ea5e60491a517ddc63ea6a403d33802d855405d1b6250",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
  "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}