Spring 2027

Ordinary Differential Equations

A rigorous, proof-based introduction to ordinary differential equations and dynamical systems, covering formal definitions, standard theorems, and mathematical argumentation.

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Spring 2027 Mikhail Feldman2.5/5

Summary

1 / 6

Past student reviews · Jessica Lin

One student rated the difficulty as 5 out of 5, indicating a very challenging academic experience.

What you’ll be able to do

  • Recall and state the formal definitions of the mathematical objects and their properties used in ordinary differential equations (e.g., systems of differential equations, dependence on initial conditions, exponentials of matrices, Lyapunov functions, etc.).

  • Use such definitions to argue that a mathematical object does or does not have the condition of being a particular type or having a particular property (e.g., that a function is a solution to an ode, local and global stability of an equilibrium, that an initial value problem has a unique solution, etc.).

  • Recall and state the standard theorems of ordinary differential equations (e.g., the existence and uniqueness theorem, Hartman-Grobman theorem). Moreover, recall the arguments for these theorems and the underlying logic of their proofs.

  • Use such theorems in the context of longer arguments by examining their premises (e.g., differentiable dependence upon initial conditions, checking stability via Lyapunov functions, etc.).

  • Prove or disprove statements related to the above definitions, properties, and theorems using techniques of mathematical argument (direct methods, indirect methods, constructing examples and counterexamples, etc.).

  • Convey arguments in oral and written forms using English and appropriate mathematical terminology, notation and grammar.

  • Identify applications of course content in current areas of research.

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

(MATH 320, 340, 341, 345, or 375) and (MATH 322, 376, 421, or 521), graduate/professional standing, or declared in Mathematics VISP (undergraduate or graduate)

MATH 519 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

Spring 2027
Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 2.27/5 from 90 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 2020: 3.92 GPA, 91.7% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.76 GPA, 83.9% A/AB (n=31 letter grades).

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

JESSICA LIN is recorded teaching in Spring 2015. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

MIKHAIL FELDMAN is recorded teaching in Spring 2020, 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
LEC 001Classroom Instruction0 / 400

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 · Jessica Lin

A past student found the course difficult and described the historical instructor as unprofessional and impatient during office hours.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 2.89 GPA, 35.7% A/AB (n=14 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.11 GPA, 44.4% A/AB (n=27 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.76 GPA, 83.9% A/AB (n=31 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

Past student reviews · Jessica Lin

One student rated the difficulty as 5 out of 5, indicating a very challenging academic experience.

Past student reviews · Jessica Lin

The reviewer felt awkward and uncomfortable during office hours because the instructor seemed impatient when asked for re-explanations.

Topics

  • Ordinary differential equations and dynamical systems.
  • Formal definitions: systems of differential equations, initial conditions, matrix exponentials, Lyapunov functions.
  • Standard theorems: existence and uniqueness, Hartman-Grobman theorem.

Skills

  • Rigorous, proof-based analysis of ordinary differential equations and dynamical systems.
  • Application and understanding of standard theorems like existence/uniqueness and Hartman-Grobman.
  • Mathematical argumentation including direct/indirect methods and counterexamples.
  • Oral and written communication of mathematical arguments with proper terminology.

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

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

1280 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.

Download part 1
Selected offering source records
MATH 519 · Spring 2027

Ordinary Differential Equations

Recorded 2026-10-14
Raw records 
[
  {
    "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1",
    "semester": "1274",
    "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1274:600:022401",
    "course_id": "MATH 519",
    "course_uid": "course_cdda28fe1e1896676250b6f8",
    "term_id": "1274",
    "source_course_id": "022401",
    "source_subject_id": "600",
    "title": "Ordinary Differential Equations",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Spring"
  }
]
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": "9be699bd866e2d69c9d32a813be52b1ea26335109563a9ce7200cb11b3ba5582",
  "requirements_status": "needs_review",
  "dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
  "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}