Fall 2026

Hiv: Sex, Society and Science

PATH/PATH-BIO 210 covers the transmission, immunology, virology, vaccinology, and societal impact of HIV.

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Fall 2026 Thomas Friedrich3.9/5David O'Connor3.7/5Heidi Horn

Summary

1 / 6

The course is considered not very difficult, but grading relies heavily on three multiple-choice exams and attendance. Reviewers note that studying for these exams is important despite the straightforward nature of the tests.

Grade history

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

Prerequisites

Course map

None

  • None
PATH/PATH-BIO 210

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

Prerequisite text tree
  • None

Professors

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

Raw average: 5.00/5 from 4 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.

Thomas Friedrich is consistently praised as an engaging and insightful professor who teaches alongside David O'Connor. Reviewers highlight his well-established expertise and ability to make scientific content accessible, particularly regarding the global context of HIV/AIDS. Students report that his lectures are clear and enhance understanding of the course material.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 3.75 GPA, 83.3% A/AB (n=30 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.88 GPA, 93.1% A/AB (n=29 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.83 GPA, 82.8% A/AB (n=29 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

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

Raw average: 5.00/5 from 1 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.

David O'Connor is described as a great professor who teaches in a small, honors-only setting where lectures function like discussions. Reviewers note the course is not very difficult, ranking it among the less science-heavy biology credits.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 3.75 GPA, 83.3% A/AB (n=30 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.88 GPA, 93.1% A/AB (n=29 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.83 GPA, 82.8% A/AB (n=29 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Historical reviews for David Watkins describe the course as easy and engaging, with a focus on understanding rather than memorization. However, a later review notes a shift toward microbiology and scientific classifications, making the class more challenging for top grades while shortening other units.

DAVID O'CONNOR is recorded teaching in Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

DAVID WATKINS is recorded teaching in Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Fall 2010. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

THOMAS FRIEDRICH is recorded teaching in Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Fall 2025. 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 Instruction23 / 302
LEC 001Classroom Instruction6 / 300

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

Reviewers describe PATH210 as an accessible, low-difficulty honors course with small class sizes and engaging lectures. Current instructors David O'Connor and Thomas Friedrich are consistently praised as great, established, and insightful professors.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 3.75 GPA, 83.3% A/AB (n=30 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.88 GPA, 93.1% A/AB (n=29 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.83 GPA, 82.8% A/AB (n=29 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

The course is considered not very difficult, but grading relies heavily on three multiple-choice exams and attendance. Reviewers note that studying for these exams is important despite the straightforward nature of the tests.

Students appreciate the small class size and discussion-like lectures. The content is described as accessible for non-STEM majors and up-to-date, with Thomas Friedrich specifically noted for enhancing understanding of global contexts like the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Topics

  • HIV transmission, immunology, virology, and vaccinology
  • Societal impact of HIV

Grades

Latest available · Fall 2025— 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 Fall 2025

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Not enough comparable courses for Fall 2026 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.

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Selected offering source records
PATH/PATH-BIO 210 · Fall 2026

HIV: Sex, Society and Science

Recorded 2026-09-07
PATH/PATH-BIO 210 · Fall 2026

HIV: Sex, Society and Science

Recorded 2026-09-07
Raw records
[
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    "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4",
    "semester": "1272",
    "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1272:703:022902",
    "course_id": "PATH/PATH-BIO 210",
    "course_uid": "course_55f2e0b9acc7c3438bb264ac",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "022902",
    "source_subject_id": "703",
    "title": "HIV: Sex, Society and Science",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Fall"
  },
  {
    "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4",
    "semester": "1272",
    "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1272:704:022902",
    "course_id": "PATH/PATH-BIO 210",
    "course_uid": "course_55f2e0b9acc7c3438bb264ac",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "022902",
    "source_subject_id": "704",
    "title": "HIV: Sex, Society and Science",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Fall"
  }
]
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 2026-09-07

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": "69544f974389addab9f4a4136cec2d68003776f21e3095b8c104268dc82fcdcf",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}