Reviewers consistently rate the difficulty as low, noting that exams are not too difficult, though the lack of clear expectations may require students to navigate the course structure independently.
“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Raw average: 4.40/5 from 5 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: 3.5/5 raw quality · 2.0/5 difficulty · 2
reviews
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Shelby Ellison is described as a great professor who makes the course content interesting and engaging for students who did not expect to enjoy it.
However, the class under Shelby Ellison can benefit from more organization and clearer expectations, leading to mixed quality perceptions.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2025: 3.54 GPA, 76.3% A/AB (n=38 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.
Shelby Ellison's PLANTSCI 110 receives polarized feedback, with students describing her as engaging and the exams as manageable, while others criticize the course for lacking organization and clear expectations.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2025: 3.54 GPA, 76.3% A/AB (n=38 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
Reviewers consistently rate the difficulty as low, noting that exams are not too difficult, though the lack of clear expectations may require students to navigate the course structure independently.
Students report finding the content interesting and engaging under Shelby Ellison, but this is contrasted by frustrations regarding the class's organization and the need for clearer expectations.
Topics
Historical and economic importance of plants
Plant origin, classification, and distribution
Plant breeding, growth, and physiology
Agroecosystems and production practices
Integrated pest management and marketing
Skills
Application of modern agricultural technologies
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
A68.4%68.4%
AB7.9%7.9%
B10.5%10.5%
BC5.3%5.3%
C2.6%2.6%
D2.6%2.6%
F2.6%2.6%
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Where this course fits relative to
Latest available grades · Fall 2025 · all course levels
3.543.54GPA
Higher than 3333% of other courses
in this group.
Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range
3838letter grades
More recorded grades than 1616% of other courses in this group.
Typical course in this group: 70.070.0 letter grades.
About this comparison
1320 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.