Raw average: 4.47/5 from 19 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: 4.8/5 raw quality · 2.3/5 difficulty · 4
reviews
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Michael Light is praised for engaging, funny lectures that make criminology interesting. Reviewers note he tests primarily on lectures rather than the textbook, making exams fair and manageable. He is described as knowledgeable, respectful, and genuinely caring about student interaction.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2018: 3.68 GPA, 91.6% A/AB (n=95 letter grades); Fall 2019: 3.65 GPA, 90.7% A/AB (n=97 letter grades); Spring 2022: 3.36 GPA, 68.4% A/AB (n=95 letter grades).
Historical reviews of Michael Massoglia: Michael Massoglia is praised for his fairness and helpful discussions, though some find his lectures unengaging and reliant on external sources. Students report that exams are moderately difficult and require thorough reading and critical engagement with the material to succeed.
CECILE DAVID is recorded teaching in Spring 2011. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
JASON NOLEN is recorded teaching in Spring 2019, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
MELANIE MURCHISON is recorded teaching in Spring 2018. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
MICHAEL LIGHT is recorded teaching in Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Spring 2022. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
MICHAEL MASSOGLIA is recorded teaching in Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2020, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 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
Fall 2026
Schedule loads here as you scroll.
Section
Mode
Enrolled / capacity
Waitlist
LEC 001
Classroom Instruction
94 / 99
7
DIS 301
Classroom Instruction
24 / 25
3
DIS 302
Classroom Instruction
25 / 25
2
DIS 303
Classroom Instruction
23 / 25
0
DIS 304
Classroom Instruction
22 / 25
2
Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.
Reviewers describe Michael Light's SOC 441 lectures as engaging, funny, and interesting, with one noting the tests are very fair.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 2.94 GPA, 52.6% A/AB (n=97 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.65 GPA, 78.0% A/AB (n=91 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.05 GPA, 48.2% A/AB (n=85 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
Tests cover lecture content rather than the textbook, making readings optional for exam preparation, though they may aid understanding.
Students appreciate Light's respectful interaction and engagement during class, finding his teaching style highly recommended and thought-provoking.
Topics
Theoretical explanations of criminal behavior.
Measurement of crime.
Evaluation of criminological research.
Current issues in criminology and crime-related public policy.
Skills
Measuring crime.
Evaluating criminological research.
Grades
Historical instructor
Fall 2026 · Projected
Before grades are released
3.003.00–4.004.00average GPA
Approximate 80% prediction interval
0.04.0
About this estimate
The course’s semester-average GPA, not an individual student’s grade. The center uses 5 same-season terms, weighted toward recent results.
The range uses the finite-sample 80th-percentile rank of absolute errors from earlier same-season forecasts. Each forecast uses only records from earlier terms. At least four forecasts are required; bounds are rounded outward and limited to 0–4. This is an empirical estimate: changing instructors or grading policies can reduce its coverage.
8 earlier forecasts · 0.30 GPA average error.
Grades over time
Through Fall 2026
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Where this course fits relative to
Latest available grades · Spring 2026 · all course levels
3.053.05GPA
Higher than 66% of other courses
in this group.
Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range
8585letter grades
More recorded grades than 6161% of other courses in this group.
Typical course in this group: 66.066.0 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.