# Easiest courses in Actuarial Science | UW–Madison [View on UW Courses](https://uwcourses.com/departments/ACTSCI/easiest) ## Dataset ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ### repository twangodev/uwcourses ### schema version 6 ### importer version 7 ### projection id 52a78527ff09011d88cb04c7d43867d9fbfec2930bf1dd2ec359ebd2844e0b07 ### observed at 2026-09-07T15:55:43.033547+00:00 ### built at 2026-09-10T19:50:42.743001+00:00 ### courses 8951 ### current instructors 5754 ### limited false ### terms * 1272 * 1264 * 1262 * 1254 * 1252 * 1244 * 1242 * 1234 * 1232 * 1224 * 1222 * 1212 * 1204 * 1202 * 1194 * 1192 * 1184 * 1182 * 1174 * 1172 * 1164 * 1162 * 1154 * 1152 * 1144 * 1142 * 1134 * 1132 * 1124 * 1122 * 1114 * 1112 * 1104 * 1102 * 1094 * 1092 * 1084 * 1082 * 1074 * 1072 ### term 1272 ### departments | subject | count | | --------- | ----- | | AAE | 90 | | ABT | 20 | | ACCTIS | 36 | | ACTSCI | 14 | | AFAERO | 10 | | AFRICAN | 87 | | AFROAMER | 71 | | AGROECOL | 21 | | AMERIND | 53 | | ANAT\&PHY | 7 | | ANATOMY | 2 | | ANESTHES | 8 | | ANSCI | 57 | | ANTHRO | 95 | | ART | 125 | | ARTED | 10 | | ARTHIST | 121 | | ASIALANG | 129 | | ASIAN | 109 | | ASIANAM | 28 | | ASTRON | 38 | | ATMOCN | 69 | | BIOCHEM | 51 | | BIOCORE | 10 | | BIOLOGY | 14 | | BIOMDSCI | 18 | | BME | 66 | | BMI | 41 | | BMOLCHEM | 10 | | BOTANY | 69 | | BSE | 44 | | C\&ESOC | 73 | | CBE | 48 | | CHEM | 101 | | CHICLA | 52 | | CIVENGR | 133 | | CLASSICS | 47 | | CNP | 10 | | CNSRSCI | 50 | | COMARTS | 137 | | COMPBIO | 15 | | COMPLIT | 11 | | COMPSCI | 138 | | COUNPSY | 78 | | CRB | 19 | | CS\&D | 71 | | CSCS | 40 | | CURRIC | 193 | | DANCE | 93 | | DERM | 8 | | DS | 88 | | DYSCI | 35 | | ECE | 155 | | ECON | 145 | | EDPOL | 114 | | EDPSYCH | 97 | | ELPA | 70 | | EMA | 53 | | EMERMED | 17 | | ENGL | 206 | | ENTOM | 40 | | ENVIRST | 148 | | EP | 15 | | EPD | 67 | | ESL | 16 | | F\&WECOL | 60 | | FAMMED | 22 | | FINANCE | 50 | | FOLKLORE | 40 | | FOODSCI | 43 | | FRENCH | 63 | | GEN\&WS | 145 | | GENBUS | 72 | | GENECSLR | 17 | | GENETICS | 60 | | GEOG | 113 | | GEOSCI | 83 | | GERMAN | 82 | | GLE | 48 | | GNS | 38 | | GREEK | 27 | | HDFS | 41 | | HEBR-BIB | 13 | | HEBR-MOD | 10 | | HISTORY | 233 | | HISTSCI | 56 | | HONCOL | 13 | | ILS | 43 | | INFOSYS | 9 | | INTEGART | 7 | | INTEGSCI | 22 | | INTER-AG | 18 | | INTER-HE | 11 | | INTER-LS | 22 | | INTEREGR | 16 | | INTLBUS | 21 | | INTLST | 50 | | ISYE | 83 | | ITALIAN | 53 | | JEWISH | 56 | | JOURN | 88 | | KINES | 128 | | LACIS | 26 | | LANDARC | 61 | | LATIN | 24 | | LAW | 120 | | LEGALST | 48 | | LINGUIS | 35 | | LIS | 89 | | LITTRANS | 78 | | LSC | 52 | | M\&ENVTOX | 7 | | MARKETNG | 62 | | MATH | 153 | | MDGENET | 8 | | ME | 130 | | MEDHIST | 43 | | MEDICINE | 60 | | MEDIEVAL | 32 | | MEDPHYS | 39 | | MEDSC-M | 29 | | MEDSC-V | 41 | | MHR | 68 | | MICROBIO | 45 | | MILSCI | 16 | | MM\&I | 22 | | MOLBIOL | 6 | | MS\&E | 59 | | MUSIC | 165 | | MUSPERF | 126 | | NAVSCI | 20 | | NE | 44 | | NEURODPT | 11 | | NEUROL | 7 | | NEURSURG | 4 | | NTP | 11 | | NURSING | 111 | | NUTRSCI | 65 | | OBS\&GYN | 18 | | OCCTHER | 39 | | ONCOLOGY | 14 | | OPHTHALM | 5 | | OTM | 43 | | PATH | 34 | | PATH-BIO | 29 | | PEDIAT | 26 | | PHARMACY | 31 | | PHILOS | 77 | | PHMCOL-M | 11 | | PHMPRAC | 45 | | PHMSCI | 60 | | PHYASST | 37 | | PHYSICS | 88 | | PHYSIOL | 3 | | PHYTHER | 37 | | PLANTSCI | 52 | | PLPATH | 35 | | POLISCI | 192 | | POPHLTH | 58 | | PORTUG | 33 | | PSYCH | 101 | | PSYCHIAT | 22 | | PUBAFFR | 54 | | PUBLHLTH | 23 | | RADIOL | 11 | | REALEST | 41 | | RELIGST | 90 | | RHABMED | 9 | | RMI | 24 | | RP\&SE | 102 | | S\&APHM | 17 | | SCANDST | 73 | | SLAVIC | 89 | | SOC | 149 | | SOCWORK | 87 | | SOILSCI | 46 | | SPANISH | 83 | | SRMED | 21 | | STAT | 94 | | STDYABRD | 52 | | STS | 8 | | SURGERY | 25 | | SURGSCI | 33 | | THEATRE | 91 | | URBRPL | 60 | | UROLOGY | 5 | | ZOOLOGY | 89 | ## subject ACTSCI ## collection easiest ## results ### items ```json [ { "course_uid": "course_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2", "course_id": "ACTSCI 652", "title": "FUNDAMENTALS OF SHORT-TERM ACTUARIAL MODELING", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.205, "badges": [], "description": "Covers the definition and selection of probability distributions for heavily tailed and skewed insurance data.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 132, 46, 67, 30, 18, 11, 4 ], "count": 308, "gpa": 3.2857142857142856, "topShare": 57.7922077922078, "firstTerm": "1224", "lastTerm": "1264" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2", "uid": "instructor_16108f07e489ecef35556124", "name": "Paul Johnson", "quality": 3.719820447740912, "quality_count": 15, "instructor_url": "/instructors/PAUL_JOHNSON" } ], "instructorHistory": null, "courseComparison": null, "claim": { "citations": [ { "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "review_date": "2021-04-16 20:59:23 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "667817129b9784af6329fe31", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM0NTY0MTMw", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "review_date": "2023-04-23 22:20:02 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "0f87a21987ce64ecf17555c4", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM3Njk0ODI2", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "type": "review" } ], "text": "The course is naturally very difficult and demanding, requiring significant time for practice problems and homework to succeed, which may stress students with outside obligations." }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/reviews/course_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2-0.json" ] } }, { "course_uid": "course_201b25ecc8a2ddee30b320c8", "course_id": "ACTSCI 653", "title": "ADVANCED SHORT-TERM ACTUARIAL MODELING", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.262, "badges": [ { "id": "lecture-size", "label": "Small lectures", "tone": "neutral", "evidence": "Fall 2026: median 23 enrolled students across 1 recorded lecture section. Small means 30 or fewer; large means 100 or more. Enrollment at scan time, not capacity or typical historical attendance.", "sources": [ { "label": "Sections and enrollment", "href": "/courses/ACTSCI_653#schedule" } ] } ], "description": "Advanced short-term actuarial modeling focusing on parameter estimation for heavy-tailed insurance data and credibility assessment for ratemaking.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 53, 34, 43, 16, 6, 7, 0 ], "count": 159, "gpa": 3.2641509433962264, "topShare": 54.71698113207547, "firstTerm": "1224", "lastTerm": "1262" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_201b25ecc8a2ddee30b320c8", "uid": "instructor_16108f07e489ecef35556124", "name": "Paul Johnson", "quality": 3.719820447740912, "quality_count": 15, "instructor_url": "/instructors/PAUL_JOHNSON" } ], "instructorHistory": null, "courseComparison": null, "claim": { "citations": [ { "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "review_date": "2018-05-05 18:04:04 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "711e2f1cf439cd1f2c764335", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTI5OTk3MTM5", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "review_date": "2026-01-30 17:48:33 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "bd5e06b4ffb8cc6e13b49ce2", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyNTY3OTk2", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "type": "review" } ], "text": "Reviewers describe the material as difficult, though one notes exams are more predictable than in related courses." }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/reviews/course_201b25ecc8a2ddee30b320c8-0.json" ] } }, { "course_uid": "course_0dc2eef4cc55721b49c22e15", "course_id": "ACTSCI 303", "title": "THEORY OF INTEREST", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.228, "badges": [ { "id": "rated-teacher", "label": "Highly rated instructor", "tone": "positive", "evidence": "Fall 2026: Kirk Peter (4.51/5 adjusted; 56 ratings). At least one assigned instructor qualifies. This describes instructor reviews across courses, not a course rating.", "sources": [ { "label": "Kirk Peter", "href": "/instructors/KIRK_PETER" } ] } ], "description": "Theory of Interest covers time value of money, annuities, bonds, and interest rate risk management techniques.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 137, 124, 104, 46, 32, 14, 3 ], "count": 460, "gpa": 3.232608695652174, "topShare": 56.739130434782616, "firstTerm": "1224", "lastTerm": "1264" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_0dc2eef4cc55721b49c22e15", "uid": "instructor_2492b97524066b08af74d790", "name": "Kirk Peter", "quality": 4.514654153564893, "quality_count": 56, "instructor_url": "/instructors/KIRK_PETER" } ], "instructorHistory": null, "courseComparison": null, "claim": { "citations": [ { "instructor_name": "Kirk Peter", "review_date": "2013-05-06 17:46:48 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "bb4b8fde5586fc0f4d9f9be8", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:917965", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTIxNjg4Mzk2", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/917965", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Kirk Peter", "review_date": "2013-05-14 23:03:17 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "a880f034694d234bdd07a2a3", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:917965", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTIxNzYxNTI5", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/917965", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Kirk Peter", "review_date": "2013-11-22 00:35:16 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "b5119342da450fee4cfed7e2", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:917965", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTIyMzcwMDIy", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/917965", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Kirk Peter", "review_date": "2014-05-19 17:31:50 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "73a49de70a420721f76307db", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:917965", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTIzMjc5OTYy", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/917965", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Kirk Peter", "review_date": "2016-01-02 14:02:51 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "4c379c8823ca48ecae1161ff", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:917965", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTI1ODYwNDU1", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/917965", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Kirk Peter", "review_date": "2016-04-14 17:34:22 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "d8efc067760128682a689ba7", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:917965", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTI2Mjk5NTY5", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/917965", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Kirk Peter", "review_date": "2024-12-12 00:22:03 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "96a1095a50e51c28e2fdd882", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:917965", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQwMjM2MDg0", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/917965", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Kirk Peter", "review_date": "2025-12-22 16:23:50 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "f10050e6cf9a3fecf8be631e", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:917965", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyMzc1MjIy", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/917965", "type": "review" } ], "text": "The course features challenging material and difficult exams, including a final exam worth 50% of the grade. Success requires significant preparation, including completing substantial homework and utilizing external resources like coaching subscriptions to master the content." }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/reviews/course_0dc2eef4cc55721b49c22e15-0.json" ] } }, { "course_uid": "course_cf57ee176273b438b9f1adc9", "course_id": "ACTSCI 650", "title": "FUNDAMENTALS OF LONG-TERM ACTUARIAL MODELING", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.12, "badges": [], "description": "Covers advanced mathematical theory of life contingencies, including mortality laws and the calculation of premiums and reserves for single-life insurance and annuities.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 114, 74, 54, 49, 43, 15, 4 ], "count": 353, "gpa": 3.1175637393767706, "topShare": 53.25779036827195, "firstTerm": "1224", "lastTerm": "1264" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_cf57ee176273b438b9f1adc9", "uid": "instructor_c6effbe874feca614e46f646", "name": "Gordon Enderle", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/GORDON_ENDERLE" } ], "instructorHistory": null, "courseComparison": null, "claim": { "citations": [ { "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "review_date": "2016-05-06 15:40:36 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "c70a649cf9c23309a6661c83", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTI2NDkxNjY4", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Margie Rosenberg", "review_date": "2021-05-24 19:50:17 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "6b084ae720b5dfe7e3c5ff9d", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2329429", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM0ODUwNTA1", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2329429", "type": "review" } ], "text": "Historical reviews of Margie Rosenberg, Paul Johnson: Reviews cite heavy emphasis on proofs and detailed memory requirements, with homework and exams featuring long, story-like questions that some find annoying." }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/reviews/course_cf57ee176273b438b9f1adc9-0.json" ] } } ] ``` ### total 4 ### page 1 ### kind course ### q ### term 1272 ### availability offered ### filters #### ranking easiest #### subject ACTSCI