Current instructor

Adam Kern

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

Raw average: 3.68/5 from 25 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.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

LITTRANS 263
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Lectures were a bit rambly at times, but you need to pay attention because little details will be on quizzes. He knows his stuff, but participation is encouraged and he wont provide answers without class discussion. Overall, nice guy and interesting class. Note: this class was cross-listed with Asian 300 + 253.
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ASIAN 100
Quality 1/5Difficulty 4/5
DON"T choose this prof. For one, your final grade is not shown on canvas until it shows up on your transcript. Your participation grade is heavily based on if the professor likes you, so if you want an A, go to his office hours. I was not aware of this since it was not mentioned in the syllabus, and it was the one factor that dropped me to an AB.
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ASIAN 100
Quality 3/5Difficulty 1/5
Prof. Kern was okay. This was a guest lecturer class though so he really didn't actually lecture much. The format was okay, but during this session he was unable to any of the lecturers in person, understandable but sad. When he did lecture he seemed knowledgeable. He also really loves to play devils advocate when people participate in class.
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ASIAN 100
Quality 1/5Difficulty 4/5
I would rather be tied to the back of the 80 and dragged across campus than attend this lecture taught by a white man who doesn't understand privilege. craziest superiority complex. says the field would improve if all the text was written by him. yeah and maybe if I taught this class, everyone's will to attend this god awful class would improve.
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ASIAN 100
Quality 3/5Difficulty 1/5
There is an absurd amount of required reading for this class. Upwards of 600 pages in a week at times. But overall an interesting experience and an easy class. The professor himself is kind of an oddball.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Adam Kern

ASIAN 299 is a directed study course allowing undergraduates to conduct projects arranged with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

Surveys manga history and subgenres using critical visual and literary analysis.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2019: 3.83 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=6 letter grades); Fall 2020: 3.09 GPA, 50.0% A/AB (n=22 letter grades); Spring 2024: 3.50 GPA, 91.7% A/AB (n=12 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2024–Spring 2024 · limited sample

ASIAN 691 is a senior thesis course where non-honors students conduct research in collaboration with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

No recorded grade history

ASIAN 699 is a directed study course allowing students to work with a faculty member on an individual study program.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

ASIAN 799: READING FOR RESEARCH involves compiling reading lists and reading essential sources for preliminary exam fields under advisor guidance.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

Surveys manga history from premodern precursors to contemporary subgenres using critical frameworks.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Adam Kern is described as energetic, chill, and knowledgeable, with reviewers praising his willingness to help and foster critical thinking. Students find his classes engaging and enjoyable, noting thoughtful discussions and a supportive environment. However, opinions on difficulty vary significantly, with some finding the course challenging while others consider it exceptionally easy.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2024–Spring 2024 · limited sample

Recorded teaching history

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2026ASIAN 299Directed Study
Fall 2026ASIAN 376Manga
Fall 2026ASIAN 600Capstone Seminar in Asian Humanities
Fall 2026ASIAN 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026ASIAN 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2026ASIAN 698Directed Study
Fall 2026ASIAN 699Directed Study
Fall 2026ASIAN 799Reading for Research
Fall 2026ASIAN 990Thesis Research
Fall 2026LITTRANS 231Manga

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance
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