Current instructor

Adam Nelson

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

Raw average: 4.26/5 from 27 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

Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
I wish I could have taken this class in person because Prof. Nelson tried his hardest to make lectures interesting and engaging but sometimes the information was still kind of dry. Two essays, a final exam, and weekly discussion posts assignments are graded by TAs.
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HIST412 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
His lectures were always super engaging and kept me interested! Funny storytelling like lectures which was easy to follow. I wish more professors were like him
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EPS412 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
I had him during the COVID-19 closings and he was awesome. Very flexible, funny narrative-style lectures, and very clearly organized. 10/10 would recommend :))
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HS412 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
The grade was based on; 20% participation 50% 2 papers and 30% Final. Had very high expectations for the papers, not the kind of thing you could BS at the last minute. Recommend meeting with him or your TA to discuss papers beforehand. 2-hour final involved needing to know about 100 terms in depth. Good solid lectures. Interesting class overall.
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EDPOLICY412 · course not matched
Quality 3/5Difficulty 4/5
Professor Nelson was a tough teacher, but a great one. It certainly wasn't an easy A, but I definitely learned a lot. Attend his discussion section if you can--he is very specific about how he wants papers done and it absolutely helps to have him as a resource in discussion. Head in for office hours, too. He's a cool dude and very passionate
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41201 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 5/5
Professor Nelson is without a doubt my favorite professor. His lectures are so interesting, clear and targeted that the class goes by extremely fast. The TA's who lead discussion don't even compare to how fantastic Prof Nelson is. He's super available to meet up outside of class and genuinely cares about the topic. Best class I've taken
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Adam Nelson

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

Examines the comparative history of radical and experimental education in the US and UK since 1800, focusing on social, cultural, and intellectual contexts of diverse educational experiments.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2010: 3.25 GPA, 58.3% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Spring 2015: 3.88 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Fall 2020: 3.86 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=11 letter grades).

No recorded grade history

Examines the history of federal aid to education from 1776 to the present, focusing on policy evolution and the federal role in public schooling.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2010: 3.56 GPA, 75.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Spring 2013: 3.27 GPA, 76.9% A/AB (n=13 letter grades); Spring 2018: 3.68 GPA, 81.8% A/AB (n=11 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

No recorded grade history

HISTORY 699 is a directed study course allowing students to conduct independent research under faculty supervision.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

HISTORY 999 is an independent work course involving directed study under faculty supervision.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

Recorded teaching history

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2026EDPOL 399Independent Reading
Fall 2026EDPOL 990Research or Thesis
Fall 2026EDPOL 999Independent Reading
Fall 2026EDPOL/HISTORY 622History of Radical and Experimental Education in the US and Uk
Fall 2026EDPOL/HISTORY 665History of the Federal Role in American Education
Fall 2026HISTORY 698Directed Study
Fall 2026HISTORY 699Directed Study
Fall 2026HISTORY 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2026HISTORY 999Independent Work

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

Instructor identity & provenance
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