Historical instructor

ALAN RUBEL

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.67/5 from 24 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

LS460 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 4/5
Pretty challenging course, but I loved it. I think that for as long as you keep up with your readings and attend lecture, you will be fine. Do not underestimate the exams, as they make up a huge part of your grade and are fairly difficult. Helps if you know a little about the Fourth and Fifth Amendment before taking this course.
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LIS 461
Quality 3/5Difficulty 2/5
I routinely forgot that this was supposed to be a class about ethics. For a class about the moral implications surrounding the use of data mining and algorithms he sure does love talking about legality. A lot of the readings are dense and long, but if you just get the jist of what they're saying and watch his online lectures, you should get an A.
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LIS 461
Quality 4/5Difficulty 3/5
His knowledge about law and related materials is really good and he does a great job of communicating that to students. He is really helpful and accessible outside of class. Overall he's a solid choice and I'd recommend you take a class with him.
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LIS 201
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Professor Rubel was by far the best professor I ever had. His lectures were super interesting and engaging and he strove to make sure everyone was engaged with and understanding of the material. Also he's just a super really approachable and clearly cares about your education. Plus 201 is an easy class that made me a better writer for sure.
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LS450 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Alan is obviously passionate about what he teaches which makes lectures that much more enjoyable. There is a lot of reading, but he does a good job at highlighting the most important ones that will be on the exams. The exams are a timed essay, but if you've done the readings or attended lecture you will do fine. Overall great professor
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LIS 201
Quality 4/5Difficulty 1/5
The lectures are interesting, but there is no reason to attend unless you find them interesting. Your grade is based solely on papers and these weekly memos which require little to no effort. There is lots of reading which can be very dry at times. He is passionate though and is worth attending if you find it interesting.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with ALAN RUBEL

LIS 399 is an independent reading and research course focused on concentrated work on a subject or problem of interest.

No offering record · Spring 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2026LIS 399Independent Reading and Research
Fall 2025LEGALST/LIS 460Surveillance, Privacy, and Police Powers
Spring 2025LIS 399Independent Reading and Research
Spring 2025LIS 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2024LEGALST/LIS 663Introduction to Cyberlaw
Fall 2024LIS 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2024LEGALST 407Jurisprudence and Social Issues
Spring 2024LIS 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2023LIS 340Topics in Information Studies - Social Aspects
Fall 2023LIS 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2023LEGALST/LIS 663Introduction to Cyberlaw
Spring 2023LIS 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2022LIS 931Seminar in Information Policy, Management and Institutions
Fall 2022LIS 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2022LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Spring 2022LIS 661Information Ethics and Policy
Spring 2022LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Fall 2021LIS 461Data and Algorithms: Ethics and Policy
Fall 2021LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Fall 2020LEGALST 400Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences
Fall 2020LEGALST 450Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities
Fall 2020LIS 461Data and Algorithms: Ethics and Policy
Fall 2020SOC 496Topics in Sociology
Spring 2020GEN&WS 320Special Topics in Gender, Women and Society
Spring 2020LEGALST 400Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences
Spring 2020LEGALST 444Law in Action
Spring 2020LEGALST 450Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities
Spring 2020LIS 661Information Ethics and Policy
Spring 2020LIS 931Seminar in Information Policy, Management and Institutions
Spring 2020LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Spring 2020SOC 496Topics in Sociology
Fall 2019LIS 201The Information Society
Fall 2019LIS 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2019LIS 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2018LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Spring 2018LIS 661Information Ethics and Policy
Spring 2018LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Fall 2017LIS 201The Information Society
Fall 2017LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Spring 2017LEGALST 450Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities
Spring 2017LIS 661Information Ethics and Policy
Spring 2017LIS 931Seminar in Information Policy, Management and Institutions
Spring 2017LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Fall 2016LEGALST/LIS 460Surveillance, Privacy, and Police Powers
Fall 2016LIS 201The Information Society
Fall 2016LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Spring 2016LEGALST 450Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities
Spring 2016LIS 661Information Ethics and Policy
Spring 2016LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Fall 2015LEGALST/LIS 460Surveillance, Privacy, and Police Powers
Fall 2015LIS 201The Information Society
Spring 2015LEGALST/LIS 460Surveillance, Privacy, and Police Powers
Spring 2015LIS 661Information Ethics and Policy
Spring 2014LEGALST 450Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities
Spring 2014LIS 661Information Ethics and Policy
Spring 2014LIS 931Seminar in Information Policy, Management and Institutions
Fall 2013LEGALST 400Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences
Fall 2013LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Spring 2013LEGALST 450Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities
Spring 2013LIS 661Information Ethics and Policy
Spring 2013LIS 999Independent Reading and Research
Fall 2012LEGALST 400Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences
Fall 2012LEGALST 699Directed Study
Spring 2012LEGALST 450Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities
Spring 2012LIS 661Information Ethics and Policy
Spring 2012LIS 931Seminar in Information Policy, Management and Institutions
Fall 2011LEGALST 400Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences
Spring 2011LEGALST 450Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities
Spring 2011LIS 661Information Ethics and Policy
Fall 2010LEGALST 400Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences

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

Instructor identity & provenance
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