Historical instructor

CHARLES FISCHER

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.80/5 from 5 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

CS367 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Hilarious professor. He actually said this the last lecture: "Greedy is another type of algorithm. Just like Christopher Columbus exploring America, pillaging and stealing from the natives, greed can pay off, because all of central america now speaks spanish, so I guess being greedy worked out well in his case." . . . lol what?
Rate My Professors ↗
CS367 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Professor Fischer is one of the most prestigious professors here in UW-Madison and it was my pleasure to have a chance taking his class. This is the last time CS367 being taught and he really made it a memorable class. But Professor Fischer is about to retire so take his classes if you have a chance.
Rate My Professors ↗
COMPSCI 536
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
I took compilers from Fischer in Fall 2013. Assignments were cumulative & difficult, but he allowed extra credit; It's difficult, but DO IT. It's worth the trouble. I spent a lot of time asking him questions in office hours, he was extremely helpful.I learned a lot from him (he really knows his stuff). He wrote the textbook after all..
Rate My Professors ↗
COMPSCI 536
Quality 4/5Difficulty 3/5
Likes the subject and is writing a text on compilers. Has a lot of energy in his lectures and is funny in his way. Sometimes his lectures seem unrelated to the projects, but eventually it all ties together. Enjoyed the class and learned a great deal without being overwhelmed.
Rate My Professors ↗

Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with CHARLES FISCHER

No teaching recorded in Fall 2026.

View last recorded teaching term →

No courses match this selection. Try the full catalog or another term.

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2018COMPSCI 536Introduction to Programming Languages and Compilers
Spring 2018COMPSCI 799Master's Research
Spring 2016COMPSCI 536Introduction to Programming Languages and Compilers
Spring 2015COMPSCI 536Introduction to Programming Languages and Compilers
Fall 2014COMPSCI 701Construction of Compilers
Fall 2013COMPSCI 536Introduction to Programming Languages and Compilers
Fall 2012COMPSCI 536Introduction to Programming Languages and Compilers
Fall 2008COMPSCI 699Directed Study
Fall 2008COMPSCI 701Construction of Compilers
Fall 2008COMPSCI 899Pre-dissertator Research
Fall 2008COMPSCI 990Dissertation
Spring 2008COMPSCI 536Introduction to Programming Languages and Compilers
Spring 2008COMPSCI 538Introduction to the Theory and Design of Programming Languages
Spring 2008COMPSCI 990Dissertation
Fall 2007COMPSCI 701Construction of Compilers
Fall 2007COMPSCI 990Dissertation
Spring 2007COMPSCI 536Introduction to Programming Languages and Compilers
Spring 2007COMPSCI 538Introduction to the Theory and Design of Programming Languages
Spring 2007COMPSCI 990Dissertation
Spring 2007COMPSCI 999Dissertator Research
Fall 2006COMPSCI 701Construction of Compilers
Fall 2006COMPSCI 990Dissertation
Fall 2006COMPSCI 999Dissertator Research

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

Instructor identity & provenance 
{
  "instructor_uid": "instructor_92a5c5f4376e1cc8faef70d3",
  "source": "madgrades",
  "source_instructor_id": "2600411",
  "identity_basis": "source_id",
  "identity_status": "source_identified",
  "name": "CHARLES FISCHER",
  "email": null,
  "first_observed_at": "2026-09-06 23:14:58.172943+00:00",
  "last_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
  "ratings": {
    "review_count": 5,
    "quality": 4.8,
    "difficulty": 2.6,
    "quality_count": 5,
    "difficulty_count": 5,
    "profile_id": "rmp:1056518",
    "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1056518",
    "match_basis": "exact_name",
    "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:49:12.610026+00:00",
    "courses": {
      "course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0": {
        "review_count": 3,
        "quality": 4.67,
        "difficulty": 2.33,
        "quality_count": 3,
        "difficulty_count": 3
      }
    },
    "bayesian_quality": 3.8877486268372765,
    "prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957,
    "prior_weight": 20
  },
  "grade_statistics": {
    "gpa": 3.411,
    "graded": 462,
    "counts": [
      210,
      130,
      62,
      22,
      19,
      2,
      17
    ],
    "sections": 23
  },
  "current": false,
  "courses": [],
  "revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "instructor_url": "/instructors/CHARLES_FISCHER"
}