{"schema_version":1,"url":"https://uwcourses.com/instructors/DANIEL_KAPUST--instructor_bde436b5ef3cd8973f7d2aaa","title":"Daniel Kapust — Courses & Reviews | UW–Madison","dataset":{"revision":"e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349","repository":"twangodev/uwcourses","schema_version":6,"importer_version":"7","projection_id":"85abe9ff8837c2c5a134368dcc4cfc85eb723524b21ddeb3d2e953887d2f0c8f","observed_at":"2026-09-07T15:55:43.033547+00:00","built_at":"2026-09-11T07:45:51.576183+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":"AAE","count":90},{"subject":"ABT","count":20},{"subject":"ACCTIS","count":36},{"subject":"ACTSCI","count":14},{"subject":"AFAERO","count":10},{"subject":"AFRICAN","count":87},{"subject":"AFROAMER","count":71},{"subject":"AGROECOL","count":21},{"subject":"AMERIND","count":53},{"subject":"ANAT&PHY","count":7},{"subject":"ANATOMY","count":2},{"subject":"ANESTHES","count":8},{"subject":"ANSCI","count":57},{"subject":"ANTHRO","count":95},{"subject":"ART","count":125},{"subject":"ARTED","count":10},{"subject":"ARTHIST","count":121},{"subject":"ASIALANG","count":129},{"subject":"ASIAN","count":109},{"subject":"ASIANAM","count":28},{"subject":"ASTRON","count":38},{"subject":"ATMOCN","count":69},{"subject":"BIOCHEM","count":51},{"subject":"BIOCORE","count":10},{"subject":"BIOLOGY","count":14},{"subject":"BIOMDSCI","count":18},{"subject":"BME","count":66},{"subject":"BMI","count":41},{"subject":"BMOLCHEM","count":10},{"subject":"BOTANY","count":69},{"subject":"BSE","count":44},{"subject":"C&ESOC","count":73},{"subject":"CBE","count":48},{"subject":"CHEM","count":101},{"subject":"CHICLA","count":52},{"subject":"CIVENGR","count":133},{"subject":"CLASSICS","count":47},{"subject":"CNP","count":10},{"subject":"CNSRSCI","count":50},{"subject":"COMARTS","count":137},{"subject":"COMPBIO","count":15},{"subject":"COMPLIT","count":11},{"subject":"COMPSCI","count":138},{"subject":"COUNPSY","count":78},{"subject":"CRB","count":19},{"subject":"CS&D","count":71},{"subject":"CSCS","count":40},{"subject":"CURRIC","count":193},{"subject":"DANCE","count":93},{"subject":"DERM","count":8},{"subject":"DS","count":88},{"subject":"DYSCI","count":35},{"subject":"ECE","count":155},{"subject":"ECON","count":145},{"subject":"EDPOL","count":114},{"subject":"EDPSYCH","count":97},{"subject":"ELPA","count":70},{"subject":"EMA","count":53},{"subject":"EMERMED","count":17},{"subject":"ENGL","count":206},{"subject":"ENTOM","count":40},{"subject":"ENVIRST","count":148},{"subject":"EP","count":15},{"subject":"EPD","count":67},{"subject":"ESL","count":16},{"subject":"F&WECOL","count":60},{"subject":"FAMMED","count":22},{"subject":"FINANCE","count":50},{"subject":"FOLKLORE","count":40},{"subject":"FOODSCI","count":43},{"subject":"FRENCH","count":63},{"subject":"GEN&WS","count":145},{"subject":"GENBUS","count":72},{"subject":"GENECSLR","count":17},{"subject":"GENETICS","count":60},{"subject":"GEOG","count":113},{"subject":"GEOSCI","count":83},{"subject":"GERMAN","count":82},{"subject":"GLE","count":48},{"subject":"GNS","count":38},{"subject":"GREEK","count":27},{"subject":"HDFS","count":41},{"subject":"HEBR-BIB","count":13},{"subject":"HEBR-MOD","count":10},{"subject":"HISTORY","count":233},{"subject":"HISTSCI","count":56},{"subject":"HONCOL","count":13},{"subject":"ILS","count":43},{"subject":"INFOSYS","count":9},{"subject":"INTEGART","count":7},{"subject":"INTEGSCI","count":22},{"subject":"INTER-AG","count":18},{"subject":"INTER-HE","count":11},{"subject":"INTER-LS","count":22},{"subject":"INTEREGR","count":16},{"subject":"INTLBUS","count":21},{"subject":"INTLST","count":50},{"subject":"ISYE","count":83},{"subject":"ITALIAN","count":53},{"subject":"JEWISH","count":56},{"subject":"JOURN","count":88},{"subject":"KINES","count":128},{"subject":"LACIS","count":26},{"subject":"LANDARC","count":61},{"subject":"LATIN","count":24},{"subject":"LAW","count":120},{"subject":"LEGALST","count":48},{"subject":"LINGUIS","count":35},{"subject":"LIS","count":89},{"subject":"LITTRANS","count":78},{"subject":"LSC","count":52},{"subject":"M&ENVTOX","count":7},{"subject":"MARKETNG","count":62},{"subject":"MATH","count":153},{"subject":"MDGENET","count":8},{"subject":"ME","count":130},{"subject":"MEDHIST","count":43},{"subject":"MEDICINE","count":60},{"subject":"MEDIEVAL","count":32},{"subject":"MEDPHYS","count":39},{"subject":"MEDSC-M","count":29},{"subject":"MEDSC-V","count":41},{"subject":"MHR","count":68},{"subject":"MICROBIO","count":45},{"subject":"MILSCI","count":16},{"subject":"MM&I","count":22},{"subject":"MOLBIOL","count":6},{"subject":"MS&E","count":59},{"subject":"MUSIC","count":165},{"subject":"MUSPERF","count":126},{"subject":"NAVSCI","count":20},{"subject":"NE","count":44},{"subject":"NEURODPT","count":11},{"subject":"NEUROL","count":7},{"subject":"NEURSURG","count":4},{"subject":"NTP","count":11},{"subject":"NURSING","count":111},{"subject":"NUTRSCI","count":65},{"subject":"OBS&GYN","count":18},{"subject":"OCCTHER","count":39},{"subject":"ONCOLOGY","count":14},{"subject":"OPHTHALM","count":5},{"subject":"OTM","count":43},{"subject":"PATH","count":34},{"subject":"PATH-BIO","count":29},{"subject":"PEDIAT","count":26},{"subject":"PHARMACY","count":31},{"subject":"PHILOS","count":77},{"subject":"PHMCOL-M","count":11},{"subject":"PHMPRAC","count":45},{"subject":"PHMSCI","count":60},{"subject":"PHYASST","count":37},{"subject":"PHYSICS","count":88},{"subject":"PHYSIOL","count":3},{"subject":"PHYTHER","count":37},{"subject":"PLANTSCI","count":52},{"subject":"PLPATH","count":35},{"subject":"POLISCI","count":192},{"subject":"POPHLTH","count":58},{"subject":"PORTUG","count":33},{"subject":"PSYCH","count":101},{"subject":"PSYCHIAT","count":22},{"subject":"PUBAFFR","count":54},{"subject":"PUBLHLTH","count":23},{"subject":"RADIOL","count":11},{"subject":"REALEST","count":41},{"subject":"RELIGST","count":90},{"subject":"RHABMED","count":9},{"subject":"RMI","count":24},{"subject":"RP&SE","count":102},{"subject":"S&APHM","count":17},{"subject":"SCANDST","count":73},{"subject":"SLAVIC","count":89},{"subject":"SOC","count":149},{"subject":"SOCWORK","count":87},{"subject":"SOILSCI","count":46},{"subject":"SPANISH","count":83},{"subject":"SRMED","count":21},{"subject":"STAT","count":94},{"subject":"STDYABRD","count":52},{"subject":"STS","count":8},{"subject":"SURGERY","count":25},{"subject":"SURGSCI","count":33},{"subject":"THEATRE","count":91},{"subject":"URBRPL","count":60},{"subject":"UROLOGY","count":5},{"subject":"ZOOLOGY","count":89}],"deployed_at":null,"site_commit":null},"data":{"instructor":{"instructor_uid":"instructor_bde436b5ef3cd8973f7d2aaa","source":"legacy","source_instructor_id":null,"identity_basis":"name_only","identity_status":"unresolved","name":"Daniel Kapust","email":"DJKAPUST@WISC.EDU","first_observed_at":"2025-12-03 12:33:41.418072+00:00","last_observed_at":"2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00","ratings":{"review_count":53,"quality":4.72,"difficulty":3.15,"quality_count":53,"difficulty_count":53,"profile_id":"rmp:1724937","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1724937","match_basis":"exact_name","observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:46:07.843889+00:00","courses":{"course_f316b1c0bcfe1eba601b7ab6":{"review_count":25,"quality":4.8,"difficulty":3.2,"quality_count":25,"difficulty_count":25},"course_b4995635f02518f77cf89dc2":{"review_count":1,"quality":5,"difficulty":2,"quality_count":1,"difficulty_count":1},"course_cdb76f98405661d42020c591":{"review_count":2,"quality":5,"difficulty":3,"quality_count":2,"difficulty_count":2},"course_017a664e53519bdfefed2e63":{"review_count":3,"quality":5,"difficulty":3,"quality_count":3,"difficulty_count":3}},"bayesian_quality":4.429502954396328,"prior_mean":3.6596857835465957,"prior_weight":20},"current":false,"courses":[],"revision":"e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349","instructor_url":"/instructors/DANIEL_KAPUST--instructor_bde436b5ef3cd8973f7d2aaa"},"history":[],"timeline":[],"term":"1272","courses":[],"reviews":{"items":[{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:46:07.843889+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQzMjcwNzY1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1724937","instructor_name":"Daniel Kapust","course_label":"POLISCI160","course_id":"POLISCI 160","course_uid":"course_f316b1c0bcfe1eba601b7ab6","review_date":"2026-06-25 01:33:30 +0000 UTC","comment":"Loved him last semester and will be taking another one of his classes next year. Kapust makes political theory super accessible and clearly takes great joy in impersonating each philosopher; he also makes participation much less intimidating for students and takes breaks to answer questions. Take good notes and laugh at his jokes- he is funny!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1724937","quality_rating":5,"difficulty_rating":2},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:46:07.843889+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQzMDQxNDc2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1724937","instructor_name":"Daniel Kapust","course_label":"POLISCI160","course_id":"POLISCI 160","course_uid":"course_f316b1c0bcfe1eba601b7ab6","review_date":"2026-05-06 03:22:35 +0000 UTC","comment":"Kapust makes lecture engaging and ties together reading material really well. My TA, Ikhyun, made discussions very helpful and was a greater grader. Class is based on three in-class exams (I scored 98-100% on all), a cumulative final, and discussion participation (including 2 roleplay debates). Class was great and I would recommend!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1724937","quality_rating":5,"difficulty_rating":2},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:46:07.843889+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMzE2NDI1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1724937","instructor_name":"Daniel Kapust","course_label":"POLISCI463","course_id":"ILS/POLISCI 463","course_uid":"course_b4995635f02518f77cf89dc2","review_date":"2025-12-17 21:42:23 +0000 UTC","comment":"Daniel is one of the best professors at UW! There is a lot of reading for this course, but he goes over it all in lecture and is so good at explaining tough concepts. Attendance isn't mandatory, but necessary for success in this course. He is so funny and loves Weird Al.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1724937","quality_rating":5,"difficulty_rating":2},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:46:07.843889+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMDMyNjI1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1724937","instructor_name":"Daniel Kapust","course_label":"POLISCI461","course_id":"POLISCI 461","course_uid":"course_cdb76f98405661d42020c591","review_date":"2025-12-04 15:16:45 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Kapust is great! His lectures are very engaging and he is hilarious. You will be very well prepared for all exams as his lectures do a great job at explaining the readings and concepts. If you have the chance, take his class! ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1724937","quality_rating":5,"difficulty_rating":3},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:46:07.843889+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQwNDYzMjQ1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1724937","instructor_name":"Daniel Kapust","course_label":"POLISCI160","course_id":"POLISCI 160","course_uid":"course_f316b1c0bcfe1eba601b7ab6","review_date":"2024-12-31 03:50:17 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Kapust is very passionate, well-spoken, and involved with his students. His lectures are engaging, and he is very easy to connect with outside of class. I learned a lot from him and appreciated his focus on essays, not tests. But--and this is more on my TA than him--most of my essays weren't graded by the time my final grade was due! ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1724937","quality_rating":5,"difficulty_rating":2},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:46:07.843889+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQwNDQxOTA4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1724937","instructor_name":"Daniel Kapust","course_label":"POLISCI160","course_id":"POLISCI 160","course_uid":"course_f316b1c0bcfe1eba601b7ab6","review_date":"2024-12-26 23:04:10 +0000 UTC","comment":"The number one thing to know about Kapust is that he's REALLY funny. His lectures are super engaging. However, the course material is incredibly difficult to read. The class is literally just writing, so if you don't like writing, don't take him. Overall, as somebody who vastly prefers papers to exams, PS160 was incredibly enjoyable to me.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1724937","quality_rating":5,"difficulty_rating":2}],"total":53,"page":1,"courses":[{"course_uid":"course_017a664e53519bdfefed2e63","course_id":"ILS 206"},{"course_uid":"course_b4995635f02518f77cf89dc2","course_id":"ILS/POLISCI 463"},{"course_uid":"course_f316b1c0bcfe1eba601b7ab6","course_id":"POLISCI 160"},{"course_uid":"course_cdb76f98405661d42020c591","course_id":"POLISCI 461"}],"matched":true},"socialImage":false}}