Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Prof. Carlsmith makes complex topics very understandable. His lectures can be hard to attend mandatorily in the morning, especially on the days that he mumbles, but a good chunk of all the lectures have some element of actual experiments that are pretty cool. As long as you do the reading, sit in lecture, and go to discussion, you'll do great.Rate My Professors ↗
Prof Carlsmith knows a lot and cares about his students, but his lectures are kinda hard to follow and apply to the homework. I just take notes on the book during lecture, which I find help's me understand the material much better. Exams aren't bad and we get 15% of extra credit, so you are pretty much guaranteed a good grade in the class.Rate My Professors ↗
You have to spend $120 for textbook, which is completely unrelated to what he does in class. But if you dont buy it you cannot even do homework. He talks attendance everyday, exams are on completely random topicsRate My Professors ↗
Very sweet man, obviously cares a lot, but you will not learn anything in lecture. He just yaps, and he doesn't explain things, and you will see so much unimportant stuff. All learning is done on your own and in discussion. It's not a hard course to do well in (the material is, not the class itself), but you will have to do it all on your own.Rate My Professors ↗
The book was great, lectures not so much. I fully believe that prof Carlsmith has a passion for teaching about particle physics, however every single lecture he would rather talk about things that he found cool instead of the actual course content that we needed to learn. Exams weren't incredibly difficult as long as I kept up with reading the bookRate My Professors ↗
The class was conceptually hard, which wasn't helped by Carlsmith's mumble-filled lectures. However, the tests questions are pretty easy (for the most part), and all multiple choice. Your TA's teaching ability matters; I learned most of the content in discussion. There's a 2500 word paper that gives 10% extra credit, which greatly helped my grade.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Directed Study is an introductory-level mentored research project in physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Directed Study is an introductory-level mentored research project in physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Introduction to modern physics covering kinetic theory, relativity, quantum theory origins, atomic structure, spectral lines, and solid state, nuclear, and particle physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Duncan Carlsmith
Student feedback on Duncan Carlsmith's teaching was mixed; one reviewer described the course as self-directed and easy, noting that lecture explanations were less efficient than reading the textbook, while another highlighted engaging demonstrations and online labs. The second reviewer also stated that homework was tougher than exams and that the instructor provided substantial feedback, though lectures sometimes exceeded the course scope.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Directed Study is an intermediate-level mentored research project in physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=1 letter grades).
No recorded grade history
Advanced-level mentored research project in physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Mentored individual research and study for students completing Physics Honors in the Major, leading to a senior honors thesis.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Senior Honors Thesis course providing mentored individual research and study for students completing Physics Honors in the Major.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 3.00 GPA, 0.0% A/AB (n=1 letter grades).
No recorded grade history
Mentored individual research and study for students completing a thesis.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Senior Thesis in Physics involves mentored individual research and study for students completing a thesis.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Physics Colloquium features lectures delivered by staff and visitors.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2024: 3.88 GPA, 87.5% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.81 GPA, 88.9% A/AB (n=18 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.82 GPA, 85.7% A/AB (n=14 letter grades).
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Research supervised by individual faculty members. Students formulate and plan original research, creating work that contributes to the field of physics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Distinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | PHYSICS 198 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2027 | PHYSICS 199 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2027 | PHYSICS 241 | Introduction to Modern Physics |
| Spring 2027 | PHYSICS 299 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2027 | PHYSICS 499 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2027 | PHYSICS 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | PHYSICS 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | PHYSICS 691 | Senior Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | PHYSICS 692 | Senior Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | PHYSICS 900 | Colloquium |
| Spring 2027 | PHYSICS 990 | Research |
| Fall 2026 | PHYSICS 241 | Introduction to Modern Physics |
| Fall 2026 | PHYSICS 900 | Colloquium |
| Fall 2026 | PHYSICS 990 | Research |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
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