Current instructor

Erika Marin-Spiotta

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

Raw average: 3.72/5 from 29 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

GEO120 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 2/5
She's super nice! She is very welcoming when attending her office hours. I took my accommodated exams with her a few times and was very open to any questions I had. Super easy to clarify my confusion.
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GEO120 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 3/5
Dr. Marin-Spiotta is a great lecturer. Her lessons go by quick and she's thorough in everything she teaches. The discussions are pretty good too, I had a great TA this semester. However, I struggle to understand the point of the writing assignments we had to do this semester, as they didn't prepare us for the actual material at all.
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GEO120 · course not matched
Quality 2/5Difficulty 4/5
This is one of the "easier" science courses to take however thats the biggest lie ever. We had 4 exams including one 2 days after we came back from Spring Break. The professor is boring, nobody attends lecture and are either on their phones. Not to mention the amount of work assigned in discussion, its never that serious its a class about rocks lol
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GEO120 · course not matched
Quality 2/5Difficulty 4/5
Tests were based off lectures (recorded/no attendence) but still omg this class is so bad. So much busy work, weekly writing assignments, worksheets, and quizzes. My TA has not come to half of the discussion sections and literally knows nothing. everyone is in a constant state of confusion and communication is lacking between prof TA and students.
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BOTANY/GEOG 338
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Spiotta is fantastic. I enjoyed lecture and always learned something new. Supportive of students and their question. There is a final paper due at the end, but the criteria and ability to choose your topic makes it enjoyable. Great feedback from Professor & TA on assignment and essay submissions. Would recommend anyone with interest take the class.
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BOTANY/GEOG 338
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Dr. Marin-Spiotta is very enthusiastic about the field she studies. She is willing to answer all questions related to biogeography/ecology. This course involves a lot of reading (including social science and natural science), which is challenging, but the grading is not strict. Highly recommended for social science student as a elective.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Erika Marin-Spiotta

Introduction to how the Earth system works and what makes Earth livable.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Erika Marin-Spiotta is well-spoken and enthusiastic about Geomorphology, making her lectures interesting and clear. Reviewers note she teaches the second half of the course and is generally effective at explaining concepts.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

GEOG 699 is a directed study course allowing students to conduct independent research or study arranged with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

GEOG 990 is an individual mentored study course for completing theses, arranged with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

No recorded grade history

GEOG 999 is an independent study course allowing students to arrange specific work with a faculty member.

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 2026AGROECOL 990Research
Fall 2026ENVIRST/GEOG 120Introduction to the Earth System
Fall 2026GEOG 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026GEOG 699Directed Study
Fall 2026GEOG 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2026GEOG 999Independent Work

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

Instructor identity & provenance
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