Current instructor

Erika Marin-Spiotta

Adjusted rating
RMP 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

AGROECOL 990

Research

1–12 credits

Independent research for a thesis or degree project involving agroecological research, multifunctional perspectives, community co-learning, and communication with diverse partners.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Holly GibbsSamuel Dennis+27 more

No recorded grade history

ENVIRST/GEOG 120

Introduction to the Earth System

3 credits

Introduction to how the Earth system works and what makes Earth livable; covers interactions among atmosphere, oceans, life, and Earth's surface shaping local, regional, and global landscapes.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Erika Marin-Spiotta

Erika Marin-Spiotta lectured at a faster pace than her co-instructor, a change one student noted mid-semester. Reviewers highlighted her strong enthusiasm for geomorphology and land surfaces, which made the lectures engaging despite the quick delivery.

Jack WilliamsErika Marin-Spiotta

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026
F&WECOL 990

Research and Thesis

1–12 credits

Independent research course preparing students for a graduate thesis under faculty supervision, focusing on scientific presentation and data communication.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Jim BerkelmanPaul Stoy+20 more

No recorded grade history

GEOG 682

Senior Honors Thesis

2–3 credits

Individual mentored study for seniors completing theses for Honors in the Major, arranged with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Song GaoRobert Roth+13 more

No recorded grade history

GEOG/SOILSCI 526

Human Transformations of Earth Surface Processes

3 credits

Explores how human societies shape earth surface processes from local to global scales using an earth systems approach, analyzing impacts on biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Erika Marin-Spiotta

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2025–Spring 2026 · limited sample

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2027AGROECOL 990Research
Spring 2027ENVIRST/GEOG 120Introduction to the Earth System
Spring 2027F&WECOL 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2027GEOG 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2027GEOG 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2027GEOG 699Directed Study
Spring 2027GEOG 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2027GEOG/SOILSCI 526Human Transformations of Earth Surface Processes
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.

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