Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Hirsch is the best professor I have ever had. She was so smart and so passionate about the topics we would discuss. Having her in my first semester was the best choice I could have ever made; she made the transition so seamless, and I looked forward to her class every week.Rate My Professors ↗
Fran is the BEST professor. She was so accessible, helpful, and really made taking her class fun, even while discussing Totalitarianism. It was a History seminar so the amount of reading was a lot, but not insane, especially for the type of class. She really made you feel cared for and valued in her class, as a person and student. 10/10 recommend.Rate My Professors ↗
Fran is an angel on earth and makes attending class the best thing you'll do all week. I couldn't recommend her more, ESPECIALLY if you want a relationship with your prof: she's the person for that. She is so understanding, smart, relatable, kind, laidback, and overall incredible. This was seminar in Totalitarianism and I loved every second of it.Rate My Professors ↗
Professor Hirsch is an angel. She was so supportive in our transition during the pandemic and she was always so approachable if you have questions. You do a lot of reading and writing for the class but nothing atypical for a history class. I LOVE THIS WOMAN.Rate My Professors ↗
She is the right professor if you are interested in the history of 20th century from Russia's perspective. Very engaging professor. I took her class in the fall of my freshman year and she really bolstered my academic interest in history (I am a STEM major). Just attend the lectures and don't forget to be enthusiastic.Rate My Professors ↗
Homework was (a lot of) weekly readings and a one-page paper about those readings. No final exam, but long research paper instead. Not a bad professor, she's intelligent and knows her stuff. Not always the most interesting, but that might just depend on your personal interest in the class's topic. Enjoyed her class, but not really into history.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
The Historian's Craft involves conducting original historical research using archival materials, defining questions, analyzing evidence, and presenting conclusions in written and spoken formats.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2020: 3.53 GPA, 73.3% A/AB (n=15 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.46 GPA, 75.6% A/AB (n=41 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.27 GPA, 71.4% A/AB (n=42 letter grades).
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026An advanced seminar where students apply research skills to a historical topic, producing a project with original analysis through intensive writing and discussion.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Francine Hirsch
Francine Hirsch described her seminar on Totalitarianism as accessible and fun, ensuring students felt valued as individuals. The reading load was substantial but not insane for the course type, and the instructor maintained high levels of helpfulness and care.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Senior Honors Thesis involves mentored independent research and thesis writing on an original topic for honors students.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Senior Honors Thesis involves mentored independent research and thesis writing on an original topic for honors.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
The Senior Thesis course involves mentored independent research and writing on an original topic, requiring concurrent enrollment in HISTORY 690.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Senior Thesis involves mentored research and writing on an original topic in History.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Directed study in history conducted under the supervision of a faculty member, graded on a lettered basis.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Research and Thesis involves independent research and writing of a thesis under the supervision of a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
INDEPENDENT WORK is directed study under the supervision of a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=2 letter grades).
No recorded grade history
Distinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | HISTORY 201 | The Historian's Craft |
| Spring 2027 | HISTORY 600 | Advanced Seminar in History |
| Spring 2027 | HISTORY 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | HISTORY 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | HISTORY 691 | Senior Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | HISTORY 692 | Senior Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | HISTORY 699 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2027 | HISTORY 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | HISTORY 999 | Independent Work |
| Fall 2026 | HISTORY 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | HISTORY 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | HISTORY 691 | Senior Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | HISTORY 692 | Senior Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | HISTORY 698 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | HISTORY 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | HISTORY 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | HISTORY 999 | Independent Work |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
{
"instructor_uid": "instructor_b814faa9497f1c6104655b92",
"source": "enrollment",
"source_instructor_id": "fhirsch",
"identity_basis": "netid",
"identity_status": "source_identified",
"name": "Francine Hirsch",
"email": "FHIRSCH@WISC.EDU",
"first_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
"last_observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00",
"ratings": {
"review_count": 19,
"quality": 4.63,
"difficulty": 2.79,
"quality_count": 19,
"difficulty_count": 19,
"profile_id": "rmp:766114",
"source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/766114",
"match_basis": "exact_name",
"observed_at": "2026-10-14 19:12:43.695273+00:00",
"courses": {
"course_9bb6d60733633321d297ed75": {
"review_count": 2,
"quality": 4.5,
"difficulty": 2.5,
"quality_count": 2,
"difficulty_count": 2
},
"course_26a5f5c1d5cb3b7f4ebb4a9b": {
"review_count": 1,
"quality": 5,
"difficulty": 4,
"quality_count": 1,
"difficulty_count": 1
},
"course_04c459c5d1804e4c6292de79": {
"review_count": 1,
"quality": 4,
"difficulty": 4,
"quality_count": 1,
"difficulty_count": 1
}
},
"bayesian_quality": 4.132150554100754,
"prior_mean": 3.65919358049647,
"prior_weight": 20
},
"current": true,
"courses": [
{
"course_uid": "course_26a5f5c1d5cb3b7f4ebb4a9b",
"course_id": "HISTORY 600",
"title": "ADVANCED SEMINAR IN HISTORY",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 3.617
},
{
"course_uid": "course_2ea5410cd24e69c27da63a1d",
"course_id": "HISTORY 201",
"title": "THE HISTORIAN'S CRAFT",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 4,
"gpa": 3.534
},
{
"course_uid": "course_3b97b068160d601be814baa5",
"course_id": "HISTORY 699",
"title": "DIRECTED STUDY",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 4,
"gpa": 3.797
},
{
"course_uid": "course_6432520b02cd7934abbfcd3f",
"course_id": "HISTORY 682",
"title": "SENIOR HONORS THESIS",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 3.763
},
{
"course_uid": "course_8778fa7b5b565bca47ade417",
"course_id": "HISTORY 681",
"title": "SENIOR HONORS THESIS",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 4
},
{
"course_uid": "course_97935a61b1c6b838f99ceb60",
"course_id": "HISTORY 691",
"title": "SENIOR THESIS",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_9ece8db211897864d843d882",
"course_id": "HISTORY 990",
"title": "RESEARCH AND THESIS",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 9,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_a5cb188042700b0c351bcea5",
"course_id": "HISTORY 692",
"title": "SENIOR THESIS",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_f3c5da1f78bad390731fed93",
"course_id": "HISTORY 999",
"title": "INDEPENDENT WORK",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 6,
"gpa": 3.953
}
],
"revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
"instructor_url": "/instructors/FRANCINE_HIRSCH"
}