Current instructor

Francis Russo

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

Raw average: 5.00/5 from 5 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

448Hist101 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 1/5
Funny professor, nice person. If you go to every lecture, go to every discussion session, and do all the readings, you will get an A. Easy grader and lecture/reading heavy. Attendance isn't taken, though.
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448Hist101 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Professor Russo is one of the best professors at UW–Madison. He is extremely knowledgeable, and his lectures are engaging and well-organized. While the course includes readings, the discussions and lecture slides are the most helpful. Staying on top of the material leads to success. The TAs are also supportive and knowledgeable.
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448Hist101 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
One of the best lecturers I have had here thus far. Makes an effort to make the lectures entertaining and funny at times. Really knowledgeable on all the content. Really kind person who wants all students in the class to succeed. Really can't say enough good things, very refreshing to have a good professor for once. Would take again in a heartbeat.
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448Hist101 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 1/5
I always looked forward to history class because of Russo's lectures; he is hilarious and obviously very well-versed and passionate about history. Quizzes and tests are pretty easy as well, but the essay prompts, however, are almost too simple and general. It would be a great first college history class if you haven't taken higher-level history.
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448Hist101 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 1/5
Professor Russo really cares about American history and that is seen through his lectures. His exams are fairly easy and he is very accessible should you need help in the class. He is a very kind man and loves what he does.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Francis Russo

HISTORY 101 covers American political, economic, and social development from the founding of the colonies to the Civil War.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2025: 3.69 GPA, 85.3% A/AB (n=129 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.42 GPA, 75.3% A/AB (n=73 letter grades).

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

HISTORY 344 covers the Age of the American Revolution (1763-1789), examining the structure of colonial society, the war for independence, and subsequent political and constitutional changes.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2025: 3.90 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=15 letter grades).

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2025–Fall 2025 · limited sample

Recorded teaching history

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2026HISTORY 101Amer Hist to the Civil War Era, the Origin & Growth of the U S
Fall 2026HISTORY 344The Age of the American Revolution, 1763-1789

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

Instructor identity & provenance
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