Historical instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
I'm an Art History Major, Honors student and have a 3.8 overall GPA at UW-Madison. However, I am getting a C in Geiger's renaissance art course. She has unrealistic expectations and is completely disorganized (the class didn't even have a syllabus). When I went to her office asking how I could improve she told me that I wasn't working hard enough.Rate My Professors ↗
The most insufferable professor I have ever interacted with. The experience of her and her class landed me crying in my advisor's office, asking to undeclare my art history major (I was dissuaded by a grad student, thankfully). Disorganized, mean, careless, and all around poor teacher. Worst class I have ever taken.Rate My Professors ↗
Geiger is by far the hardest grader I have ever had-she literally expects you to remember everything from lecture and the readings for the exams. Her lectures and readings are disorganized. However she is very approachable in office hours and does want her students to succeed. I would avoid in the future unless you'e willing to put a ton of time.Rate My Professors ↗
She's willing to help students with their questions. But her reading material is a total disaster, so disorganized. It is painful going through the reading material to find things.Rate My Professors ↗
She is a great professor with a ton of knowledge. It seems like most of the raters on this site haven't taken art history classes before. Memorizing tons of artists/titles etc is normal. She may be disorganized but she is helpful and promotes good research techniques. All of my other professors just had me memorize, she made me think about the infoRate My Professors ↗
SHOULD NOT BE AT UW! Terrible professor, terrible person. Harsh, condescending, uninspiring, a neanderthal with technology, irrational with her expectations and grading methodology, and insanely disorganized. She didn't have the syllabus completed until the very last day of class! An old school professor only interested in her own research.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
ARTHIST 320 covers Italian Renaissance art, focusing on painting, sculpture, and architecture.
No offering record · Fall 2015
with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2013–Fall 2015 · limited sampleARTHIST 699 is a directed study course for advanced projects arranged with a faculty member.
No offering record · Fall 2015
No recorded grade history
ARTHIST 799 is an independent study course where students conduct directed projects arranged with a faculty member.
No offering record · Fall 2015
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2014–Spring 2015 · limited sampleDistinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2015 | ARTHIST 320 | Italian Renaissance Art |
| Fall 2015 | ARTHIST 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2015 | ARTHIST 799 | Independent Study |
| Spring 2015 | ARTHIST 420 | Topics in Italian Renaissance Art |
| Fall 2014 | ARTHIST 323 | From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: the Arts in 16th Century Italy |
| Fall 2013 | ARTHIST 320 | Italian Renaissance Art |
| Fall 2013 | ARTHIST 420 | Topics in Italian Renaissance Art |
| Fall 2013 | ARTHIST 692 | Senior Thesis |
| Fall 2013 | ARTHIST 699 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2013 | ARTHIST 799 | Independent Study |
| Fall 2012 | ARTHIST 323 | From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: the Arts in 16th Century Italy |
| Spring 2012 | ARTHIST 201 | History of Western Art I: From Pyramids to Cathedrals |
| Spring 2012 | ARTHIST 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2011 | ARTHIST 692 | Senior Thesis |
| Spring 2011 | ARTHIST 691 | Senior Thesis |
| Fall 2010 | ARTHIST 323 | From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: the Arts in 16th Century Italy |
| Spring 2010 | ARTHIST 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2009 | ARTHIST 420 | Topics in Italian Renaissance Art |
| Fall 2009 | ARTHIST 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2009 | ARTHIST 420 | Topics in Italian Renaissance Art |
| Spring 2009 | ARTHIST 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2009 | ARTHIST 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2008 | ARTHIST 323 | From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: the Arts in 16th Century Italy |
| Fall 2008 | ARTHIST 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2008 | ARTHIST 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2008 | ARTHIST 799 | Independent Study |
| Fall 2007 | ARTHIST 202 | History of Western Art Ii: From Renaissance to Contemporary |
| Fall 2007 | ARTHIST 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2007 | ARTHIST 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2007 | ARTHIST 799 | Independent Study |
| Spring 2007 | ARTHIST 420 | Topics in Italian Renaissance Art |
| Spring 2007 | ARTHIST 799 | Independent Study |
| Fall 2006 | ARTHIST 699 | Directed Study |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
{
"instructor_uid": "instructor_8930124716c3c197894bedc7",
"source": "madgrades",
"source_instructor_id": "2602066",
"identity_basis": "source_id",
"identity_status": "source_identified",
"name": "GAIL GEIGER",
"email": null,
"first_observed_at": "2026-09-06 23:14:58.172943+00:00",
"last_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
"ratings": {
"review_count": 20,
"quality": 2.8,
"difficulty": 3.7,
"quality_count": 20,
"difficulty_count": 20,
"profile_id": "rmp:300237",
"source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/300237",
"match_basis": "exact_name",
"observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:38:45.409173+00:00",
"courses": {},
"bayesian_quality": 3.2298428917732975,
"prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957,
"prior_weight": 20
},
"grade_statistics": {
"gpa": 3.181,
"graded": 550,
"counts": [
138,
156,
118,
83,
43,
4,
8
],
"sections": 33
},
"current": false,
"courses": [],
"revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
"instructor_url": "/instructors/GAIL_GEIGER"
}