{"schema_version":1,"url":"https://uwcourses.com/instructors/GARY_DAHL--instructor_5bc85cbe0353014fe8229d26","title":"Gary Dahl — Courses & Reviews | UW–Madison","dataset":{"search_projection":{"version":1,"terms":["1272","1264","1262","1254","1252","1244","1242","1234","1232","1224","1222","1212","1204","1202","1194","1192","1184","1182","1174","1172","1164","1162","1154","1152","1144","1142","1134","1132","1124","1122","1114","1112","1104","1102","1094","1092","1084","1082","1074","1072"]},"revision":"e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349","repository":"twangodev/uwcourses","schema_version":6,"importer_version":"8","projection_id":"7eb94c60c31fe3d8ae732986b7f3d069e1345ae92fd6239119e63b9d2461969d","observed_at":"2026-09-07T15:55:43.033547+00:00","built_at":"2026-10-01T19:10:41.241229+00:00","courses":8951,"current_instructors":5754,"limited":false,"terms":["1272","1264","1262","1254","1252","1244","1242","1234","1232","1224","1222","1212","1204","1202","1194","1192","1184","1182","1174","1172","1164","1162","1154","1152","1144","1142","1134","1132","1124","1122","1114","1112","1104","1102","1094","1092","1084","1082","1074","1072"],"term":"1272","departments":[{"subject":"AAE","count":90},{"subject":"ABT","count":20},{"subject":"ACCTIS","count":36},{"subject":"ACTSCI","count":14},{"subject":"AFAERO","count":10},{"subject":"AFRICAN","count":87},{"subject":"AFROAMER","count":71},{"subject":"AGROECOL","count":21},{"subject":"AMERIND","count":53},{"subject":"ANAT&PHY","count":7},{"subject":"ANATOMY","count":2},{"subject":"ANESTHES","count":8},{"subject":"ANSCI","count":57},{"subject":"ANTHRO","count":95},{"subject":"ART","count":125},{"subject":"ARTED","count":10},{"subject":"ARTHIST","count":121},{"subject":"ASIALANG","count":129},{"subject":"ASIAN","count":109},{"subject":"ASIANAM","count":28},{"subject":"ASTRON","count":38},{"subject":"ATMOCN","count":69},{"subject":"BIOCHEM","count":51},{"subject":"BIOCORE","count":10},{"subject":"BIOLOGY","count":14},{"subject":"BIOMDSCI","count":18},{"subject":"BME","count":66},{"subject":"BMI","count":41},{"subject":"BMOLCHEM","count":10},{"subject":"BOTANY","count":69},{"subject":"BSE","count":44},{"subject":"C&ESOC","count":73},{"subject":"CBE","count":48},{"subject":"CHEM","count":101},{"subject":"CHICLA","count":52},{"subject":"CIVENGR","count":133},{"subject":"CLASSICS","count":47},{"subject":"CNP","count":10},{"subject":"CNSRSCI","count":50},{"subject":"COMARTS","count":137},{"subject":"COMPBIO","count":15},{"subject":"COMPLIT","count":11},{"subject":"COMPSCI","count":138},{"subject":"COUNPSY","count":78},{"subject":"CRB","count":19},{"subject":"CS&D","count":71},{"subject":"CSCS","count":40},{"subject":"CURRIC","count":193},{"subject":"DANCE","count":93},{"subject":"DERM","count":8},{"subject":"DS","count":88},{"subject":"DYSCI","count":35},{"subject":"ECE","count":155},{"subject":"ECON","count":145},{"subject":"EDPOL","count":114},{"subject":"EDPSYCH","count":97},{"subject":"ELPA","count":70},{"subject":"EMA","count":53},{"subject":"EMERMED","count":17},{"subject":"ENGL","count":206},{"subject":"ENTOM","count":40},{"subject":"ENVIRST","count":148},{"subject":"EP","count":15},{"subject":"EPD","count":67},{"subject":"ESL","count":16},{"subject":"F&WECOL","count":60},{"subject":"FAMMED","count":22},{"subject":"FINANCE","count":50},{"subject":"FOLKLORE","count":40},{"subject":"FOODSCI","count":43},{"subject":"FRENCH","count":63},{"subject":"GEN&WS","count":145},{"subject":"GENBUS","count":72},{"subject":"GENECSLR","count":17},{"subject":"GENETICS","count":60},{"subject":"GEOG","count":113},{"subject":"GEOSCI","count":83},{"subject":"GERMAN","count":82},{"subject":"GLE","count":48},{"subject":"GNS","count":38},{"subject":"GREEK","count":27},{"subject":"HDFS","count":41},{"subject":"HEBR-BIB","count":13},{"subject":"HEBR-MOD","count":10},{"subject":"HISTORY","count":233},{"subject":"HISTSCI","count":56},{"subject":"HONCOL","count":13},{"subject":"ILS","count":43},{"subject":"INFOSYS","count":9},{"subject":"INTEGART","count":7},{"subject":"INTEGSCI","count":22},{"subject":"INTER-AG","count":18},{"subject":"INTER-HE","count":11},{"subject":"INTER-LS","count":22},{"subject":"INTEREGR","count":16},{"subject":"INTLBUS","count":21},{"subject":"INTLST","count":50},{"subject":"ISYE","count":83},{"subject":"ITALIAN","count":53},{"subject":"JEWISH","count":56},{"subject":"JOURN","count":88},{"subject":"KINES","count":128},{"subject":"LACIS","count":26},{"subject":"LANDARC","count":61},{"subject":"LATIN","count":24},{"subject":"LAW","count":120},{"subject":"LEGALST","count":48},{"subject":"LINGUIS","count":35},{"subject":"LIS","count":89},{"subject":"LITTRANS","count":78},{"subject":"LSC","count":52},{"subject":"M&ENVTOX","count":7},{"subject":"MARKETNG","count":62},{"subject":"MATH","count":153},{"subject":"MDGENET","count":8},{"subject":"ME","count":130},{"subject":"MEDHIST","count":43},{"subject":"MEDICINE","count":60},{"subject":"MEDIEVAL","count":32},{"subject":"MEDPHYS","count":39},{"subject":"MEDSC-M","count":29},{"subject":"MEDSC-V","count":41},{"subject":"MHR","count":68},{"subject":"MICROBIO","count":45},{"subject":"MILSCI","count":16},{"subject":"MM&I","count":22},{"subject":"MOLBIOL","count":6},{"subject":"MS&E","count":59},{"subject":"MUSIC","count":165},{"subject":"MUSPERF","count":126},{"subject":"NAVSCI","count":20},{"subject":"NE","count":44},{"subject":"NEURODPT","count":11},{"subject":"NEUROL","count":7},{"subject":"NEURSURG","count":4},{"subject":"NTP","count":11},{"subject":"NURSING","count":111},{"subject":"NUTRSCI","count":65},{"subject":"OBS&GYN","count":18},{"subject":"OCCTHER","count":39},{"subject":"ONCOLOGY","count":14},{"subject":"OPHTHALM","count":5},{"subject":"OTM","count":43},{"subject":"PATH","count":34},{"subject":"PATH-BIO","count":29},{"subject":"PEDIAT","count":26},{"subject":"PHARMACY","count":31},{"subject":"PHILOS","count":77},{"subject":"PHMCOL-M","count":11},{"subject":"PHMPRAC","count":45},{"subject":"PHMSCI","count":60},{"subject":"PHYASST","count":37},{"subject":"PHYSICS","count":88},{"subject":"PHYSIOL","count":3},{"subject":"PHYTHER","count":37},{"subject":"PLANTSCI","count":52},{"subject":"PLPATH","count":35},{"subject":"POLISCI","count":192},{"subject":"POPHLTH","count":58},{"subject":"PORTUG","count":33},{"subject":"PSYCH","count":101},{"subject":"PSYCHIAT","count":22},{"subject":"PUBAFFR","count":54},{"subject":"PUBLHLTH","count":23},{"subject":"RADIOL","count":11},{"subject":"REALEST","count":41},{"subject":"RELIGST","count":90},{"subject":"RHABMED","count":9},{"subject":"RMI","count":24},{"subject":"RP&SE","count":102},{"subject":"S&APHM","count":17},{"subject":"SCANDST","count":73},{"subject":"SLAVIC","count":89},{"subject":"SOC","count":149},{"subject":"SOCWORK","count":87},{"subject":"SOILSCI","count":46},{"subject":"SPANISH","count":83},{"subject":"SRMED","count":21},{"subject":"STAT","count":94},{"subject":"STDYABRD","count":52},{"subject":"STS","count":8},{"subject":"SURGERY","count":25},{"subject":"SURGSCI","count":33},{"subject":"THEATRE","count":91},{"subject":"URBRPL","count":60},{"subject":"UROLOGY","count":5},{"subject":"ZOOLOGY","count":89}],"designations":[],"deployed_at":null,"site_commit":null},"data":{"instructor":{"instructor_uid":"instructor_5bc85cbe0353014fe8229d26","source":"legacy","source_instructor_id":null,"identity_basis":"name_only","identity_status":"unresolved","name":"Gary Dahl","email":"DAHL@CS.WISC.EDU","first_observed_at":"2025-07-13 04:59:22.367394+00:00","last_observed_at":"2025-11-16 05:32:31.273726+00:00","ratings":{"review_count":155,"quality":3.16,"difficulty":3.48,"quality_count":155,"difficulty_count":155,"profile_id":"rmp:2770358","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2770358","match_basis":"exact_name","observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:38:39.940872+00:00","courses":{"course_6e524f2d6f14b4e14c7ac770":{"review_count":23,"quality":1.65,"difficulty":4.09,"quality_count":23,"difficulty_count":23},"course_583cd0f265d9f29704ca13ea":{"review_count":84,"quality":3.2,"difficulty":3.39,"quality_count":84,"difficulty_count":84},"course_28c3390ba944d49fd17f7c72":{"review_count":34,"quality":3.71,"difficulty":3.41,"quality_count":34,"difficulty_count":34},"course_e0f984e8747ee9ccaba16d75":{"review_count":1,"quality":1,"difficulty":5,"quality_count":1,"difficulty_count":1}},"bayesian_quality":3.2171069466910396,"prior_mean":3.6596857835465957,"prior_weight":20},"current":false,"courses":[],"revision":"e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349","instructor_url":"/instructors/GARY_DAHL--instructor_5bc85cbe0353014fe8229d26"},"history":[],"timeline":[],"term":"1272","courses":[],"reviews":{"items":[{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:38:39.940872+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQzMDc4MjMy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2770358","instructor_name":"Gary Dahl","course_label":"CS354","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE 354","course_uid":"course_6e524f2d6f14b4e14c7ac770","review_date":"2026-05-09 05:31:24 +0000 UTC","comment":"Course materials are dense Emacs notes that are hard to read/annotate. Lec lacks visual structure, and vague explanations with frequent fillers make new topics difficult to follow. It often feels like review for prepared students rather than teaching beginners in low level coding, especially with the fast pace and biweekly quizzes.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2770358","quality_rating":1,"difficulty_rating":3},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:38:39.940872+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQzMDY3NTgz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2770358","instructor_name":"Gary Dahl","course_label":"CS354","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE 354","course_uid":"course_6e524f2d6f14b4e14c7ac770","review_date":"2026-05-08 02:52:36 +0000 UTC","comment":"I learned a lot from Gary and felt that the projects really helped me learn the class well. The lectures felt confusing at times but felt that I was able to freely ask him questions. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2770358","quality_rating":4,"difficulty_rating":3},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:38:39.940872+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQzMDE4MTMz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2770358","instructor_name":"Gary Dahl","course_label":"CS354","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE 354","course_uid":"course_6e524f2d6f14b4e14c7ac770","review_date":"2026-05-04 16:07:17 +0000 UTC","comment":"Gary is a monotone professor. He simply reads off the slides. He does not seem at all passionate about the topic.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2770358","quality_rating":1,"difficulty_rating":3},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:38:39.940872+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyOTk2NTA0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2770358","instructor_name":"Gary Dahl","course_label":"CS354","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE 354","course_uid":"course_6e524f2d6f14b4e14c7ac770","review_date":"2026-05-01 17:33:54 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Dahl seems like a nice guy but is incredibly boring. They are structured in a way that is hard to follow and will make you fall asleep. Overall, the class isn't too hard but it has been my least favorite CS course I have taken so far. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2770358","quality_rating":1,"difficulty_rating":3},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:38:39.940872+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyODAzNjc1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2770358","instructor_name":"Gary Dahl","course_label":"CS354","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE 354","course_uid":"course_6e524f2d6f14b4e14c7ac770","review_date":"2026-04-09 03:51:57 +0000 UTC","comment":"Gary stalks this page and reporting every negative comment to put it down. Btw all the positive comments are written by himself. He complained about it on the lecture, that there are so many negative comments that he had to write a couple of positive ones. This guy is hilarious.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2770358","quality_rating":1,"difficulty_rating":5},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:38:39.940872+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyODAyMzk3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2770358","instructor_name":"Gary Dahl","course_label":"CS354","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE 354","course_uid":"course_6e524f2d6f14b4e14c7ac770","review_date":"2026-04-09 00:03:04 +0000 UTC","comment":"The course structure and instruction are so poor and confusing that you will not learn anything. There is no point in attending the lectures, as you will leave feeling perplexed. Gary then complains about students not showing up for lectures.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2770358","quality_rating":1,"difficulty_rating":5}],"total":155,"page":1,"courses":[{"course_uid":"course_28c3390ba944d49fd17f7c72","course_id":"COMPSCI 300"},{"course_uid":"course_583cd0f265d9f29704ca13ea","course_id":"COMPSCI 400"},{"course_uid":"course_e0f984e8747ee9ccaba16d75","course_id":"COMPSCI 540"},{"course_uid":"course_6e524f2d6f14b4e14c7ac770","course_id":"COMPSCI/ECE 354"}],"matched":true},"socialImage":false}}