Current instructor

Greg Downey

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

Raw average: 4.14/5 from 80 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

INTERLS215 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Professor Downey is so sweet and funny! The class itself was pretty boring and did not seem worth the time spent on assignments, but it is an easy class. If you do the work, you'll get an A.
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INTERLS215 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
The class has a fair workload, but if you do it you're guaranteed to get an A (2 essays, weekly smaller readings/writings, OPTIONAL extra credit final exam). I faced issues and turned in stuff very late; he was empathetic and kind (went from an F to a B). Lectures and discussions are graded and sometimes boring, but still very interesting content.
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INTERLS215 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 1/5
Downey was really funny, he gives lectures like he's performing standup. The lecture material itself is pretty boring, but he's a funny guy. There's a decent bit of homework in this class, but I think it is worthwhile and it is really easy to score well on. If you do the work in this class, you're guaranteed an A. No exams, two essays, one speech.
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INTERLS215 · course not matched
Quality 1/5Difficulty 3/5
There are weekly assignments on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with 2 big essays. The assignments are tedious and meaningless. The course material is out of touch with the reality if you are a CS major and want a job.
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INTERLS215 · course not matched
Quality 3/5Difficulty 2/5
My advisor suggested this class for my Comm B. There are assignments due every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The assignments are tedious and time consuming, but not difficult. If you have other difficult class though, the workload in this class will overwhelm you. Would not recommend. The resources are useful and Downey is somewhat understanding.
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ILS215 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Such a good and easy class, especially to fulfill the com b requirement!! Lectures aren't mandatory, but the discussions are. Really interesting material that can be helpful for future careers, even though it's a lot of busy work. Definitely recommend!!
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Greg Downey

GEOG 990

Research and Thesis

1–9 credits

GEOG 990 is an individual mentored study course for completing theses, arranged with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Song GaoStephen Young+26 more

No recorded grade history

JOURN 682

Senior Honors Thesis

3 credits

JOURN 682 is a senior honors thesis course involving mentored individual research and study for journalism majors completing their honors requirements.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Michael WagnerLindsay Palmer+15 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample
JOURN 697

Internship

1–3 credits

JOURN 697 is an advanced directed study course where students arrange projects based on internship experience with faculty supervision.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Michael WagnerLindsay Palmer+19 more

No recorded grade history

JOURN 699

Directed Study

1–6 credits

JOURN 699 is a directed study course allowing students to arrange advanced projects with faculty.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Michael WagnerLindsay Palmer+20 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2025 · limited sample
JOURN 990

Thesis

1–9 credits

JOURN 990 is an advanced thesis course providing mentored reading and research for students with dissertator status.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Michael WagnerLindsay Palmer+16 more

No recorded grade history

JOURN 999

Independent Research Problems

2–4 credits

JOURN 999 is an advanced mentored reading and research course for dissertators.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Michael WagnerLindsay Palmer+16 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample
LIS 220

Digital Footprints: Privacy and Technology

3 credits

LIS 220 explores digital footprints, examining the technologies, ownership, and societal impacts of digital information tracking and privacy.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Greg Downey

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2024–Spring 2026

Recorded teaching history

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2026GEOG 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2026JOURN 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026JOURN 682Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026JOURN 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2026JOURN 692Senior Thesis
Fall 2026JOURN 697Internship
Fall 2026JOURN 699Directed Study
Fall 2026JOURN 990Thesis
Fall 2026JOURN 999Independent Research Problems
Fall 2026LIS 220Digital Footprints: Privacy and Technology

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

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