Historical instructor

JAMES MESSINA

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.90/5 from 41 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

PHI101 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
James is so awesome. He encourages debate and conversation in his class and you can tell he absolutely loves to teach and he loves philosophy. This class was easily my favorite I had this semester, I would recommend him to anyone.
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PHI101 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Probably my favorite teacher that I have ever had. Hilarious, engaging, and knows what he's talking about. No matter what argument someone has he is ready to provide a counter which makes the discussion during lecture fun every time. I genuinely think this class has made me a better critical thinker. It is easy overall and you'll never be bored.
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432 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Extremely inviting and cool lectures. Brings everyone together and knows everyone's names while having great discussions. Not to mention he is hilarious. Recommend to everyone.
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432 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Find his classes and take them.
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PHI432 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
James is one of the best professors I have had in my four years here in Madison. He shows his passion for teaching and philosophy in every lecture and is the funniest professor I have ever had. He is incredible, I think every student interested in philosophy should take a course with him before they graduate.
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PHILOS 503
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
As a philosophy major, James is a gem in the department. He is energetic and funny, constantly making the material easier to understand with his humor. Attendance and participation matter, but he is very understanding in personal cases. We were graded on four papers and five discussion posts.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with JAMES MESSINA

No teaching recorded in Fall 2026.

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Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

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Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2026PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Spring 2026PHILOS 999Independent Work
Fall 2025PHILOS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2025PHILOS 101Introduction to Philosophy
Spring 2025PHILOS 701Reading Seminar
Spring 2025PHILOS 835Advanced History of Philosophy
Spring 2025PHILOS 999Independent Work
Fall 2024PHILOS 101Introduction to Philosophy
Fall 2024PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Spring 2024PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Spring 2024PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Spring 2024PHILOS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2024PHILOS 999Independent Work
Fall 2023PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Fall 2023PHILOS 503Theory of Knowledge
Fall 2023PHILOS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2023PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Spring 2023PHILOS 701Reading Seminar
Spring 2023PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Fall 2022PHILOS 101Introduction to Philosophy
Fall 2022PHILOS 503Theory of Knowledge
Spring 2022PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Spring 2022PHILOS 454Classical Philosophers
Spring 2022PHILOS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2022PHILOS 999Independent Work
Fall 2021PHILOS 101Introduction to Philosophy
Fall 2021PHILOS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2021PHILOS 835Advanced History of Philosophy
Spring 2020PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Spring 2020PHILOS 599Directed Study
Fall 2019PHILOS 101Introduction to Philosophy
Fall 2019PHILOS 835Advanced History of Philosophy
Spring 2019PHILOS 101Introduction to Philosophy
Spring 2019PHILOS 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2018PHILOS 101Introduction to Philosophy
Fall 2018PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Fall 2018PHILOS 691Senior Thesis
Spring 2018PHILOS 101Introduction to Philosophy
Spring 2018PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Spring 2018PHILOS 699Directed Study
Spring 2018PHILOS 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2017PHILOS 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2017PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Spring 2017PHILOS 691Senior Thesis
Spring 2017PHILOS 701Reading Seminar
Spring 2017PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Fall 2016PHILOS 101Introduction to Philosophy
Spring 2016PHILOS 101Introduction to Philosophy
Spring 2016PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Fall 2015GERMAN 560Topics in German Studies
Fall 2015PHILOS 830Advanced History of Philosophy
Fall 2014PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Fall 2014PHILOS 504Special Topics in the Theory of Knowledge
Fall 2014PHILOS 799Directed Study
Spring 2014PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Spring 2014PHILOS 503Theory of Knowledge
Spring 2014PHILOS 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2014PHILOS 699Directed Study
Fall 2013PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy
Fall 2013PHILOS 522Special Topic
Fall 2013PHILOS 691Senior Thesis
Spring 2013PHILOS 101Introduction to Philosophy
Spring 2013PHILOS 999Independent Work
Fall 2012PHILOS 432History of Modern Philosophy

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

Instructor identity & provenance 
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