# JOSHUA DIENSTAG — Courses & Reviews | UW–Madison [View on UW Courses](https://uwcourses.com/instructors/JOSHUA_DIENSTAG--instructor_af52dd61460a869c00bb4350) ## Dataset ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ### repository twangodev/uwcourses ### schema version 6 ### importer version 7 ### projection id 85abe9ff8837c2c5a134368dcc4cfc85eb723524b21ddeb3d2e953887d2f0c8f ### observed at 2026-09-07T15:55:43.033547+00:00 ### built at 2026-09-11T07:45:51.576183+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 | count | | --------- | ----- | | AAE | 90 | | ABT | 20 | | ACCTIS | 36 | | ACTSCI | 14 | | AFAERO | 10 | | AFRICAN | 87 | | AFROAMER | 71 | | AGROECOL | 21 | | AMERIND | 53 | | ANAT\&PHY | 7 | | ANATOMY | 2 | | ANESTHES | 8 | | ANSCI | 57 | | ANTHRO | 95 | | ART | 125 | | ARTED | 10 | | ARTHIST | 121 | | ASIALANG | 129 | | ASIAN | 109 | | ASIANAM | 28 | | ASTRON | 38 | | ATMOCN | 69 | | BIOCHEM | 51 | | BIOCORE | 10 | | BIOLOGY | 14 | | BIOMDSCI | 18 | | BME | 66 | | BMI | 41 | | BMOLCHEM | 10 | | BOTANY | 69 | | BSE | 44 | | C\&ESOC | 73 | | CBE | 48 | | CHEM | 101 | | CHICLA | 52 | | CIVENGR | 133 | | CLASSICS | 47 | | CNP | 10 | | CNSRSCI | 50 | | COMARTS | 137 | | COMPBIO | 15 | | COMPLIT | 11 | | COMPSCI | 138 | | COUNPSY | 78 | | CRB | 19 | | CS\&D | 71 | | CSCS | 40 | | CURRIC | 193 | | DANCE | 93 | | DERM | 8 | | DS | 88 | | DYSCI | 35 | | ECE | 155 | | ECON | 145 | | EDPOL | 114 | | EDPSYCH | 97 | | ELPA | 70 | | EMA | 53 | | EMERMED | 17 | | ENGL | 206 | | ENTOM | 40 | | ENVIRST | 148 | | EP | 15 | | EPD | 67 | | ESL | 16 | | F\&WECOL | 60 | | FAMMED | 22 | | FINANCE | 50 | | FOLKLORE | 40 | | FOODSCI | 43 | | FRENCH | 63 | | GEN\&WS | 145 | | GENBUS | 72 | | GENECSLR | 17 | | GENETICS | 60 | | GEOG | 113 | | GEOSCI | 83 | | GERMAN | 82 | | GLE | 48 | | GNS | 38 | | GREEK | 27 | | HDFS | 41 | | HEBR-BIB | 13 | | HEBR-MOD | 10 | | HISTORY | 233 | | HISTSCI | 56 | | HONCOL | 13 | | ILS | 43 | | INFOSYS | 9 | | INTEGART | 7 | | INTEGSCI | 22 | | INTER-AG | 18 | | INTER-HE | 11 | | INTER-LS | 22 | | INTEREGR | 16 | | INTLBUS | 21 | | INTLST | 50 | | ISYE | 83 | | ITALIAN | 53 | | JEWISH | 56 | | JOURN | 88 | | KINES | 128 | | LACIS | 26 | | LANDARC | 61 | | LATIN | 24 | | LAW | 120 | | LEGALST | 48 | | LINGUIS | 35 | | LIS | 89 | | LITTRANS | 78 | | LSC | 52 | | M\&ENVTOX | 7 | | MARKETNG | 62 | | MATH | 153 | | MDGENET | 8 | | ME | 130 | | MEDHIST | 43 | | MEDICINE | 60 | | MEDIEVAL | 32 | | MEDPHYS | 39 | | MEDSC-M | 29 | | MEDSC-V | 41 | | MHR | 68 | | MICROBIO | 45 | | MILSCI | 16 | | MM\&I | 22 | | MOLBIOL | 6 | | MS\&E | 59 | | MUSIC | 165 | | MUSPERF | 126 | | NAVSCI | 20 | | NE | 44 | | NEURODPT | 11 | | NEUROL | 7 | | NEURSURG | 4 | | NTP | 11 | | NURSING | 111 | | NUTRSCI | 65 | | OBS\&GYN | 18 | | OCCTHER | 39 | | ONCOLOGY | 14 | | OPHTHALM | 5 | | OTM | 43 | | PATH | 34 | | PATH-BIO | 29 | | PEDIAT | 26 | | PHARMACY | 31 | | PHILOS | 77 | | PHMCOL-M | 11 | | PHMPRAC | 45 | | PHMSCI | 60 | | PHYASST | 37 | | PHYSICS | 88 | | PHYSIOL | 3 | | PHYTHER | 37 | | PLANTSCI | 52 | | PLPATH | 35 | | POLISCI | 192 | | POPHLTH | 58 | | PORTUG | 33 | | PSYCH | 101 | | PSYCHIAT | 22 | | PUBAFFR | 54 | | PUBLHLTH | 23 | | RADIOL | 11 | | REALEST | 41 | | RELIGST | 90 | | RHABMED | 9 | | RMI | 24 | | RP\&SE | 102 | | S\&APHM | 17 | | SCANDST | 73 | | SLAVIC | 89 | | SOC | 149 | | SOCWORK | 87 | | SOILSCI | 46 | | SPANISH | 83 | | SRMED | 21 | | STAT | 94 | | STDYABRD | 52 | | STS | 8 | | SURGERY | 25 | | SURGSCI | 33 | | THEATRE | 91 | | URBRPL | 60 | | UROLOGY | 5 | | ZOOLOGY | 89 | ## instructor ### instructor uid instructor\_af52dd61460a869c00bb4350 ### source legacy ### identity basis name\_only ### identity status unresolved ### name JOSHUA DIENSTAG ### first observed at 2025-04-16 05:20:33.104844+00:00 ### last observed at 2026-01-22 01:00:26.555427+00:00 ### ratings #### review count 6 #### quality 4.33 #### difficulty 3.5 #### quality count 6 #### difficulty count 6 #### profile id rmp:2969127 #### source url #### match basis exact\_name #### observed at 2026-09-07 16:30:07.360181+00:00 #### courses #### bayesian quality 3.8143736796512275 #### prior mean 3.6596857835465957 #### prior weight 20 ### current false ### courses None recorded. ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ### instructor url /instructors/JOSHUA\_DIENSTAG--instructor\_af52dd61460a869c00bb4350 ## history None recorded. ## timeline None recorded. ## term 1272 ## courses None recorded. ## reviews ### items ```json [ { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:30:07.360181+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQxMTI5MDA0", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2969127", "instructor_name": "Joshua Dienstag", "course_label": "PS-160", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2025-05-02 02:12:03 +0000 UTC", "comment": "I liked Professor Dienstag as a person, but his lectures could be kind of out there-- having a good TA was really important to make sure I understood the readings. Overall though, I did like him and the class was a good introduction to Political Theory, just make sure you actually do the readings and be ready for those in-class essays! ", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2969127", "quality_rating": 3, "difficulty_rating": 3 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:30:07.360181+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM5MTkyNTU4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2969127", "instructor_name": "Joshua Dienstag", "course_label": "PS-160", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2024-04-17 16:43:38 +0000 UTC", "comment": "I really didn't like his PS160 at first. Thought it was boring and was intimidated by the (almost) weekly essays on highly intellectual thinkers and concepts. But, this ended up being one of my favorite classes last semester! Stick with it and apply yourself even just a little. Do the readings and prepare for the essays- you will learn a LOT.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2969127", "quality_rating": 4, "difficulty_rating": 4 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:30:07.360181+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM4OTY5OTE0", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2969127", "instructor_name": "Joshua Dienstag", "course_label": "PS-160", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2024-02-12 20:55:21 +0000 UTC", "comment": "He is a good Lecturer, and you can tell he is passionate about the subject. In-class essays ain't half bad, but the readings can be arduous, especially some of the classics, i.e., Plato and Socrates. Time-consuming class and content can be a bit of a bore, your TA can really help make the class more engaging.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2969127", "quality_rating": 4, "difficulty_rating": 3 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:30:07.360181+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM4OTA5MjU5", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2969127", "instructor_name": "Joshua Dienstag", "course_label": "PS-160", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2024-01-22 02:08:53 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Prof. Dienstag is such a good lecturer. His lectures are loaded with great insight about the readings. Going to lecture is the best way to develop a full understanding of what you are reading. Be prepared to write a lot. ", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2969127", "quality_rating": 5, "difficulty_rating": 4 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:30:07.360181+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM4ODk5MDgy", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2969127", "instructor_name": "Joshua Dienstag", "course_label": "PS-160", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2024-01-18 19:16:13 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Prof Dienstag is the most knowledge person I've ever met. He gives amazing lectures. 50% of your overall grade is a final exam and essay, which was a little difficult for me. If you go to all the lectures and discussion secs. there is no reason not to do well in the class. Be warned, if you are bad at writing essays this class is not for you. ", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2969127", "quality_rating": 5, "difficulty_rating": 3 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:30:07.360181+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM4Njk1ODIw", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2969127", "instructor_name": "Joshua Dienstag", "course_label": "PS-160", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2023-12-15 21:10:57 +0000 UTC", "comment": "He was really nice and is actually really funny. His lectures are super dense, so you have to pay attention. Also, there is a lot of reading. It is a really complex class. \n\nIt was challenging he was really good at teaching it, but you're not going to do well if you don't do the work. \n\nTHIS IS NOT AN EASY A! TAKE IT IF YOU'RE ACTUALLY INTERESTED.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2969127", "quality_rating": 5, "difficulty_rating": 4 } ] ``` ### total 6 ### page 1 ### courses None recorded. ### matched true ## social Image false