Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Professor Shapiro did a great job of making a topic that I don't find interesting somewhat interesting. My only complaint is some lectures drag on a bit. We had required readings and discussion and lecture attendance was mandatory. You don't need to do the readings because it is covered so well but he does cold call two people every lecture.Rate My Professors ↗
Nice guy, and an interesting class. He let the TA do some final lessons at the end of the semester that were super fun. You are technically required to do the reading (he cold calls 2 at the beginning of class), but often attending the lecture was enough to understand the material.Rate My Professors ↗
I loved Larry. His lectures were engaging, and he took the time to learn everyone's names and address them in class. He made jokes and related the content to current issues, and it was very easy to understand. The reading can be somewhat difficult, but the lectures are extremely helpful.Rate My Professors ↗
3 Quizzes and 3 Papers. Mandatory Attendance. Very easy and engaging class. If you show up to lectures and discussions and are willing to learn, no extra time outside of class is required to get an A.Rate My Professors ↗
3 quizzes (no final), 3 papers, and discussion make up final grade.Rate My Professors ↗
Larry might be the best professor at UW. Lectures were very thought-provoking, and every once in a while Larry would crack a joke that had the whole class laughing. Readings were heavy at times but overall very interesting. Attending lectures is part of the grade, so try not to miss them. 3 papers and 3 quizzes for the semester.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
PHILOS 599 is a directed study course allowing students to pursue independent research or study topics arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026 · limited samplePHILOS 681 is a mentored study course for senior Philosophy majors to complete honors theses.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
PHILOS 682 is a mentored study course for seniors completing honors theses in the Philosophy major.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited samplePHILOS 691 is a mentored study course for seniors completing their theses, arranged individually with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
PHILOS 699 is a directed study course allowing independent research arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
PHILOS 990 is a graduate research and thesis course involving individual mentored study arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
PHILOS 999 is an individual mentored study course for graduate students arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | PHILOS 599 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | PHILOS 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | PHILOS 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | PHILOS 691 | Senior Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | PHILOS 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | PHILOS 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | PHILOS 999 | Independent Work |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
{
"instructor_uid": "instructor_d02d1499d7504d65076acea2",
"source": "enrollment",
"source_instructor_id": "lshapiro",
"identity_basis": "netid",
"identity_status": "source_identified",
"name": "Larry Shapiro",
"email": "LSHAPIRO@WISC.EDU",
"first_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
"last_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
"ratings": {
"review_count": 81,
"quality": 4.64,
"difficulty": 2.35,
"quality_count": 81,
"difficulty_count": 81,
"profile_id": "rmp:269987",
"source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/269987",
"match_basis": "exact_name",
"observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:24:18.870870+00:00",
"courses": {
"course_432c74beba85cb7bdc1287f7": {
"review_count": 8,
"quality": 4.5,
"difficulty": 2,
"quality_count": 8,
"difficulty_count": 8
}
},
"bayesian_quality": 4.445878372979523,
"prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957,
"prior_weight": 20
},
"current": true,
"courses": [
{
"course_uid": "course_03d8e9d4d1a907568be73bcd",
"course_id": "PHILOS 691",
"title": "SENIOR THESIS",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_2669442b26c0a7866da3daa3",
"course_id": "PHILOS 990",
"title": "RESEARCH AND THESIS",
"credits_min": 2,
"credits_max": 9,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_26e8125a75c5989423cc9076",
"course_id": "PHILOS 699",
"title": "DIRECTED STUDY",
"credits_min": 2,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_289e73f4cd1b9bba4f865556",
"course_id": "PHILOS 999",
"title": "INDEPENDENT WORK",
"credits_min": 2,
"credits_max": 9,
"gpa": 4
},
{
"course_uid": "course_2c81e4f4233fa57ad8c56280",
"course_id": "PHILOS 682",
"title": "SENIOR HONORS THESIS",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 4
},
{
"course_uid": "course_5e5a87f73ce273d67355c810",
"course_id": "PHILOS 681",
"title": "SENIOR HONORS THESIS",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_97698a6ee4d9ce06a0f4a474",
"course_id": "PHILOS 599",
"title": "DIRECTED STUDY",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 4
}
],
"revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
"instructor_url": "/instructors/LARRY_SHAPIRO"
}