Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Dr. Goodwin is so kind, genuine, and understanding. She was my favourite professor this semester, and her passion for the subject really shines through. Lectures can be a difficult to follow at times and labs + exams are hard, but she does her best to make sure students understand the material.Rate My Professors ↗
Amazing woman. Super accommodating. Don't listen to the other reviews. Obviously you shouldn't take a class you're not interested in or think will be an easy A and complain about it. The content is so interesting and she is the sweetest woman who genuinely cares about her students and their learning.Rate My Professors ↗
Overall Laurel was a very nice woman and always accessible outside and during office hours. She wasn't always the best at explaining advanced topics, but oftentimes the textbook could cover it better. My biggest complaint is that a good chunk of her exam questions (probably about half) were overly specific or tough. It's a lot of information.Rate My Professors ↗
If you don't like geology do not take this class. Very boring. The prof is very unclear and grades harshly. Her exams are harder than they should be.Rate My Professors ↗
Don't mind the 106 naysayers, she does a fine job.Rate My Professors ↗
Laurel is one of the nicest people i have ever met. she's very helpful and willing to talk about anything with you. she really wants her students to succeed. 202 was a difficult class, but required for geol major. she does dumb it down sometimes but that can be helpful too. laurel rules. structural geology does not.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Structural petrology course focusing on petrographic investigation of rock fabrics and deformation using thin sections and SEMs.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2013: 3.40 GPA, 80.0% A/AB (n=5 letter grades); Fall 2023: 3.50 GPA, 62.5% A/AB (n=8 letter grades).
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2023 · limited sampleGEOSCI 681 is a senior mentored study course for students completing theses for Honors in the Major.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
GEOSCI 691 is a mentored individual research course for students completing a senior thesis.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
GEOSCI 699 is a directed study course allowing students to conduct independent research or study arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleGEOSCI 875 covers advanced and special topics in geology and geoscience for graduate students.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2018: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=1 letter grades); Fall 2018: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=1 letter grades); Spring 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=7 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026GEOSCI 990 is a research course where students conduct supervised independent study projects.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 557 | Structural Petrology |
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 691 | Senior Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 875 | Advanced Topics in Geology |
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 990 | Research |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
{
"instructor_uid": "instructor_549d8023f558300485915500",
"source": "enrollment",
"source_instructor_id": "lgoodwin",
"identity_basis": "netid",
"identity_status": "source_identified",
"name": "Laurel Goodwin",
"email": "LAUREL@GEOLOGY.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": 6,
"quality": 4,
"difficulty": 3.17,
"quality_count": 6,
"difficulty_count": 6,
"profile_id": "rmp:510766",
"source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/510766",
"match_basis": "exact_name",
"observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:24:04.253238+00:00",
"courses": {},
"bayesian_quality": 3.7382198334973813,
"prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957,
"prior_weight": 20
},
"current": true,
"courses": [
{
"course_uid": "course_55a3719a9378ba3e5ac8d303",
"course_id": "GEOSCI 990",
"title": "RESEARCH",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 12,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_635799e37c4c767ad1e7f18c",
"course_id": "GEOSCI 691",
"title": "SENIOR THESIS",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 4,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_af07afb623c828dad4e6c432",
"course_id": "GEOSCI 557",
"title": "STRUCTURAL PETROLOGY",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 3.65
},
{
"course_uid": "course_db4ff19cdc2ed27d049c0404",
"course_id": "GEOSCI 699",
"title": "DIRECTED STUDY",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 6,
"gpa": 3.75
},
{
"course_uid": "course_e7279f824ab6b8b042a08bff",
"course_id": "GEOSCI 681",
"title": "SENIOR HONORS THESIS",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": null
},
{
"course_uid": "course_f386fd59e445028098f1439d",
"course_id": "GEOSCI 875",
"title": "ADVANCED TOPICS IN GEOLOGY",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 3.961
}
],
"revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
"instructor_url": "/instructors/LAUREL_GOODWIN"
}