Historical instructor

MARK SAFFMAN

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.50/5 from 2 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

PHY325 · course not matched
Quality 2/5Difficulty 5/5
I wouldn't recommend this class if you are taking other difficult classes. The guy throws an unbelievable amount of information at you. There are two textbooks (he wrote one) and one is too general, the other too specific. Somehow, this doesn't balance out. His lectures are the only way to understand anything in the course, and he moves fast.
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PHYS406 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
Weights homework heavily and is very accessibly outside class. It's very labor intensive like any physics class but it's also easy to do well in provided that you do put in that effort. He also focuses a lot on experiments and contemporary developments related to the topic which makes it feel much more practical and enjoyable.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with MARK SAFFMAN

PHYSICS 545

Introduction to Atomic Structure

Credits unavailable

Introduction to atomic structure covering quantum models, electron spin, and laser cooling techniques.

No offering record · Spring 2026

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Mark Saffman

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2021–Spring 2026 · limited sample
PHYSICS 682

Senior Honors Thesis

3 credits

PHYSICS 682 is a mentored individual research and study course for students completing Physics Honors in the Major.

No offering record · Spring 2026

Roman KuzminIlya Esterlis+5 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample
PHYSICS 799

Independent Study

1–3 credits

PHYSICS 799 is a graduate-level independent study course focused on conducting mentored research projects in physics.

No offering record · Spring 2026

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Deniz YavuzJennifer Choy+6 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sample
PHYSICS 990

Research

1–12 credits

PHYSICS 990 is a research course where students conduct supervised research projects with individual faculty members.

No offering record · Spring 2026

Pupa GilbertKeith Bechtol+48 more

No recorded grade history

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2026PHYSICS 545Introduction to Atomic Structure
Spring 2026PHYSICS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2026PHYSICS 799Independent Study
Spring 2026PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2025PHYSICS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2025PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2025PHYSICS 799Independent Study
Spring 2025PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2024PHYSICS 709Introduction to Quantum Computing
Fall 2024PHYSICS 799Independent Study
Fall 2024PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2024PHYSICS 104General Physics
Spring 2024PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2023PHYSICS 709Introduction to Quantum Computing
Fall 2023PHYSICS 799Independent Study
Fall 2023PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2023PHYSICS 531Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Spring 2023PHYSICS 799Independent Study
Spring 2023PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2022PHYSICS 709Introduction to Quantum Computing
Fall 2022PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2022PHYSICS 325Optics
Spring 2022PHYSICS 799Independent Study
Spring 2022PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2021PHYSICS 298Directed Study
Fall 2021PHYSICS 299Directed Study
Fall 2021PHYSICS 709Introduction to Quantum Computing
Fall 2021PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2020PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2020PHYSICS 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2020PHYSICS 779Advanced Quantum Computing
Spring 2020PHYSICS 799Independent Study
Spring 2020PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2019PHYSICS 545Introduction to Atomic Structure
Fall 2019PHYSICS 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2019PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2019PHYSICS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2019PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2018PHYSICS 545Introduction to Atomic Structure
Fall 2018PHYSICS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2018PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2018PHYSICS 406Special Topics in Physics
Spring 2018PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2017PHYSICS 545Introduction to Atomic Structure
Fall 2017PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2017PHYSICS 325Optics
Spring 2017PHYSICS 499Directed Study
Spring 2017PHYSICS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2017PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2016PHYSICS 406Special Topics in Physics
Fall 2016PHYSICS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2016PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2016PHYSICS 325Optics
Spring 2016PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2015PHYSICS 545Introduction to Atomic Structure
Fall 2015PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2015PHYSICS 531Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Spring 2015PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2014PHYSICS 805Special Topics in Physics
Fall 2014PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2014PHYSICS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2014PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2013PHYSICS 545Introduction to Atomic Structure
Fall 2013PHYSICS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2013PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2013PHYSICS 625Applied Optics
Spring 2013PHYSICS 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2013PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2012PHYSICS 623Electronic AIDS to Measurement
Fall 2012PHYSICS 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2012PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2012PHYSICS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2012PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2011PHYSICS 545Introduction to Atomic Structure
Fall 2011PHYSICS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2011PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2011PHYSICS 325Optics
Spring 2011PHYSICS 499Directed Study
Spring 2011PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2010PHYSICS 801Special Topics in Theoretical Physics
Fall 2010PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2010PHYSICS 531Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Spring 2010PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2009ECE/PHYSICS 746Quantum Electronics
Fall 2009PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2009PHYSICS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2009PHYSICS 721Theoretical Physics-electrodynamics
Spring 2009PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2008PHYSICS 545Introduction to Atomic Structure
Fall 2008PHYSICS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2008PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2008PHYSICS 449Atomic and Quantum Physics
Spring 2008PHYSICS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2008PHYSICS 990Research
Fall 2007PHYSICS 448Atomic and Quantum Physics
Fall 2007PHYSICS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2007PHYSICS 990Research
Spring 2007PHYSICS 449Atomic and Quantum Physics
Spring 2007PHYSICS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2007PHYSICS 990Research

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

Instructor identity & provenance 
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