{"schema_version":1,"url":"https://uwcourses.com/instructors/MENZIE_CHINN--instructor_cae95fd24fac943491aa46d3","title":"Menzie Chinn — Courses & Reviews | UW–Madison","dataset":{"search_projection":{"version":1,"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"]},"revision":"e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349","repository":"twangodev/uwcourses","schema_version":6,"importer_version":"8","projection_id":"7eb94c60c31fe3d8ae732986b7f3d069e1345ae92fd6239119e63b9d2461969d","observed_at":"2026-09-07T15:55:43.033547+00:00","built_at":"2026-10-01T19:10:41.241229+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":"AAE","count":90},{"subject":"ABT","count":20},{"subject":"ACCTIS","count":36},{"subject":"ACTSCI","count":14},{"subject":"AFAERO","count":10},{"subject":"AFRICAN","count":87},{"subject":"AFROAMER","count":71},{"subject":"AGROECOL","count":21},{"subject":"AMERIND","count":53},{"subject":"ANAT&PHY","count":7},{"subject":"ANATOMY","count":2},{"subject":"ANESTHES","count":8},{"subject":"ANSCI","count":57},{"subject":"ANTHRO","count":95},{"subject":"ART","count":125},{"subject":"ARTED","count":10},{"subject":"ARTHIST","count":121},{"subject":"ASIALANG","count":129},{"subject":"ASIAN","count":109},{"subject":"ASIANAM","count":28},{"subject":"ASTRON","count":38},{"subject":"ATMOCN","count":69},{"subject":"BIOCHEM","count":51},{"subject":"BIOCORE","count":10},{"subject":"BIOLOGY","count":14},{"subject":"BIOMDSCI","count":18},{"subject":"BME","count":66},{"subject":"BMI","count":41},{"subject":"BMOLCHEM","count":10},{"subject":"BOTANY","count":69},{"subject":"BSE","count":44},{"subject":"C&ESOC","count":73},{"subject":"CBE","count":48},{"subject":"CHEM","count":101},{"subject":"CHICLA","count":52},{"subject":"CIVENGR","count":133},{"subject":"CLASSICS","count":47},{"subject":"CNP","count":10},{"subject":"CNSRSCI","count":50},{"subject":"COMARTS","count":137},{"subject":"COMPBIO","count":15},{"subject":"COMPLIT","count":11},{"subject":"COMPSCI","count":138},{"subject":"COUNPSY","count":78},{"subject":"CRB","count":19},{"subject":"CS&D","count":71},{"subject":"CSCS","count":40},{"subject":"CURRIC","count":193},{"subject":"DANCE","count":93},{"subject":"DERM","count":8},{"subject":"DS","count":88},{"subject":"DYSCI","count":35},{"subject":"ECE","count":155},{"subject":"ECON","count":145},{"subject":"EDPOL","count":114},{"subject":"EDPSYCH","count":97},{"subject":"ELPA","count":70},{"subject":"EMA","count":53},{"subject":"EMERMED","count":17},{"subject":"ENGL","count":206},{"subject":"ENTOM","count":40},{"subject":"ENVIRST","count":148},{"subject":"EP","count":15},{"subject":"EPD","count":67},{"subject":"ESL","count":16},{"subject":"F&WECOL","count":60},{"subject":"FAMMED","count":22},{"subject":"FINANCE","count":50},{"subject":"FOLKLORE","count":40},{"subject":"FOODSCI","count":43},{"subject":"FRENCH","count":63},{"subject":"GEN&WS","count":145},{"subject":"GENBUS","count":72},{"subject":"GENECSLR","count":17},{"subject":"GENETICS","count":60},{"subject":"GEOG","count":113},{"subject":"GEOSCI","count":83},{"subject":"GERMAN","count":82},{"subject":"GLE","count":48},{"subject":"GNS","count":38},{"subject":"GREEK","count":27},{"subject":"HDFS","count":41},{"subject":"HEBR-BIB","count":13},{"subject":"HEBR-MOD","count":10},{"subject":"HISTORY","count":233},{"subject":"HISTSCI","count":56},{"subject":"HONCOL","count":13},{"subject":"ILS","count":43},{"subject":"INFOSYS","count":9},{"subject":"INTEGART","count":7},{"subject":"INTEGSCI","count":22},{"subject":"INTER-AG","count":18},{"subject":"INTER-HE","count":11},{"subject":"INTER-LS","count":22},{"subject":"INTEREGR","count":16},{"subject":"INTLBUS","count":21},{"subject":"INTLST","count":50},{"subject":"ISYE","count":83},{"subject":"ITALIAN","count":53},{"subject":"JEWISH","count":56},{"subject":"JOURN","count":88},{"subject":"KINES","count":128},{"subject":"LACIS","count":26},{"subject":"LANDARC","count":61},{"subject":"LATIN","count":24},{"subject":"LAW","count":120},{"subject":"LEGALST","count":48},{"subject":"LINGUIS","count":35},{"subject":"LIS","count":89},{"subject":"LITTRANS","count":78},{"subject":"LSC","count":52},{"subject":"M&ENVTOX","count":7},{"subject":"MARKETNG","count":62},{"subject":"MATH","count":153},{"subject":"MDGENET","count":8},{"subject":"ME","count":130},{"subject":"MEDHIST","count":43},{"subject":"MEDICINE","count":60},{"subject":"MEDIEVAL","count":32},{"subject":"MEDPHYS","count":39},{"subject":"MEDSC-M","count":29},{"subject":"MEDSC-V","count":41},{"subject":"MHR","count":68},{"subject":"MICROBIO","count":45},{"subject":"MILSCI","count":16},{"subject":"MM&I","count":22},{"subject":"MOLBIOL","count":6},{"subject":"MS&E","count":59},{"subject":"MUSIC","count":165},{"subject":"MUSPERF","count":126},{"subject":"NAVSCI","count":20},{"subject":"NE","count":44},{"subject":"NEURODPT","count":11},{"subject":"NEUROL","count":7},{"subject":"NEURSURG","count":4},{"subject":"NTP","count":11},{"subject":"NURSING","count":111},{"subject":"NUTRSCI","count":65},{"subject":"OBS&GYN","count":18},{"subject":"OCCTHER","count":39},{"subject":"ONCOLOGY","count":14},{"subject":"OPHTHALM","count":5},{"subject":"OTM","count":43},{"subject":"PATH","count":34},{"subject":"PATH-BIO","count":29},{"subject":"PEDIAT","count":26},{"subject":"PHARMACY","count":31},{"subject":"PHILOS","count":77},{"subject":"PHMCOL-M","count":11},{"subject":"PHMPRAC","count":45},{"subject":"PHMSCI","count":60},{"subject":"PHYASST","count":37},{"subject":"PHYSICS","count":88},{"subject":"PHYSIOL","count":3},{"subject":"PHYTHER","count":37},{"subject":"PLANTSCI","count":52},{"subject":"PLPATH","count":35},{"subject":"POLISCI","count":192},{"subject":"POPHLTH","count":58},{"subject":"PORTUG","count":33},{"subject":"PSYCH","count":101},{"subject":"PSYCHIAT","count":22},{"subject":"PUBAFFR","count":54},{"subject":"PUBLHLTH","count":23},{"subject":"RADIOL","count":11},{"subject":"REALEST","count":41},{"subject":"RELIGST","count":90},{"subject":"RHABMED","count":9},{"subject":"RMI","count":24},{"subject":"RP&SE","count":102},{"subject":"S&APHM","count":17},{"subject":"SCANDST","count":73},{"subject":"SLAVIC","count":89},{"subject":"SOC","count":149},{"subject":"SOCWORK","count":87},{"subject":"SOILSCI","count":46},{"subject":"SPANISH","count":83},{"subject":"SRMED","count":21},{"subject":"STAT","count":94},{"subject":"STDYABRD","count":52},{"subject":"STS","count":8},{"subject":"SURGERY","count":25},{"subject":"SURGSCI","count":33},{"subject":"THEATRE","count":91},{"subject":"URBRPL","count":60},{"subject":"UROLOGY","count":5},{"subject":"ZOOLOGY","count":89}],"designations":[],"deployed_at":null,"site_commit":null},"data":{"instructor":{"instructor_uid":"instructor_cae95fd24fac943491aa46d3","source":"legacy","source_instructor_id":null,"identity_basis":"name_only","identity_status":"unresolved","name":"Menzie Chinn","email":"MCHINN@LAFOLLETTE.WISC.EDU","first_observed_at":"2025-12-03 12:33:41.418072+00:00","last_observed_at":"2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00","ratings":{"review_count":36,"quality":2.64,"difficulty":3.56,"quality_count":36,"difficulty_count":36,"profile_id":"rmp:375567","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/375567","match_basis":"exact_name","observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:48.290178+00:00","courses":{"course_e28aa122996f42d8d10a671d":{"review_count":6,"quality":2.33,"difficulty":4,"quality_count":6,"difficulty_count":6},"course_eba4cde6ca47fecbcd03450d":{"review_count":7,"quality":2.14,"difficulty":2.86,"quality_count":7,"difficulty_count":7},"course_156f8e7bbfa0994c04564cf8":{"review_count":5,"quality":4.4,"difficulty":3.6,"quality_count":5,"difficulty_count":5},"course_9342eaf3d82a59634b605992":{"review_count":12,"quality":2.42,"difficulty":4.08,"quality_count":12,"difficulty_count":12},"course_9ff4b9c944ce562703c38578":{"review_count":1,"quality":2,"difficulty":4,"quality_count":1,"difficulty_count":1},"course_e104fb600738e5af6d58c4dd":{"review_count":4,"quality":2.75,"difficulty":2.5,"quality_count":4,"difficulty_count":4}},"bayesian_quality":3.0041734941237843,"prior_mean":3.6596857835465957,"prior_weight":20},"current":false,"courses":[],"revision":"e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349","instructor_url":"/instructors/MENZIE_CHINN--instructor_cae95fd24fac943491aa46d3"},"history":[],"timeline":[],"term":"1272","courses":[],"reviews":{"items":[{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:48.290178+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5MzQ3OTg0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:375567","instructor_name":"Menzie Chinn","course_label":"ECON442","course_id":"ECON 442","course_uid":"course_e28aa122996f42d8d10a671d","review_date":"2024-05-03 00:24:51 +0000 UTC","comment":"Smart guy awful class. Everything about it is confusing and disorganized. Tests were extremely difficult with class averages ~45%. I would not recommend this class even to my enemy","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/375567","quality_rating":1,"difficulty_rating":5},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:48.290178+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5MTk4MzIx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:375567","instructor_name":"Menzie Chinn","course_label":"ECON442","course_id":"ECON 442","course_uid":"course_e28aa122996f42d8d10a671d","review_date":"2024-04-18 02:03:02 +0000 UTC","comment":"This guy should not be teaching undergraduate students. Lectures are super confusing and not worth your time, and the assignments are super vague with no guidance on how they are graded. This class could be interesting but the disorganization makes it difficult to stay engaged. Super smart and accomplished guy but terrible class. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/375567","quality_rating":2,"difficulty_rating":4},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:48.290178+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4OTA5Mjgx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:375567","instructor_name":"Menzie Chinn","course_label":"PUBAFFR200","course_id":"PUBAFFR 200","course_uid":"course_eba4cde6ca47fecbcd03450d","review_date":"2024-01-22 02:15:30 +0000 UTC","comment":"I found the class to be pretty easy if you already have a basic understanding of policy issues.  I agree with the other reviews that Prof. Chinn assigns work very close to the deadlines with unclear instructions, so be prepared.  Otherwise the guest lectures are fun and Prof. Chinn tries to include topics that are of interest. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/375567","quality_rating":3,"difficulty_rating":2},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:48.290178+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4Nzg1NjUy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:375567","instructor_name":"Menzie Chinn","course_label":"PUBAFFR200","course_id":"PUBAFFR 200","course_uid":"course_eba4cde6ca47fecbcd03450d","review_date":"2023-12-23 22:28:43 +0000 UTC","comment":"P. Chinn's lectures are very average. What makes his class a pain is his assignments. He waits until the last minute to post instructions. When he does post them they are unclear and contain contradictions. On top of that a clear grading criteria is nonexistent. Only take his class if have given up on caring about your grade or learning anything.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/375567","quality_rating":1,"difficulty_rating":3},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:48.290178+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2NTQyNDMy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:375567","instructor_name":"Menzie Chinn","course_label":"PUBAFFR200","course_id":"PUBAFFR 200","course_uid":"course_eba4cde6ca47fecbcd03450d","review_date":"2022-07-26 19:40:26 +0000 UTC","comment":"The grading in this class was completely unclear. I ended the course which would have been an A on a normal grading scale but received a B because the curve hurt me so much. The lectures were very all over the place and the criteria was never clear. Prof. Chinn was very kind but not a professor I would take for this class again.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/375567","quality_rating":1,"difficulty_rating":4},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:48.290178+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2NDA1NjAw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:375567","instructor_name":"Menzie Chinn","course_label":"PUBAFFR200","course_id":"PUBAFFR 200","course_uid":"course_eba4cde6ca47fecbcd03450d","review_date":"2022-05-25 18:38:13 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Chinn is so sweet. He kind of looks like a little old man that you just want to give a hug. I really enjoyed his class and thought that everything he said was very insightful. Only a few assignments but the were graded very easily.Not sure why everyone is being so dramatic on here, I thought this class was super easy and very interesting!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/375567","quality_rating":5,"difficulty_rating":1}],"total":36,"page":1,"courses":[{"course_uid":"course_9342eaf3d82a59634b605992","course_id":"ECON 302"},{"course_uid":"course_e104fb600738e5af6d58c4dd","course_id":"ECON 310"},{"course_uid":"course_9ff4b9c944ce562703c38578","course_id":"ECON 330"},{"course_uid":"course_156f8e7bbfa0994c04564cf8","course_id":"ECON 435"},{"course_uid":"course_e28aa122996f42d8d10a671d","course_id":"ECON 442"},{"course_uid":"course_eba4cde6ca47fecbcd03450d","course_id":"PUBAFFR 200"}],"matched":true},"socialImage":false}}