# Nick Balster — Courses & Reviews | UW–Madison [View on UW Courses](https://uwcourses.com/instructors/NICK_BALSTER) ## Dataset ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ### repository twangodev/uwcourses ### schema version 6 ### importer version 7 ### projection id 94468b7d4154126ca413937bb4738a6d21e0c2277f6fa397a6078ad80a32384f ### observed at 2026-09-07T15:55:43.033547+00:00 ### built at 2026-09-10T23:19:01.870283+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\_d0392633eeb3a37acc53f98b ### source enrollment ### source instructor id njbalster ### identity basis netid ### identity status source\_identified ### name Nick Balster ### email NJBALSTER\@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 64 #### quality 3.2 #### difficulty 3.45 #### quality count 64 #### difficulty count 64 #### profile id rmp:262714 #### source url #### match basis exact\_name #### observed at 2026-09-07 16:14:06.113894+00:00 #### courses ##### course 0d4cf169ef7d2f1437b00cb6 ###### review count 2 ###### quality 5 ###### difficulty 4 ###### quality count 2 ###### difficulty count 2 ##### course 04ccf69fb33982ff8a62a49f ###### review count 6 ###### quality 2 ###### difficulty 3.5 ###### quality count 6 ###### difficulty count 6 #### bayesian quality 3.309448996082523 #### prior mean 3.6596857835465957 #### prior weight 20 ### current true ### courses | course\_uid | course\_id | title | credits\_min | credits\_max | gpa | | -------------------------------- | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------ | ------------ | ----- | | course\_04ccf69fb33982ff8a62a49f | SOILSCI 250 | INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE | 3 | 3 | 3.116 | | course\_0ce33941a9d88ae81d68fe62 | SOILSCI 699 | SPECIAL PROBLEMS | 1 | 3 | 3.984 | | course\_234edf2f558e9387aa43319d | SOILSCI 682 | SENIOR HONORS THESIS | 2 | 4 | | | course\_5a21252438edde7093e668a3 | SOILSCI 681 | SENIOR HONORS THESIS | 2 | 4 | | | course\_5aab32e882fe646f9d176a47 | SOILSCI 399 | COORDINATIVE INTERNSHIP/COOPERATIVE EDUCATION | 1 | 8 | 4 | | course\_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172 | SOILSCI 990 | RESEARCH | 1 | 12 | | | course\_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b | F\&WECOL 990 | RESEARCH AND THESIS | 1 | 12 | | | course\_a706700864ec69ba8a659ce1 | SOILSCI 299 | INDEPENDENT STUDY | 1 | 3 | 3.887 | | course\_cb48202f2abd505901a4ce2b | SOILSCI 486 | SOIL MANAGEMENT | 3 | 3 | | | course\_e6cd8abf8ddcc19f093ffbff | AGROECOL 303 | AGROECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS: WORKING TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY | 3 | 3 | 3.773 | ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ### instructor url /instructors/NICK\_BALSTER ## history | term | course\_uid | course\_id | title | | ---- | -------------------------------- | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ | | 1272 | course\_e6cd8abf8ddcc19f093ffbff | AGROECOL 303 | AGROECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS: WORKING TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY | | 1272 | course\_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b | F\&WECOL 990 | RESEARCH AND THESIS | | 1272 | course\_04ccf69fb33982ff8a62a49f | SOILSCI 250 | INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE | | 1272 | course\_a706700864ec69ba8a659ce1 | SOILSCI 299 | INDEPENDENT STUDY | | 1272 | course\_5aab32e882fe646f9d176a47 | SOILSCI 399 | COORDINATIVE INTERNSHIP/COOPERATIVE EDUCATION | | 1272 | course\_cb48202f2abd505901a4ce2b | SOILSCI 486 | SOIL MANAGEMENT | | 1272 | course\_5a21252438edde7093e668a3 | SOILSCI 681 | SENIOR HONORS THESIS | | 1272 | course\_234edf2f558e9387aa43319d | SOILSCI 682 | SENIOR HONORS THESIS | | 1272 | course\_0ce33941a9d88ae81d68fe62 | SOILSCI 699 | SPECIAL PROBLEMS | | 1272 | course\_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172 | SOILSCI 990 | RESEARCH | ## timeline | term | courses | | ---- | ------- | | 1272 | 10 | ## term 1272 ## courses ```json [ { "course_uid": "course_e6cd8abf8ddcc19f093ffbff", "course_id": "AGROECOL 303", "title": "AGROECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS: WORKING TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.773, "badges": [ { "id": "lecture-size", "label": "Small lectures", "tone": "neutral", "evidence": "Fall 2026: median 9 enrolled students across 1 recorded lecture section. Small means 30 or fewer; large means 100 or more. Enrollment at scan time, not capacity or typical historical attendance.", "sources": [ { "label": "Sections and enrollment", "href": "/courses/AGROECOL_303#schedule" } ] } ], "description": "Explores agricultural systems as coupled ecological and social complexities, analyzing management impacts and tradeoffs to address societal challenges.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 6, 5, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 11, "gpa": 3.772727272727273, "topShare": 100, "firstTerm": "1262", "lastTerm": "1262" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_e6cd8abf8ddcc19f093ffbff", "uid": "instructor_d55f6c2fabfdbce307754fb4", "name": "Claudio Gratton", "quality": 3.675891222425329, "quality_count": 1, "instructor_url": "/instructors/CLAUDIO_GRATTON" }, { "course_uid": "course_e6cd8abf8ddcc19f093ffbff", "uid": "instructor_d0392633eeb3a37acc53f98b", "name": "Nick Balster", "quality": 3.309448996082523, "quality_count": 64, "instructor_url": "/instructors/NICK_BALSTER" } ], "instructorHistory": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "courseComparison": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "claim": { "citations": [ { "course_id": "AGROECOL 303", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "section_number": 1, "source_course_id": "3e62579b-c7de-3a63-9a3c-b0cf29bcc979", "source_record": { "entity_id": "3e62579b-c7de-3a63-9a3c-b0cf29bcc979", "file": "tables/observations.parquet", "kind": "grades", "source": "madgrades" }, "table": "section_grades_latest", "term_id": "1262", "type": "grade" } ], "text": "Recent recorded grades — Fall 2025: 3.77 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=11 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections." }, "reviewFiles": [] } }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "course_id": "F&WECOL 990", "title": "RESEARCH AND THESIS", "credits_min": 1, "credits_max": 12, "gpa": null, "badges": [], "description": "F&WECOL 990 is an independent research course for graduate thesis preparation under faculty supervision.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_58b35b08e7c7ee851a2a75fd", "name": "Paul Stoy", "quality": 3.8830714862888294, "quality_count": 4, "instructor_url": "/instructors/PAUL_STOY" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_c5a928c0132d50fa02c9ebfb", "name": "Benjamin Zuckerberg", "quality": 3.8345093769970395, "quality_count": 3, "instructor_url": "/instructors/BENJAMIN_ZUCKERBERG" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_8f08cb4413e986ae4b3f51d0", "name": "Zuzana Burivalova", "quality": 3.7677486268372764, "quality_count": 5, "instructor_url": "/instructors/ZUZANA_BURIVALOVA" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_695a78c9f55765b181e94a49", "name": "Amy Trowbridge", "quality": 3.7235102700443767, "quality_count": 1, "instructor_url": "/instructors/AMY_TROWBRIDGE" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_c19258ed9bb3e8a20cc95f3c", "name": "Jennifer Raynor", "quality": 3.7235102700443767, "quality_count": 1, "instructor_url": "/instructors/JENNIFER_RAYNOR" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_e707e5ac2fec3cc43eb9b8bd", "name": "Jonathan Pauli", "quality": 3.6271330288091708, "quality_count": 38, "instructor_url": "/instructors/JONATHAN_PAULI" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_d0392633eeb3a37acc53f98b", "name": "Nick Balster", "quality": 3.309448996082523, "quality_count": 64, "instructor_url": "/instructors/NICK_BALSTER" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_0c6295221ae92e1062255467", "name": "Adena Rissman", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/ADENA_RISSMAN" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_70a3ab3004cd1f6cc7433a0e", "name": "Anna Pidgeon", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/ANNA_PIDGEON" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_6e3212695a347f04cce92726", "name": "David Drake", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/DAVID_DRAKE" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_b5f666bbe351ecfe3b275f86", "name": "Emma Hauser", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/EMMA_HAUSER" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_800f9bc802c127e9c8dee1a6", "name": "Jasmine Childress", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/JASMINE_CHILDRESS" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_a9b6287fbd7ebd819b0daf28", "name": "Jessica Hua", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/JESSICA_HUA" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_ae740290d98f8d86f6d5e24b", "name": "M Peery", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/M_PEERY" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_a2d391dea6a5ce79ad1a056a", "name": "Mark Rickenbach", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/MARK_RICKENBACH" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_9b33629654dde870322cf04f", "name": "Min Chen", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/MIN_CHEN" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_b20c398947d08cd7a73d1bbb", "name": "Mutlu Ozdogan", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/MUTLU_OZDOGAN" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_e85d6f652aa1f8115f9f9b35", "name": "Philip Townsend", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/PHILIP_TOWNSEND" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_cbe6581448c5bdc68e4bc61d", "name": "Sarah Castle", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/SARAH_CASTLE" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_e204271f27a24d68449b2174", "name": "Timothy Van Deelen", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/TIMOTHY_VAN_DEELEN" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_abbca9326ec0fff288e2427f", "name": "Volker Radeloff", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/VOLKER_RADELOFF" }, { "course_uid": "course_7372b46383ee6d6c8363f28b", "uid": "instructor_cf72d9dfdcb9e96ad3d6e1e8", "name": "Wendy Turner", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/WENDY_TURNER" } ], "instructorHistory": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "courseComparison": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "claim": null, "reviewFiles": [] } }, { "course_uid": "course_04ccf69fb33982ff8a62a49f", "course_id": "SOILSCI 250", "title": "INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.116, "badges": [ { "id": "grade-outcomes", "label": "Lower grades", "tone": "negative", "evidence": "Fall 2025 · latest released grades before Fall 2026: 3.07 GPA across 65 letter grades, versus 3.63 for UW–Madison (1320 courses). Requires a difference of at least 0.20 and 30 letter grades. Historical outcomes, not predicted difficulty.", "sources": [ { "label": "Grade history and sources", "href": "/courses/SOILSCI_250#grades" } ] } ], "description": "Introduction to Environmental Science covering Earth's interconnected systems, natural services, and environmental challenges.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 90, 73, 62, 35, 30, 8, 10 ], "count": 308, "gpa": 3.107142857142857, "topShare": 52.922077922077925, "firstTerm": "1232", "lastTerm": "1262" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_04ccf69fb33982ff8a62a49f", "uid": "instructor_d0392633eeb3a37acc53f98b", "name": "Nick Balster", "quality": 3.309448996082523, "quality_count": 64, "instructor_url": "/instructors/NICK_BALSTER" } ], "instructorHistory": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "courseComparison": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "claim": { "citations": [ { "instructor_name": "Nick Balster", "review_date": "2021-11-09 14:49:47 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "8c90265650232b2e025763c0", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:262714", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM1MjEwODA4", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/262714", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Nick Balster", "review_date": "2021-11-19 14:31:49 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "dbfc386945cef35a6cfd1c7c", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:262714", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM1MjczOTMz", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/262714", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Nick Balster", "review_date": "2023-02-28 18:46:40 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "ce396017e2ffa4bbe6b6a5fe", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:262714", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM3NDY1Mzk2", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/262714", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Nick Balster", "review_date": "2025-12-11 17:38:59 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "5cecdd2eec86a7ca8997d729", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:262714", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyMTc5NjQ2", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/262714", "type": "review" } ], "text": "Nick Balster is criticized for outdated teaching and confusing lectures that fail to prepare students for difficult weekly quizzes and exams. Reviewers describe the workload as excessive with little relevant learning, noting a lack of grading curves despite high difficulty." }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/reviews/course_04ccf69fb33982ff8a62a49f-0.json" ] } }, { "course_uid": "course_a706700864ec69ba8a659ce1", "course_id": "SOILSCI 299", "title": "INDEPENDENT STUDY", "credits_min": 1, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.887, "badges": [], "description": "SOILSCI 299 is an independent study course involving research work under the direct guidance of a faculty member.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 32, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 34, "gpa": 3.9705882352941178, "topShare": 100, "firstTerm": "1224", "lastTerm": "1264" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_a706700864ec69ba8a659ce1", "uid": "instructor_c1a6e346623c9b558034f9e5", "name": "Thea Whitman", "quality": 3.7471180726492133, "quality_count": 3, "instructor_url": "/instructors/THEA_WHITMAN" }, { "course_uid": "course_a706700864ec69ba8a659ce1", "uid": "instructor_31b77acaf09caaed2b9ebe68", "name": "Doug Soldat", "quality": 3.7235102700443767, "quality_count": 1, "instructor_url": "/instructors/DOUG_SOLDAT" }, { "course_uid": "course_a706700864ec69ba8a659ce1", "uid": "instructor_e4f7b115624b752776909f17", "name": "Alfred Hartemink", "quality": 3.6166832900405175, "quality_count": 3, "instructor_url": "/instructors/ALFRED_HARTEMINK" }, { "course_uid": "course_a706700864ec69ba8a659ce1", "uid": "instructor_d0392633eeb3a37acc53f98b", "name": "Nick Balster", "quality": 3.309448996082523, "quality_count": 64, "instructor_url": "/instructors/NICK_BALSTER" }, { "course_uid": "course_a706700864ec69ba8a659ce1", "uid": "instructor_e2f5a7c68fad4bbd44388f57", "name": "Matthew Ruark", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/MATTHEW_RUARK" }, { "course_uid": "course_a706700864ec69ba8a659ce1", "uid": "instructor_2f32b5b462980e25f173a77c", "name": "Xia Zhu Barker", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/XIA_ZHU_BARKER" }, { "course_uid": "course_a706700864ec69ba8a659ce1", "uid": "instructor_5acecdcc5139756c513523e7", "name": "Zac Freedman", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/ZAC_FREEDMAN" } ], "instructorHistory": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "courseComparison": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "claim": { "citations": [ { "course_id": "SOILSCI 299", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "section_number": 48, "source_course_id": "1080ed1b-54e0-328f-83d5-651f106fe06e", "source_record": { "entity_id": "1080ed1b-54e0-328f-83d5-651f106fe06e", "file": "tables/observations.parquet", "kind": "grades", "source": "madgrades" }, "table": "section_grades_latest", "term_id": "1244", "type": "grade" }, { "course_id": "SOILSCI 299", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "section_number": 48, "source_course_id": "1080ed1b-54e0-328f-83d5-651f106fe06e", "source_record": { "entity_id": "1080ed1b-54e0-328f-83d5-651f106fe06e", "file": "tables/observations.parquet", "kind": "grades", "source": "madgrades" }, "table": "section_grades_latest", "term_id": "1262", "type": "grade" }, { "course_id": "SOILSCI 299", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "section_number": 48, "source_course_id": "1080ed1b-54e0-328f-83d5-651f106fe06e", "source_record": { "entity_id": "1080ed1b-54e0-328f-83d5-651f106fe06e", "file": "tables/observations.parquet", "kind": "grades", "source": "madgrades" }, "table": "section_grades_latest", "term_id": "1264", "type": "grade" } ], "text": "Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 3.89 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=9 letter grades); Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=9 letter grades); Spring 2026: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=9 letter grades)." }, "reviewFiles": [] } }, { "course_uid": "course_5aab32e882fe646f9d176a47", "course_id": "SOILSCI 399", "title": "COORDINATIVE INTERNSHIP/COOPERATIVE EDUCATION", "credits_min": 1, "credits_max": 8, "gpa": 4, "badges": [], "description": "SOILSCI 399 is a coordinative internship in Soil Science where students arrange and complete supervised work under faculty and site guidance.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_5aab32e882fe646f9d176a47", "uid": "instructor_31b77acaf09caaed2b9ebe68", "name": "Doug Soldat", "quality": 3.7235102700443767, "quality_count": 1, "instructor_url": "/instructors/DOUG_SOLDAT" }, { "course_uid": "course_5aab32e882fe646f9d176a47", "uid": "instructor_e23405436e2edaffaf25fdd9", "name": "Phillip Barak", "quality": 3.533034079568186, "quality_count": 1, "instructor_url": "/instructors/PHILLIP_BARAK" }, { "course_uid": "course_5aab32e882fe646f9d176a47", "uid": "instructor_d0392633eeb3a37acc53f98b", "name": "Nick Balster", "quality": 3.309448996082523, "quality_count": 64, "instructor_url": "/instructors/NICK_BALSTER" } ], "instructorHistory": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "courseComparison": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "claim": null, "reviewFiles": [] } }, { "course_uid": "course_cb48202f2abd505901a4ce2b", "course_id": "SOILSCI 486", "title": "SOIL MANAGEMENT", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": null, "badges": [], "description": "SOIL MANAGEMENT is a capstone course applying problem solving, critical thinking, and communication skills to soil and environmental sciences issues.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_cb48202f2abd505901a4ce2b", "uid": "instructor_d0392633eeb3a37acc53f98b", "name": "Nick Balster", "quality": 3.309448996082523, "quality_count": 64, "instructor_url": "/instructors/NICK_BALSTER" } ], "instructorHistory": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "courseComparison": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "claim": null, "reviewFiles": [] } }, { "course_uid": "course_5a21252438edde7093e668a3", "course_id": "SOILSCI 681", "title": "SENIOR HONORS THESIS", "credits_min": 2, "credits_max": 4, "gpa": null, "badges": [], "description": "SOILSCI 681 is an individual study course for Soil Science Honors majors to complete their senior thesis under faculty supervision.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_5a21252438edde7093e668a3", "uid": "instructor_e23405436e2edaffaf25fdd9", "name": "Phillip Barak", "quality": 3.533034079568186, "quality_count": 1, "instructor_url": "/instructors/PHILLIP_BARAK" }, { "course_uid": "course_5a21252438edde7093e668a3", "uid": "instructor_d0392633eeb3a37acc53f98b", "name": "Nick Balster", "quality": 3.309448996082523, "quality_count": 64, "instructor_url": "/instructors/NICK_BALSTER" } ], "instructorHistory": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "courseComparison": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "claim": null, "reviewFiles": [] } }, { "course_uid": "course_234edf2f558e9387aa43319d", "course_id": "SOILSCI 682", "title": "SENIOR HONORS THESIS", "credits_min": 2, "credits_max": 4, "gpa": null, "badges": [], "description": "SOILSCI 682 is the continuation of SOILSCI 681, serving as the senior honors thesis component for Soil Science majors.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_234edf2f558e9387aa43319d", "uid": "instructor_d0392633eeb3a37acc53f98b", "name": "Nick Balster", "quality": 3.309448996082523, "quality_count": 64, "instructor_url": "/instructors/NICK_BALSTER" }, { "course_uid": "course_234edf2f558e9387aa43319d", "uid": "instructor_5acecdcc5139756c513523e7", "name": "Zac Freedman", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/ZAC_FREEDMAN" } ], "instructorHistory": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "courseComparison": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "claim": null, "reviewFiles": [] } }, { "course_uid": "course_0ce33941a9d88ae81d68fe62", "course_id": "SOILSCI 699", "title": "SPECIAL PROBLEMS", "credits_min": 1, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.984, "badges": [], "description": "SOILSCI 699 is an individual study course for Soil Science majors completing their theses, arranged with a faculty member.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_0ce33941a9d88ae81d68fe62", "uid": "instructor_31b77acaf09caaed2b9ebe68", "name": "Doug Soldat", "quality": 3.7235102700443767, "quality_count": 1, "instructor_url": "/instructors/DOUG_SOLDAT" }, { "course_uid": "course_0ce33941a9d88ae81d68fe62", "uid": "instructor_d0392633eeb3a37acc53f98b", "name": "Nick Balster", "quality": 3.309448996082523, "quality_count": 64, "instructor_url": "/instructors/NICK_BALSTER" }, { "course_uid": "course_0ce33941a9d88ae81d68fe62", "uid": "instructor_920f44c9a67233a43d05c57c", "name": "Francisco Arriaga", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/FRANCISCO_ARRIAGA" }, { "course_uid": "course_0ce33941a9d88ae81d68fe62", "uid": "instructor_002c90c4fa840e6678ae134e", "name": "Inna Popova", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/INNA_POPOVA" } ], "instructorHistory": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "courseComparison": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "claim": null, "reviewFiles": [] } }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "course_id": "SOILSCI 990", "title": "RESEARCH", "credits_min": 1, "credits_max": 12, "gpa": null, "badges": [], "description": "SOILSCI 990 is an independent research and writing course designed to help students complete their dissertation requirements.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_c1a6e346623c9b558034f9e5", "name": "Thea Whitman", "quality": 3.7471180726492133, "quality_count": 3, "instructor_url": "/instructors/THEA_WHITMAN" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_31b77acaf09caaed2b9ebe68", "name": "Doug Soldat", "quality": 3.7235102700443767, "quality_count": 1, "instructor_url": "/instructors/DOUG_SOLDAT" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_e4f7b115624b752776909f17", "name": "Alfred Hartemink", "quality": 3.6166832900405175, "quality_count": 3, "instructor_url": "/instructors/ALFRED_HARTEMINK" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_e23405436e2edaffaf25fdd9", "name": "Phillip Barak", "quality": 3.533034079568186, "quality_count": 1, "instructor_url": "/instructors/PHILLIP_BARAK" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_d0392633eeb3a37acc53f98b", "name": "Nick Balster", "quality": 3.309448996082523, "quality_count": 64, "instructor_url": "/instructors/NICK_BALSTER" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_6b42015e8d2b24fa2ebe6235", "name": "Chaoqun Lu", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/CHAOQUN_LU" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_920f44c9a67233a43d05c57c", "name": "Francisco Arriaga", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/FRANCISCO_ARRIAGA" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_fdd22b91a5aaa0f0de538d16", "name": "Gregg Sanford", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/GREGG_SANFORD" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_002c90c4fa840e6678ae134e", "name": "Inna Popova", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/INNA_POPOVA" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_82283172d834a3254ecb92d7", "name": "Jingyi Huang", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/JINGYI_HUANG" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_38288f6f90cbbe2792b2a5cf", "name": "Mallika Nocco", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/MALLIKA_NOCCO" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_b657eda771780e997d92763c", "name": "Margaret Zimmer", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/MARGARET_ZIMMER" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_e2f5a7c68fad4bbd44388f57", "name": "Matthew Ruark", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/MATTHEW_RUARK" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_3668c8454a8ccc7cea72e090", "name": "Natasha Rayne", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/NATASHA_RAYNE" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_2f32b5b462980e25f173a77c", "name": "Xia Zhu Barker", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/XIA_ZHU_BARKER" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_433e6006a42695321cad9525", "name": "Yakun Zhang", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/YAKUN_ZHANG" }, { "course_uid": "course_6b951bd6bbbdbd7b82e83172", "uid": "instructor_5acecdcc5139756c513523e7", "name": "Zac Freedman", "quality": null, "quality_count": null, "instructor_url": "/instructors/ZAC_FREEDMAN" } ], "instructorHistory": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "courseComparison": { "counts": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "count": 0, "gpa": null, "topShare": null }, "claim": null, "reviewFiles": [] } } ] ``` ## reviews ### items ```json [ { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:14:06.113894+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQzMDEzNzg5", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:262714", "instructor_name": "Nick Balster", "course_label": "SOILSCI230", "course_id": "ENVIRST/GEOG/SOILSCI 230", "course_uid": "course_0d4cf169ef7d2f1437b00cb6", "review_date": "2026-05-04 02:00:14 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Dr. Balster has immense respect and care for his students, he makes a point to learn everyone's name. His lectures were engaging and informative but required you to pay close attention. You cannot be a complacent learner otherwise you will fall behind, however, Dr. Balster offers many opportunities for support and will meet you in the middle.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/262714", "quality_rating": 5, "difficulty_rating": 4 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:14:06.113894+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyOTg5OTkx", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:262714", "instructor_name": "Nick Balster", "course_label": "230SOIL", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2026-04-30 23:56:37 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Dr. Balster is truly a great professor. This class is definitely difficult (especially if you are not a STEM major), but it is so worth it for a lecturer as engaging and passionate as he is! Attendance is basically mandatory (but you won't really want to miss class anyway). Light readings, lots of extra credit opportunities, and written notes only.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/262714", "quality_rating": 4, "difficulty_rating": 4 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:14:06.113894+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyNzE1ODI0", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:262714", "instructor_name": "Nick Balster", "course_label": "SOIL250", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2026-03-19 17:15:25 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Dr. Balster is a strict professor but extremely passionate and very friendly. He may seem tough but he ultimately just wants you to learn the material. \n\nHonestly, what you put in is what you take out, so you might need to give a little extra effort but it'll pay off\n\nHeads up, there is a good amount of reading so be aware of that :)", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/262714", "quality_rating": 5, "difficulty_rating": 3 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:14:06.113894+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyNjkzOTQw", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:262714", "instructor_name": "Nick Balster", "course_label": "230SOILS", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2026-03-12 22:38:48 +0000 UTC", "comment": "No matter how much you study, it is never enough. Willing to sell my soul to pass. His quizzes and exams are quite literally impossible ", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/262714", "quality_rating": 1, "difficulty_rating": 5 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:14:06.113894+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyNjkzMjYz", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:262714", "instructor_name": "Nick Balster", "course_label": "230SOIL", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2026-03-12 20:12:02 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Do not take his classes. Classes are way too hard for them, being intro classes for many majors. Class time is spent talking about nothing that will help you on exams, and when students come up unhappy with their grades, they are told that thinking wrong is incorrect. Makes it hard to skip class by having many in class quizes", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/262714", "quality_rating": 1, "difficulty_rating": 5 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:14:06.113894+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyNjg4Mzg0", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:262714", "instructor_name": "Nick Balster", "course_label": "230SOIL", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2026-03-11 18:41:30 +0000 UTC", "comment": "dont suggest. exams are not well prepared for in class. asked help multiple times and kept saying its \"logically\" based thinking. what does that even mean..", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/262714", "quality_rating": 1, "difficulty_rating": 5 } ] ``` ### total 64 ### page 1 ### courses | course\_uid | course\_id | | -------------------------------- | ------------------------ | | course\_0d4cf169ef7d2f1437b00cb6 | ENVIRST/GEOG/SOILSCI 230 | | course\_04ccf69fb33982ff8a62a49f | SOILSCI 250 | ### matched true ## social Image true