Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Best psych professor I've had. Very knowledgeable and dedicated to her field. Lectures are interesting and engaging. Huge opportunity for extra credit (25 pts!). This class fills up quickly and for good reason--it is a must-take class, especially if you're interested in criminal justice.Rate My Professors ↗
One of the best professors in psych department. One of my favorite courses in psych department (about criminal psych). Clear grading. Extra credits. Three easy non-cumulative exams (All multiple choice). Would definitely recommend it.Rate My Professors ↗
Professor Coffey is one of the best Psychology teachers at UW-Madison. I had her for Psych 601: Issues with Prisoner Reentry and Psych 526: Criminal Minds. If you have a chance to take these classes, do it! The lectures are extremely interesting and the exams are fair if you study a bit and pay attention in lecture.Rate My Professors ↗
At the start, the workload can be daunting, but it's incredibly manageable and Patti is a great professorRate My Professors ↗
Professor Coffey is incredibly kind, pure, and generous. For a four-credit class, it's SO doable. The readings are supplemental (except two books) and enhance learning. There are 6 FAIR exams, everything is covered in lecture, and a short paper. HUGE extra credit opportunity. 10/10 recommend--I've never taken a psych class that was so rewarding.Rate My Professors ↗
I loved Prof. Coffey's lectures, the exams tested class material but we're not very difficult, and there is an (easy) extra credit assignment which is worth half of the points of an exam! I thought Prof. Coffey's outlook on the subject was incredible, and she covered some very difficult content in an empathetic and treatment focused way :)Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Overview of criminal psychology and forensic/psychobiological processes addressing criminal behavior.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Patti Coffey is consistently praised as an excellent, knowledgeable, and engaging lecturer who draws on her forensic psychology experience. Reviewers highlight her fairness, kindness, and clear grading, noting that exams are manageable if students attend lectures and take notes. The course is described as rewarding and highly recommended for those interested in criminal justice.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Examines evidence-based prisoner reentry issues and solutions through a multi-systemic lens with community-based learning.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2025–Spring 2026 · limited samplePSYCH 699 is a directed study course involving independent mentored study with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
{
"instructor_uid": "instructor_b4527e129258593703f0aa5b",
"source": "enrollment",
"source_instructor_id": "pcoffey",
"identity_basis": "netid",
"identity_status": "source_identified",
"name": "Patti Coffey",
"email": "PCOFFEY@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": 17,
"quality": 4.29,
"difficulty": 2.65,
"quality_count": 17,
"difficulty_count": 17,
"profile_id": "rmp:2509520",
"source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2509520",
"match_basis": "exact_name",
"observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:11:30.426159+00:00",
"courses": {
"course_f4bee73bb22fcf1ff1ba3468": {
"review_count": 10,
"quality": 5,
"difficulty": 2.8,
"quality_count": 10,
"difficulty_count": 10
},
"course_c6cb82c0dae5185c7cec8d65": {
"review_count": 5,
"quality": 3.8,
"difficulty": 2.2,
"quality_count": 5,
"difficulty_count": 5
},
"course_4659324d93459bdfdda706a3": {
"review_count": 1,
"quality": 2,
"difficulty": 3,
"quality_count": 1,
"difficulty_count": 1
}
},
"bayesian_quality": 3.9492896127278896,
"prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957,
"prior_weight": 20
},
"current": true,
"courses": [
{
"course_uid": "course_0c5f557eac5fe74224f32e80",
"course_id": "PSYCH 626",
"title": "ISSUES IN PRISONER REENTRY",
"credits_min": 3,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 3.969
},
{
"course_uid": "course_f28f5511122ea7aec81aff22",
"course_id": "PSYCH 699",
"title": "DIRECTED STUDY",
"credits_min": 1,
"credits_max": 3,
"gpa": 3.967
},
{
"course_uid": "course_f4bee73bb22fcf1ff1ba3468",
"course_id": "PSYCH 526",
"title": "THE CRIMINAL MIND: FORENSIC AND PSYCHOBIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES",
"credits_min": 4,
"credits_max": 4,
"gpa": 3.728
}
],
"revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
"instructor_url": "/instructors/PATTI_COFFEY"
}