# Paul Johnson — Courses & Reviews | UW–Madison [View on UW Courses](https://uwcourses.com/instructors/PAUL_JOHNSON) ## 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\_16108f07e489ecef35556124 ### source enrollment ### source instructor id pauljohnson ### identity basis netid ### identity status source\_identified ### name Paul Johnson ### email PAUL.JOHNSON\@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 15 #### quality 3.8 #### difficulty 3.67 #### quality count 15 #### difficulty count 15 #### profile id rmp:2067033 #### source url #### match basis exact\_name #### observed at 2026-09-07 16:12:31.391967+00:00 #### courses ##### course d5c3b831cc97e1d5bef0f5ff ###### review count 1 ###### quality 4 ###### difficulty 1 ###### quality count 1 ###### difficulty count 1 ##### course 201b25ecc8a2ddee30b320c8 ###### review count 3 ###### quality 4 ###### difficulty 3.67 ###### quality count 3 ###### difficulty count 3 ##### course 9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2 ###### review count 8 ###### quality 3.75 ###### difficulty 4.12 ###### quality count 8 ###### difficulty count 8 ##### course 969e3f1b5c6d33d8965c5c9b ###### review count 1 ###### quality 3 ###### difficulty 4 ###### quality count 1 ###### difficulty count 1 ##### course cf57ee176273b438b9f1adc9 ###### review count 2 ###### quality 4 ###### difficulty 3 ###### quality count 2 ###### difficulty count 2 #### bayesian quality 3.719820447740912 #### prior mean 3.6596857835465957 #### prior weight 20 ### current true ### courses | course\_uid | course\_id | title | credits\_min | credits\_max | gpa | | -------------------------------- | ---------- | --------------------------------------------- | ------------ | ------------ | ----- | | course\_201b25ecc8a2ddee30b320c8 | ACTSCI 653 | ADVANCED SHORT-TERM ACTUARIAL MODELING | 3 | 3 | 3.262 | | course\_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2 | ACTSCI 652 | FUNDAMENTALS OF SHORT-TERM ACTUARIAL MODELING | 3 | 3 | 3.205 | ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ### instructor url /instructors/PAUL\_JOHNSON ## history | term | course\_uid | course\_id | title | | ---- | -------------------------------- | ---------- | --------------------------------------------- | | 1272 | course\_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2 | ACTSCI 652 | FUNDAMENTALS OF SHORT-TERM ACTUARIAL MODELING | | 1272 | course\_201b25ecc8a2ddee30b320c8 | ACTSCI 653 | ADVANCED SHORT-TERM ACTUARIAL MODELING | ## timeline | term | courses | | ---- | ------- | | 1272 | 2 | ## term 1272 ## courses ```json [ { "course_uid": "course_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2", "course_id": "ACTSCI 652", "title": "FUNDAMENTALS OF SHORT-TERM ACTUARIAL MODELING", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.205, "badges": [ { "id": "grade-outcomes", "label": "Lower grades", "tone": "negative", "evidence": "Spring 2026 · latest released grades before Fall 2026: 3.42 GPA across 42 letter grades, versus 3.62 for UW–Madison (1283 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/ACTSCI_652#grades" } ] } ], "description": "Covers the definition and selection of probability distributions for heavily tailed and skewed insurance data.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 132, 46, 67, 30, 18, 11, 4 ], "count": 308, "gpa": 3.2857142857142856, "topShare": 57.7922077922078, "firstTerm": "1224", "lastTerm": "1264" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2", "uid": "instructor_16108f07e489ecef35556124", "name": "Paul Johnson", "quality": 3.719820447740912, "quality_count": 15, "instructor_url": "/instructors/PAUL_JOHNSON" } ], "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": "Paul Johnson", "review_date": "2018-12-15 02:38:23 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "d3cf69f6a0fc5bdd9876087e", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTMxMDM2NTU5", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "review_date": "2023-04-23 22:20:02 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "0f87a21987ce64ecf17555c4", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM3Njk0ODI2", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "review_date": "2024-12-06 15:48:57 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "ef2d2b1cfff2e943ca0c977c", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQwMTM1MzI3", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "type": "review" }, { "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "review_date": "2025-12-26 23:47:40 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "563a4001f78a2024d9e2a6a3", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyNDAyNDEw", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "type": "review" } ], "text": "Paul Johnson is praised for clear explanations, helpful examples, and availability for questions. Reviewers note he makes difficult material understandable and is considerate, though some find the course workload demanding." }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/reviews/course_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2-0.json" ] } }, { "course_uid": "course_201b25ecc8a2ddee30b320c8", "course_id": "ACTSCI 653", "title": "ADVANCED SHORT-TERM ACTUARIAL MODELING", "credits_min": 3, "credits_max": 3, "gpa": 3.262, "badges": [ { "id": "grade-outcomes", "label": "Lower grades", "tone": "negative", "evidence": "Fall 2025 · latest released grades before Fall 2026: 3.30 GPA across 33 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/ACTSCI_653#grades" } ] }, { "id": "lecture-size", "label": "Small lectures", "tone": "neutral", "evidence": "Fall 2026: median 23 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/ACTSCI_653#schedule" } ] } ], "description": "Advanced short-term actuarial modeling focusing on parameter estimation for heavy-tailed insurance data and credibility assessment for ratemaking.", "discovery": { "term": "1272", "offered": true, "history": { "counts": [ 53, 34, 43, 16, 6, 7, 0 ], "count": 159, "gpa": 3.2641509433962264, "topShare": 54.71698113207547, "firstTerm": "1224", "lastTerm": "1262" }, "instructors": [ { "course_uid": "course_201b25ecc8a2ddee30b320c8", "uid": "instructor_16108f07e489ecef35556124", "name": "Paul Johnson", "quality": 3.719820447740912, "quality_count": 15, "instructor_url": "/instructors/PAUL_JOHNSON" } ], "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": "Paul Johnson", "review_date": "2018-05-05 18:04:04 +0000 UTC", "review_id": "711e2f1cf439cd1f2c764335", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTI5OTk3MTM5", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "type": "review" } ], "text": "Paul Johnson is criticized for rushing through lectures and failing to explain the broader context, which leaves students struggling with problem sets. Reviewers also describe his demeanor as condescending when questions are asked." }, "reviewFiles": [ "/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/reviews/course_201b25ecc8a2ddee30b320c8-0.json" ] } } ] ``` ## reviews ### items ```json [ { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:12:31.391967+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyOTIxMjcy", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "course_label": "ACTSCI300", "course_id": "ACTSCI 300", "course_uid": "course_d5c3b831cc97e1d5bef0f5ff", "review_date": "2026-04-29 01:52:43 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Easy class and PJ was very engaging. He clearly knows the material he is teaching but doesn't overwhelm you with information. He is very caring and accommodating.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "quality_rating": 4, "difficulty_rating": 1 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:12:31.391967+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyNTY3OTk2", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "course_label": "ACTSCI653", "course_id": "ACTSCI 653", "course_uid": "course_201b25ecc8a2ddee30b320c8", "review_date": "2026-01-30 17:48:33 +0000 UTC", "comment": "PJ is great! The material for this class is difficult, but I felt that the exams were more predictable than 652. His slides are concise and is great at answering questions. Overall an incredible professor that truly cares about students.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "quality_rating": 5, "difficulty_rating": 3 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:12:31.391967+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQyNDAyNDEw", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "course_label": "ACTSCI652", "course_id": "ACTSCI 652", "course_uid": "course_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2", "review_date": "2025-12-26 23:47:40 +0000 UTC", "comment": "PJ did a great job making me feel welcome in his class and was always considerate and thoughtful in his explanations. He was always in a good mood and his class brightened my day (even when we had quizzes). I found this class very useful and intend to keep my notes for my job as a P&C actuary.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "quality_rating": 5, "difficulty_rating": 4 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:12:31.391967+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTQwMTM1MzI3", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "course_label": "ACTSCI652", "course_id": "ACTSCI 652", "course_uid": "course_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2", "review_date": "2024-12-06 15:48:57 +0000 UTC", "comment": "The class material is very difficult but PJ does a good job explaining it to the best of his abilities. Outside of class he's a cool guy that cares about students. In my opinion, he's on the better end of Act Sci professors at UW.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "quality_rating": 5, "difficulty_rating": 5 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:12:31.391967+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM3Njk0ODI2", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "course_label": "ACTSCI652", "course_id": "ACTSCI 652", "course_uid": "course_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2", "review_date": "2023-04-23 22:20:02 +0000 UTC", "comment": "The class is naturally very difficult, but PJ makes it very clear and is always available and willing to answer questions about the material. The best way to study for exams and quizzes is by doing practice problems and making sure you understand the homework. He also will confirm homework answers during office hours.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "quality_rating": 5, "difficulty_rating": 4 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:12:31.391967+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTM3MTk2ODc5", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:2067033", "instructor_name": "Paul Johnson", "course_label": "ACTSCI652", "course_id": "ACTSCI 652", "course_uid": "course_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2", "review_date": "2022-12-20 02:25:30 +0000 UTC", "comment": "He does a lot of proving and reading slides in lectures. Not helpful when students ask questions after class, could be condescending, not sympathetic at all. I personally wont take any class with him anymore", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2067033", "quality_rating": 2, "difficulty_rating": 4 } ] ``` ### total 15 ### page 1 ### courses | course\_uid | course\_id | | -------------------------------- | ---------- | | course\_d5c3b831cc97e1d5bef0f5ff | ACTSCI 300 | | course\_cf57ee176273b438b9f1adc9 | ACTSCI 650 | | course\_9f3d31814669db24532fa2c2 | ACTSCI 652 | | course\_201b25ecc8a2ddee30b320c8 | ACTSCI 653 | | course\_969e3f1b5c6d33d8965c5c9b | GENBUS 365 | ### matched true ## social Image true