# RICHARD VIERSTRA — Courses & Reviews | UW–Madison [View on UW Courses](https://uwcourses.com/instructors/RICHARD_VIERSTRA--instructor_9133bcbd97ec9a7a39ffecfb) ## Dataset ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ### repository twangodev/uwcourses ### schema version 6 ### importer version 7 ### projection id 85abe9ff8837c2c5a134368dcc4cfc85eb723524b21ddeb3d2e953887d2f0c8f ### observed at 2026-09-07T15:55:43.033547+00:00 ### built at 2026-09-11T07:45:51.576183+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\_9133bcbd97ec9a7a39ffecfb ### source legacy ### identity basis name\_only ### identity status unresolved ### name RICHARD VIERSTRA ### first observed at 2025-04-16 05:20:33.104844+00:00 ### last observed at 2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00 ### ratings #### review count 17 #### quality 4.06 #### difficulty 2.71 #### quality count 17 #### difficulty count 17 #### profile id rmp:368627 #### source url #### match basis exact\_name #### observed at 2026-09-07 16:09:55.083789+00:00 #### courses #### bayesian quality 3.843613937052213 #### prior mean 3.6596857835465957 #### prior weight 20 ### current false ### courses None recorded. ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ### instructor url /instructors/RICHARD\_VIERSTRA--instructor\_9133bcbd97ec9a7a39ffecfb ## history None recorded. ## timeline None recorded. ## term 1272 ## courses None recorded. ## reviews ### items ```json [ { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:09:55.083789+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTI0Nzg2MjY3", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:368627", "instructor_name": "Richard Vierstra", "course_label": "BIO152", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2015-05-09 18:06:34 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Dr. Vierstra is a great lecturer and I would take him again despite my serious lack of interest in botany. He's a funny guy and is really passionate about what he teaches, and his tests were extremely fair. Very clear lectures. And low key, he's quite attractive for his age. I'd recommend him!", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/368627", "quality_rating": 4, "difficulty_rating": 3 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:09:55.083789+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTI0MzMyNjM1", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:368627", "instructor_name": "Richard Vierstra", "course_label": "152", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2015-01-26 15:42:06 +0000 UTC", "comment": "1010 would do.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/368627", "quality_rating": 5, "difficulty_rating": 3 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:09:55.083789+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTIzMjI1ODg4", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:368627", "instructor_name": "Richard Vierstra", "course_label": "BIO152", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2014-05-12 13:01:45 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Vierstra was the second best professor of the three for 152. Everything for his exams are on the powerpoint, but there is A LOT of material. Reading the book is a waste of time, but make sure you know every single word on every slide. Pay close attention in class. Overall, nice guy, made some funny jokes.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/368627", "quality_rating": 4, "difficulty_rating": 3 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:09:55.083789+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTIzMjEyMTA5", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:368627", "instructor_name": "Richard Vierstra", "course_label": "BIO152", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2014-05-09 22:14:30 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Pretty chill guy. Makes a lot of sex references with plants which is just uncomfortable for everyone. Don't bother reading the book, everything is on the lecture slides. Lots of info, just study and you'll be fine. Oh, watch out for the wording on the exam. The questions will try to trip you up.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/368627", "quality_rating": 4, "difficulty_rating": 3 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:09:55.083789+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTE4NzMyOTQ0", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:368627", "instructor_name": "Richard Vierstra", "course_label": "BIO152", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2011-06-15 02:21:48 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Tries to use some humor to keep the students awake. Didn't give the answer key for the practice exam. The exam itself was pretty easy, just a lot of information.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/368627", "quality_rating": 4, "difficulty_rating": 2 }, { "observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:09:55.083789+00:00", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_review_id": "UmF0aW5nLTE4MzQ3MTQw", "source_instructor_id": "rmp:368627", "instructor_name": "Richard Vierstra", "course_label": "BIO152", "course_id": null, "course_uid": null, "review_date": "2011-04-02 15:30:41 +0000 UTC", "comment": "Okay teacher, but tried a little bit too hard with all his jokes. Presented a lot of information which was actually fairly interesting (considering how much plants suck) but near exam time you got a little bit worried about how much you'd need to know. You're allowed a notecard but I didn't need to use it at all. Super easy exam.", "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/368627", "quality_rating": 4, "difficulty_rating": 2 } ] ``` ### total 17 ### page 1 ### courses None recorded. ### matched true ## social Image false