Historical instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Dr. Olson is a fantastic professor! She is passionate about the subject and she conveys her passion really well. She also loves to read interesting papers and is very helpful. She has participation activities almost every lecture, so don't skip. Her lectures are fun anyway. All the tangents that she goes on are usually relevant or informative.Rate My Professors ↗
She was an interesting lecturer. Prepare to write papers on unique subjects. There is only a midterm and a few pop quizzes. All the other grades are from discussion participation, papers and the BIG final project. Hope that you get a good group, it could make or break your grade.Rate My Professors ↗
Dr. Olson is funny and goofy, and knows the material really well, but she tends to go off on tangents in lecture. Additionally, this class has a huge amount of essays and projects for a 3-credit class, and the parameters aren't always very clear. If you're prepared to work your butt off, it's still a fun time though.Rate My Professors ↗
The lectures seemed pointless, it seemed like we really didn't actually learn anything. Most of the grading is based off of 3 papers, an online midterm, and a huge group project which takes a lot of effort. There is a ton of reading every week. The grading of assignments seemed random. You also need a 95% to get an A which is ridiculous.Rate My Professors ↗
She gets off track easily, assigns roughly 70 pages of reading each week, and the lectures are basically pointless. The guidelines are not very clear. The expectations are higher than what the paperproject guidelines suggest, and you need a 95% to get an A in the class (Which is completely crazy). Would not take again.Rate My Professors ↗
She's a sweet person, and she likes to have a laugh. She'll throw pop quizzes at you to make sure you did the readings (super long). Approachable. She genuinely wants to see her students take an interest in the subject, and do well. There is a big group project instead of a final. Lectures seem random, but if you pay attention, they come together.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
No teaching recorded in Fall 2026.
View last recorded teaching term →No courses match this selection. Try the full catalog or another term.
Distinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2017 | FOLKLORE 540 | Local Culture and Identity in the Upper Midwest |
| Spring 2017 | FOLKLORE 699 | Independent Study in Folklore (graduate) |
| Fall 2016 | FOLKLORE 100 | Introduction to Folklore |
| Spring 2016 | FOLKLORE 230 | Introduction to American Folklore |
| Fall 2015 | FOLKLORE 320 | Folklore of Wisconsin |
| Fall 2014 | FOLKLORE 100 | Introduction to Folklore |
| Spring 2014 | FOLKLORE 230 | Introduction to American Folklore |
| Spring 2014 | FOLKLORE 399 | Directed Study in Folklore for Undergraduates |
| Fall 2013 | FOLKLORE 540 | Local Culture and Identity in the Upper Midwest |
| Spring 2013 | FOLKLORE 100 | Introduction to Folklore |
| Spring 2013 | FOLKLORE 699 | Independent Study in Folklore (graduate) |
| Fall 2012 | FOLKLORE 530 | Topics in Folklore |
| Fall 2011 | FOLKLORE 100 | Introduction to Folklore |
| Fall 2011 | FOLKLORE 699 | Independent Study in Folklore (graduate) |
| Spring 2011 | FOLKLORE 540 | Local Culture and Identity in the Upper Midwest |
| Fall 2010 | FOLKLORE 100 | Introduction to Folklore |
| Spring 2010 | FOLKLORE 540 | Local Culture and Identity in the Upper Midwest |
| Fall 2009 | FOLKLORE 100 | Introduction to Folklore |
| Fall 2009 | FOLKLORE 699 | Independent Study in Folklore (graduate) |
| Fall 2008 | AMERIND 100 | Introduction to American Indian Studies |
| Fall 2008 | FOLKLORE 100 | Introduction to Folklore |
| Spring 2007 | FOLKLORE 540 | Local Culture and Identity in the Upper Midwest |
| Spring 2007 | FOLKLORE 699 | Independent Study in Folklore (graduate) |
| Fall 2006 | FOLKLORE 460 | Folk Epics |
| Fall 2006 | FOLKLORE 540 | Local Culture and Identity in the Upper Midwest |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
{
"instructor_uid": "instructor_f69ceb118997dbd2bb388c1c",
"source": "madgrades",
"source_instructor_id": "2601314",
"identity_basis": "source_id",
"identity_status": "source_identified",
"name": "RUTH OLSON",
"email": null,
"first_observed_at": "2026-09-06 23:14:58.172943+00:00",
"last_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
"ratings": {
"review_count": 14,
"quality": 3.64,
"difficulty": 2.79,
"quality_count": 14,
"difficulty_count": 14,
"profile_id": "rmp:661007",
"source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/661007",
"match_basis": "exact_name",
"observed_at": "2026-09-07 16:08:47.731579+00:00",
"courses": {
"course_0aeb345f1851f603827b7a43": {
"review_count": 4,
"quality": 3.5,
"difficulty": 2.75,
"quality_count": 4,
"difficulty_count": 4
}
},
"bayesian_quality": 3.651579872674468,
"prior_mean": 3.6596857835465957,
"prior_weight": 20
},
"grade_statistics": {
"gpa": 3.493,
"graded": 942,
"counts": [
380,
326,
161,
40,
20,
6,
9
],
"sections": 25
},
"current": false,
"courses": [],
"revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
"instructor_url": "/instructors/RUTH_OLSON"
}