{"schema_version":1,"url":"https://uwcourses.com/instructors/THAD_WALKER--instructor_fafe072316adeea13eb3b6b9","title":"Thad Walker — Courses & Reviews | UW–Madison","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":"AAE","count":90},{"subject":"ABT","count":20},{"subject":"ACCTIS","count":36},{"subject":"ACTSCI","count":14},{"subject":"AFAERO","count":10},{"subject":"AFRICAN","count":87},{"subject":"AFROAMER","count":71},{"subject":"AGROECOL","count":21},{"subject":"AMERIND","count":53},{"subject":"ANAT&PHY","count":7},{"subject":"ANATOMY","count":2},{"subject":"ANESTHES","count":8},{"subject":"ANSCI","count":57},{"subject":"ANTHRO","count":95},{"subject":"ART","count":125},{"subject":"ARTED","count":10},{"subject":"ARTHIST","count":121},{"subject":"ASIALANG","count":129},{"subject":"ASIAN","count":109},{"subject":"ASIANAM","count":28},{"subject":"ASTRON","count":38},{"subject":"ATMOCN","count":69},{"subject":"BIOCHEM","count":51},{"subject":"BIOCORE","count":10},{"subject":"BIOLOGY","count":14},{"subject":"BIOMDSCI","count":18},{"subject":"BME","count":66},{"subject":"BMI","count":41},{"subject":"BMOLCHEM","count":10},{"subject":"BOTANY","count":69},{"subject":"BSE","count":44},{"subject":"C&ESOC","count":73},{"subject":"CBE","count":48},{"subject":"CHEM","count":101},{"subject":"CHICLA","count":52},{"subject":"CIVENGR","count":133},{"subject":"CLASSICS","count":47},{"subject":"CNP","count":10},{"subject":"CNSRSCI","count":50},{"subject":"COMARTS","count":137},{"subject":"COMPBIO","count":15},{"subject":"COMPLIT","count":11},{"subject":"COMPSCI","count":138},{"subject":"COUNPSY","count":78},{"subject":"CRB","count":19},{"subject":"CS&D","count":71},{"subject":"CSCS","count":40},{"subject":"CURRIC","count":193},{"subject":"DANCE","count":93},{"subject":"DERM","count":8},{"subject":"DS","count":88},{"subject":"DYSCI","count":35},{"subject":"ECE","count":155},{"subject":"ECON","count":145},{"subject":"EDPOL","count":114},{"subject":"EDPSYCH","count":97},{"subject":"ELPA","count":70},{"subject":"EMA","count":53},{"subject":"EMERMED","count":17},{"subject":"ENGL","count":206},{"subject":"ENTOM","count":40},{"subject":"ENVIRST","count":148},{"subject":"EP","count":15},{"subject":"EPD","count":67},{"subject":"ESL","count":16},{"subject":"F&WECOL","count":60},{"subject":"FAMMED","count":22},{"subject":"FINANCE","count":50},{"subject":"FOLKLORE","count":40},{"subject":"FOODSCI","count":43},{"subject":"FRENCH","count":63},{"subject":"GEN&WS","count":145},{"subject":"GENBUS","count":72},{"subject":"GENECSLR","count":17},{"subject":"GENETICS","count":60},{"subject":"GEOG","count":113},{"subject":"GEOSCI","count":83},{"subject":"GERMAN","count":82},{"subject":"GLE","count":48},{"subject":"GNS","count":38},{"subject":"GREEK","count":27},{"subject":"HDFS","count":41},{"subject":"HEBR-BIB","count":13},{"subject":"HEBR-MOD","count":10},{"subject":"HISTORY","count":233},{"subject":"HISTSCI","count":56},{"subject":"HONCOL","count":13},{"subject":"ILS","count":43},{"subject":"INFOSYS","count":9},{"subject":"INTEGART","count":7},{"subject":"INTEGSCI","count":22},{"subject":"INTER-AG","count":18},{"subject":"INTER-HE","count":11},{"subject":"INTER-LS","count":22},{"subject":"INTEREGR","count":16},{"subject":"INTLBUS","count":21},{"subject":"INTLST","count":50},{"subject":"ISYE","count":83},{"subject":"ITALIAN","count":53},{"subject":"JEWISH","count":56},{"subject":"JOURN","count":88},{"subject":"KINES","count":128},{"subject":"LACIS","count":26},{"subject":"LANDARC","count":61},{"subject":"LATIN","count":24},{"subject":"LAW","count":120},{"subject":"LEGALST","count":48},{"subject":"LINGUIS","count":35},{"subject":"LIS","count":89},{"subject":"LITTRANS","count":78},{"subject":"LSC","count":52},{"subject":"M&ENVTOX","count":7},{"subject":"MARKETNG","count":62},{"subject":"MATH","count":153},{"subject":"MDGENET","count":8},{"subject":"ME","count":130},{"subject":"MEDHIST","count":43},{"subject":"MEDICINE","count":60},{"subject":"MEDIEVAL","count":32},{"subject":"MEDPHYS","count":39},{"subject":"MEDSC-M","count":29},{"subject":"MEDSC-V","count":41},{"subject":"MHR","count":68},{"subject":"MICROBIO","count":45},{"subject":"MILSCI","count":16},{"subject":"MM&I","count":22},{"subject":"MOLBIOL","count":6},{"subject":"MS&E","count":59},{"subject":"MUSIC","count":165},{"subject":"MUSPERF","count":126},{"subject":"NAVSCI","count":20},{"subject":"NE","count":44},{"subject":"NEURODPT","count":11},{"subject":"NEUROL","count":7},{"subject":"NEURSURG","count":4},{"subject":"NTP","count":11},{"subject":"NURSING","count":111},{"subject":"NUTRSCI","count":65},{"subject":"OBS&GYN","count":18},{"subject":"OCCTHER","count":39},{"subject":"ONCOLOGY","count":14},{"subject":"OPHTHALM","count":5},{"subject":"OTM","count":43},{"subject":"PATH","count":34},{"subject":"PATH-BIO","count":29},{"subject":"PEDIAT","count":26},{"subject":"PHARMACY","count":31},{"subject":"PHILOS","count":77},{"subject":"PHMCOL-M","count":11},{"subject":"PHMPRAC","count":45},{"subject":"PHMSCI","count":60},{"subject":"PHYASST","count":37},{"subject":"PHYSICS","count":88},{"subject":"PHYSIOL","count":3},{"subject":"PHYTHER","count":37},{"subject":"PLANTSCI","count":52},{"subject":"PLPATH","count":35},{"subject":"POLISCI","count":192},{"subject":"POPHLTH","count":58},{"subject":"PORTUG","count":33},{"subject":"PSYCH","count":101},{"subject":"PSYCHIAT","count":22},{"subject":"PUBAFFR","count":54},{"subject":"PUBLHLTH","count":23},{"subject":"RADIOL","count":11},{"subject":"REALEST","count":41},{"subject":"RELIGST","count":90},{"subject":"RHABMED","count":9},{"subject":"RMI","count":24},{"subject":"RP&SE","count":102},{"subject":"S&APHM","count":17},{"subject":"SCANDST","count":73},{"subject":"SLAVIC","count":89},{"subject":"SOC","count":149},{"subject":"SOCWORK","count":87},{"subject":"SOILSCI","count":46},{"subject":"SPANISH","count":83},{"subject":"SRMED","count":21},{"subject":"STAT","count":94},{"subject":"STDYABRD","count":52},{"subject":"STS","count":8},{"subject":"SURGERY","count":25},{"subject":"SURGSCI","count":33},{"subject":"THEATRE","count":91},{"subject":"URBRPL","count":60},{"subject":"UROLOGY","count":5},{"subject":"ZOOLOGY","count":89}],"deployed_at":null,"site_commit":null},"data":{"instructor":{"instructor_uid":"instructor_fafe072316adeea13eb3b6b9","source":"legacy","source_instructor_id":null,"identity_basis":"name_only","identity_status":"unresolved","name":"Thad Walker","email":"TGWALKER@WISC.EDU","first_observed_at":"2025-12-03 12:33:41.418072+00:00","last_observed_at":"2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00","ratings":{"review_count":36,"quality":3.64,"difficulty":3.61,"quality_count":36,"difficulty_count":36,"profile_id":"rmp:284763","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/284763","match_basis":"exact_name","observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:02:22.384075+00:00","courses":{"course_2cb7db51eaa5d222785db718":{"review_count":1,"quality":4,"difficulty":1,"quality_count":1,"difficulty_count":1},"course_636c1d9dd40a99ce616834cd":{"review_count":1,"quality":5,"difficulty":4,"quality_count":1,"difficulty_count":1}},"bayesian_quality":3.6470306369809267,"prior_mean":3.6596857835465957,"prior_weight":20},"current":false,"courses":[],"revision":"e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349","instructor_url":"/instructors/THAD_WALKER--instructor_fafe072316adeea13eb3b6b9"},"history":[],"timeline":[],"term":"1272","courses":[],"reviews":{"items":[{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:02:22.384075+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM3NzY0NTI1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:284763","instructor_name":"Thad Walker","course_label":"PHY247","course_id":null,"course_uid":null,"review_date":"2023-04-30 05:26:30 +0000 UTC","comment":"Easily my favorite STEM professor at Madison so far. Funny and passionate dude who grades extremely fairly with a generous curve. Lots of small tests instead of big midterms. Lectures are never boring, but he does go on tangents fairly often.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/284763","quality_rating":5,"difficulty_rating":2},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:02:22.384075+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM3NDgwMDE3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:284763","instructor_name":"Thad Walker","course_label":"PHY247","course_id":null,"course_uid":null,"review_date":"2023-03-06 02:36:37 +0000 UTC","comment":"What more could you ask when there is no midterm + 80 is a A + 50% of the grade is free if you do homeworks and go to labs? ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/284763","quality_rating":5,"difficulty_rating":2},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:02:22.384075+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM3MzQxNjI3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:284763","instructor_name":"Thad Walker","course_label":"PHY247","course_id":null,"course_uid":null,"review_date":"2023-01-17 02:22:33 +0000 UTC","comment":"Prof Walker sometimes forgets what actually comes naturally to us, especially since some of us only took introductory HS physics before this course. He also goes on tangents unrelated to the lecture itself which can leave you wondering what you were supposed to learn. Otherwise, he is a super nice guy who really wants to help his students succeed!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/284763","quality_rating":3,"difficulty_rating":2},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:02:22.384075+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2OTU1MDM2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:284763","instructor_name":"Thad Walker","course_label":"PHYS247","course_id":null,"course_uid":null,"review_date":"2022-12-03 07:14:42 +0000 UTC","comment":"Nice guy but hard to follow. Very passionate but that often leads to tangents in lectures that involve physics way beyond what we knew. Lectures were a bit hard to follow and often not relevant to what was tested.  \n\nDid his best to help with the grade/relieve pressure. Minimal homework, completion labs and generous curve.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/284763","quality_rating":4,"difficulty_rating":1},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:02:22.384075+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1NzM4NDI5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:284763","instructor_name":"Thad Walker","course_label":"PHYS448","course_id":null,"course_uid":null,"review_date":"2022-01-11 22:31:48 +0000 UTC","comment":"Thad will tell you that everything in the class is easy which, in a sense, it is. However, it's only easy once you understand how to do it and he sometimes struggles to identify what students know and what comes easily/what doesn't. He cares about his students A LOT and wants to help Lectures start strong but get less helpful over time.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/284763","quality_rating":4,"difficulty_rating":4},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:02:22.384075+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM0MTcwMTIy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:284763","instructor_name":"Thad Walker","course_label":"PHYS448","course_id":null,"course_uid":null,"review_date":"2020-12-22 00:01:33 +0000 UTC","comment":"Great lectures, lots of short homework assignments, and several quizzes rather than more traditional exams. For learning about an infamously difficult subject like quantum mechanics, Prof Walker is a solid choice.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/284763","quality_rating":4,"difficulty_rating":4}],"total":36,"page":1,"courses":[{"course_uid":"course_636c1d9dd40a99ce616834cd","course_id":"PHYSICS 449"},{"course_uid":"course_2cb7db51eaa5d222785db718","course_id":"PHYSICS 531"}],"matched":true},"socialImage":false}}