Current instructor

Viren Murthy

/5Adjusted rating
/5RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 2.79/5 from 28 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

EA255 · course not matched
Quality 1/5Difficulty 3/5
This was one of the worst courses I ever took as a history student. The content offered virtually no historical scholarship; instead, it was riddled with the professor's own theories—or "philosophy"—which ultimately amounted to nothing more than crude anti-imperialist rhetoric. It was truly sad.
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EA255 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Excellent and clear lectures! Thought provoking.
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HIS255 · course not matched
Quality 1/5Difficulty 2/5
Poor lecturer. Talks super slow, says exactly what's on the slides. Will ask questions, disagree with the answer, then say the same thing adding 0 extra details. Misquotes philosophers and thought "I am the state" was Henry VIII (it was louis XIV)
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Viren Murthy

ASIAN/HISTORY 104

Introduction to East Asian History: Japan

3–4 credits

INTRODUCTION TO EAST ASIAN HISTORY: JAPAN surveys major cultural, social, political, and economic developments in Japanese history from ancient to recent times.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Viren Murthy is described as knowledgeable, though reviewers disagree on his teaching effectiveness. Some find his lectures interesting and insightful, while others criticize his disorganized slides and ambiguous grading. The course is noted for its philosophical approach and heavy reliance on participation and exams rather than homework.

Viren MurthyJames Flynn

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Fall 2024
HISTORY 500

Reading Seminar in History

3 credits

HISTORY 500 is a reading seminar offering advanced exploration of selected topics through small group discussion and intensive engagement with historical materials.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2022: 3.83 GPA, 88.9% A/AB (n=9 letter grades); Spring 2024: 3.95 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=10 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.96 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=14 letter grades).

Ashley BrownPaul Grant+6 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026
HISTORY 682

Senior Honors Thesis

1–3 credits

HISTORY 682 is a mentored independent research and thesis writing course for honors students, requiring concurrent enrollment in HISTORY 680.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=1 letter grades).

Stephen KantrowitzAllison Useche+34 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample
HISTORY 699

Directed Study

1–4 credits

HISTORY 699 is a directed study course allowing students to conduct independent research under faculty supervision.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Stephen KantrowitzGiuliana Chamedes+44 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample
HISTORY 999

Independent Work

1–6 credits

HISTORY 999 is an independent work course involving directed study under faculty supervision.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Stephen KantrowitzGiuliana Chamedes+54 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

Recorded teaching history

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2026ASIAN/HISTORY 104Introduction to East Asian History: Japan
Fall 2026HISTORY 500Reading Seminar in History
Fall 2026HISTORY 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026HISTORY 682Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026HISTORY 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2026HISTORY 692Senior Thesis
Fall 2026HISTORY 698Directed Study
Fall 2026HISTORY 699Directed Study
Fall 2026HISTORY 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2026HISTORY 999Independent Work

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance 
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