Current instructor

William Aylward

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

Raw average: 4.42/5 from 178 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

ILS 203
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
He's obviously very passionate about what he teaches and really cares about the quality of education he gives to his students. I was genuinely interested in the lectures that he gave, even though the content wasn't relevant to my major.
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GREEKMYTH · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 2/5
He is a great teacher with tons of knowledge. Sometimes lectures can get a little into a rant, but I was interested in Greek mythology and learned a ton from him. Only grades are 2 midterms, a final, and discussion attendance, so make sure you study. Definitely would take again.
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203 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Professor Aylward is one of those professors who is so excited to teach on a topic he is so passionate about, and it really makes you like it too. Lots of reading, but manageable. He's pretty funny, too. I'm glad I took 203.
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GREEKMYTH · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
I took his class last spring and still can recite the greek mythology I learned. I am not a classics major yet I loved the class so much. He is one of the best professors I've ever had. Do yourself a favor and sign up for one of his classes. What an amazing professor!
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CLASSICS 120
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
I loved this class, not going into the field or anything just took it for credits but I'm glad I did. I love when a professor actually shows the passion they have for topics and that is exactly him. I genuinely learned a lot and I could put this class on the back burner when I got busy. Highly Recommend.
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ILS 203
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
actual goat he is very passionate about what he teaches and i always attended lectures bc he made them interesting. not a super hard class just a lot of reading (i like greek/roman mythology though so it was p fun for me). sparknotes summaries will be your friend for this class
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with William Aylward

Explores the art and archaeology of ancient Greece from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

William Aylward is described as enthusiastic and witty, making lectures engaging through storytelling and humor. Reviewers note his expertise and care for student success, finding his presentations helpful for understanding the material.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

CLASSICS 120 covers fakes and forgeries in classical antiquities, teaching art historical analysis and ethical discussion.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

William Aylward demonstrates strong passion for the subject matter, which reviewers find engaging and educational. The course is described as manageable for busy students, allowing them to put it on the back burner, and is highly recommended for those seeking credits.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2025–Fall 2025 · limited sample

ILS 203 explores the development of literature and the arts in the ancient and medieval world, examining works from Egypt, Troy, Athens, Rome, and Florence within their societal and intellectual contexts.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

William Aylward is described as passionate and engaging, though some reviewers find his speaking style difficult to follow or his lectures disorganized. While many students find the course manageable through reading, others report that exams cover excessive material or include untaught content. Recent reviews generally recommend the class, contrasting with earlier criticisms of organization.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

Recorded teaching history

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2026ARTHIST/CLASSICS 300The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece
Fall 2026ARTHIST/CLASSICS 700The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece
Fall 2026CLASSICS 120Fakes, Forgeries, and the Ethical Problems in Classical Antiquities
Fall 2026CLASSICS 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026CLASSICS 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2026CLASSICS 699Directed Reading
Fall 2026ILS 203Western Culture: Literature and the Arts I
Fall 2026LATIN 890Individual Research Thesis

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

Instructor identity & provenance
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