Current instructor

William Aylward

Adjusted rating
RMP 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 Italy, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire from the Iron Age to Late Antiquity.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · William Aylward

William Aylward graded the course on four exams, including two midterms and a final. He provided study guides in advance, changed the final to shorter take-home essays, and based midterms on infopics from the text. Students described him as passionate, humorous, and accessible, noting he clearly wanted students to succeed.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2026

Topics in Classical Archaeology explores the archaeology of ancient Greece and Rome, including the Seven Wonders, Greek and Roman religion, and Late Antique Palaces.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · William Aylward

Students described William Aylward as a knowledgeable and hilarious lecturer who was invested in his work. They noted that the course involved lots of reading and that some information was only available during lectures. One reviewer found him willing to talk during office hours.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2024–Spring 2026 · limited sample

Senior Thesis is individual mentored study for seniors completing theses, as arranged with a faculty member. Students produce original scholarly projects on ancient Greek, Roman, or Near Eastern society and culture.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

No recorded grade history

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2027ARTHIST/CLASSICS 304The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome
Spring 2027ARTHIST/CLASSICS 704The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome
Spring 2027CLASSICS 430Topics in Classical Archaeology
Spring 2027CLASSICS 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2027CLASSICS 691Senior Thesis
Spring 2027CLASSICS 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2027CLASSICS 699Directed Reading
Spring 2027LATIN 890Individual Research Thesis
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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