George Gorse - Pomona College, Claremont, CA

Professor: George Gorse

Department: Architecture

College: Pomona College, Claremont, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ARHI051B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Gorse is very smart, but to be honest is the worst professor I have ever had in Claremont. His lectures are terribly boring and he is *constantly* off topic. His grading is the real trap though. There are never reasons for his grades, and he gives terrible ones. Went from an A paper average to a C with no explanation.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ARHI186G
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Gorse is so excited about the subject that it's hard not to like him. However, he tends to get off track, doesn't have a very coherent syllabus, and assigns way to much reading that you totally can't/don't have to do. He also makes you submit drafts of each paper which can be tedious if you are a junior/senior art history major.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ARHI51C
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Good things about him are his passion and knowledge in the field of art history, but the way he present everything is long and tedious.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ARHI51C
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Great lecturer, horrible grader, cannot explain the grades he gives out, it is like he stands at the top of the stairs and throws them to determine grades. DO NOT TAKE.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ARHI51C
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Very interesting subject & good lecturer but when it comes to the exams(take home papers)his guidelines are extremely unclear and there is no rhyme or reason for the grades he gives. It it like he gives them out randomly. When you go talk to him, he just does not offer any explanation for the grades, nor does he offer suggestions on how to improve.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 51C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I truly wanted to like this class, I just couldn't. The art itself was fascinating, but the lectures were dull and the grading extremely random. I couldn't figure out what he wanted in my essays. Still, he's wonderful and very passionate. If you make an effort, he'll notice. Go to office hours; it will help your grade. Sit in front. Participate!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ARHI051B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Gorse is a really good professor. His lectures can get a bit boring and tedious, but his love for the material makes up for it. He loves to talk about anything related to art, and he knows his stuff. For papers, he has a very specific style he's looking for, but if you know what it is you'll be fine. And he's just the sweetest.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ARHI179
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I absolutely adore Gorse. I had zero interest on the subject of architecture, but it was the only art history course that fit with my schedule. I ended up loving the subject after taking this class. Though the course is lecture based and can be boring at times, I really learned a lot. Easy class! Take it!!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ARHI51C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Avoid. Readings in class are generally not discussed, downplaying their usefulness. Take home papers/exams are very long and as some have mentioned, the grading is either arbitrary or harsh. Goes offtopic during lecture too often. Yes he is friendly, passionate and knowledgeable about the subject, but that alone does not redeem the class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: AHIS51C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

A very genuine and kind man. He truly cares about your work and really invests himself into the class. I would liked to have seen a little more student engagement -- and it was often difficult to prepare for a lecture as the schedule went out the window early on. Not an ideal situation for a survey, but I'm sure he'd be amazing for upper-division.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ARHI51C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Gorse knows a lot about Italian art but he is extremely boring. I couldn't stay awake in a lot of his classes. I had to take this class for my Art History major. If you are not an major then I suggest choosing another more interesting art history course. Gorse is also a pretty difficult grader and only wants specific answers to his prompts.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ARHI51C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Prof. Gorse really knows his subject (Italian Renaissance art) and is very approachable. You don't need to do the "required" reading since all the exams are take-home. My only problems with Prof. Gorse are that he is not clear on what he wants in papers (your grade seems entirely arbitrary) and that his lectures aren't very stimulating.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: VIS250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Gendering the Renaissance at UCSD:The man is truly an expert on the Renaissance. Gorse cares deeply for his students & is extremely knowledgeable. He has high expectations for his students,so be prepared to work hard. At least do some of the reading!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ARHI51C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I absolutely love Prof. Gorse. His classes are loaded with hilarious pieces of adviceand anecdotes, readings aren't required for class (but useful for paper writing). Always willing to meet/ give extra help.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ARTHI51C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Class was interesting at times, but he isn't a great lecturer sometimes it was easy to drift off. His grading is difficult, but not really clear. I had no idea what he was looking for ever and no idea why I got the grades that I did. Frustrating.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ARHI51C170
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Fabulous professor. Not such a gifted lecturer, but his constant e-mails to the class, big lists of reading suggestions on the syllabi, and willingness to always help show he really knows his stuff and wants his students to succeed. Plus, there's barely any reading and you get to go to a museum...how much better could it get?

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: EARLYRENAISSAN
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

prof. gorse is nice, but the class is really boring unless you really care about the material. only 4 sort of short (5-8 pg) papers the whole semester, although he's not an easy grader. VERY flexible w/ deadlines....overall an easy class if you're looking for a B-B+. DO NOT buy books! not necessary - i wasted about 200 on the books!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ID1
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: NEURBAROQUE
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great guy, but sometimes boring lectures. Hes really into the subject, and makes some really funny comments.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ARHI51C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Although lectures could be interesting he left me in the dark on how to write papers, handing out absolutely arbitrary grades. When confronted about paper grades he had no justification for grades he gave. I still have no idea how to write an art history paper.