Deborah Gold - Duke University

Professor: Deborah Gold

Department: Psychology

College: Duke University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOC264
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She really isn't available after class to discuss papers and projects that will determine your grade. And when she gives you a terrible grade on a paper for apparently "not following directions," she will blame you; as if it was your fault that she didn't answer your emails or questions about certain prompts on the paper. She needs to be replaced.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOC264
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Unsure why anyone has posted a negative review. This class is easy and useful! If you didn't do well you either didn't read before a quiz or blatantly didn't follow rules or show up to service learning. Very heavily discussion based class which I loved because you can sit bit and listen or jump in and engage as much as you want. Dr. Gold is a gem.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SOC264
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not much of a class. You just sit there and listen to Dr. Gold repeat stories about aging, and share your own experiences with the service-learning component of the course. Her grading criteria is super strict, and she doesnt provide you a rubric. Made a mistake taking this class..

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOC250
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Gold isn't the best professor in the sociology department. Her lectures are somewhat scattered, and most of class time is spent discussing about your time volunteering with the service learning portion of the class. Her assignment criteria is super strict, and she doesn't do a great job of explaining exactly what she wants. Would not take again

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SOC250
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've had a number of pretty bad sociology professors at Duke, but Dr. Gold definitely would top the list. Her lectures are just her re-hashing some past experiences that she repeats over and over again. She's also unnecessarily nit-picky when grading.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SOC264
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Gold is an amazing professor. She is caring and dedicated, and an overall joy to be in a class with. She can seem strict, but if you follow her guidelines for papers (which she is very explicit with) you will be fine. Highly recommend, especially for anyone going into a medical field.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOCIOL264
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Funny and sweet. She's sassy and is very outspoken and liberal. Sometimes she says really weird stuff, but everyone loves her. Quizzes easy. Just show up and say stuff in class sometimes. She's great, and loves talking with the class. you basically just share your opinions/experiences on death and healthcare. didn't learn much though. fun class

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HUMANDEV260
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Gold is a wonderful person and teacher. She's very sassy and sarcastic, but also very caring and willing to help you if you're struggling.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SOCIO250
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Gold is an experienced educator and has a lot to tell. Her Medical Sociology class, while insightful, focused heavily on the elderly and end-of-life care (her specialty). If you are interested in this, I recommend taking this class. Service learning is incorporated heavily into class discussion. Follow her guidelines for papers carefully.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SOC264
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Death&Dying was so interesting, and Dr. Gold is so inspiring. There were weekly readings and two reading quizzes that were super easy. There is one big final paper. She wants it to be done in a very specific way. If you follow her guidelines, you will be fine. It is a service learning course, only 2 hours of volunteering per week. Take this course!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SOCIOL250
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Last rating's a bit rough- she's a great speaker esp for newcomers to the subject, but some seniors found potholes in her arguments. Class devoted to discussing service learning and topics of interest; reading needed for only 3 quizzes. Only hw reflections, annotated bib & final paper. Very passionate & clear. Follow directions, you'll get an A.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: LS78057
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Debby Gold is an amazing professor. She is tough, she makes you think, and she will pull your best out of you. Get ready to write . . .you will do a lot of it and she will critique hard, but you will be a better writer for it. Can't phone this one in. She will give you what you give her. Brilliantly witty. She should be cloned!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SOC264
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Gold is the best at what she does and is passionate about sharing it. Great experience in several different classes with her.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SOCIOL264
• 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:

Great class. The class doesn't give too much work and the lectures/class discussions are quite interesting. Follow her instructions carefully for the midterm/final papers and you will do fine. Dr. Gold may seem kind of strict, but she's a real sweetheart. Highly recommended class for all students, especially pre-meds. One of Duke's very best profs!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOC264
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great class, the most work outside of class is the mandatory service learning (2hr/week) but that is more fun than anything else. Make sure to participate in class and talk to her about your papers and you will do well.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SOC164
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's an interesting lecturer and doesn't assign too much work, but does make you think. You'll question yourself in this class, and become a better person for it. It's not an automatic A, but it's not a hard class if you put effort into your papers. She's very helpful. Take classes with her. One of the best profs at Duke.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SS163
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took her Death and Dying course in the fall of 2005. It is one of the few courses that have stuck with me. She was insightful, helpful, and friendly. Her lessons extended beyond the course. I would take the course again if I could. By the way, I never found her grading to be strict or unreasonable. She gives you what you give her.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SOC162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Such a great and engaging lecturer. I loved her and her amusing e-mails. She had a ton of insightful comments and was truly interested in each student. I plan on taking every course Dr. Gold teaches.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SOC01
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I heard great things about Professor Gold and her class, Death and Dying, before this semester, so I chose to take her class. I have been disappointed. Class lecture has been repetitive and discussion stagnant. This, however, may be a symtom of the failure of sociology as a discipline.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOC162
• 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:

Dr. Gold is a great person and someone you should take a course with. She does seem intimidating and fussy about attendance/requirements etc, but in reality she really cares about students and is extremely helpful. Paper grading is tough, but she will help you during office hours. The best part about her is her responsiveness to emails.