Susan Ferguson - Grinnell College

Professor: Susan Ferguson

Department: TBD

College: Grinnell College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOC295
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

AMAZING. Literally oozes passion for the subject. Highly recommend taking her global health class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOC291
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Made clear that her halloween costume was a gypsy. Crystal ball the whole thing. A soc prof. WOuld only be worse if she gave a lecture on cultural appropriation after

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SOC111
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Ferguson is extremely caring and helpful both in and out of class. I really enjoyed all of the readings and her lectures were easy to follow (111 is mostly lecture based). There are a lot of writing assignments. Keep in mind that she grades participation on the number of times you participate compared to the class average.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The only class I ever dropped--in fact, I actually withdrew. She is a terrible professor. She teaches these incredibly basic concepts as though they are brand new and groundbreaking. She loves to pass around the books from which readings are taken, and then she talks about them as though you've read the entire book in the 30 seconds you had it.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SOC01
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Had her for both SOC 1 (Intro) and SOC 125 (Gender) on Semester at Sea Fall 2016. She is an amazing professor. Class is tough but I guarantee you will actually learn in her class. I highly recommend getting to know her she is one of the most interesting professors I have ever had.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SOC265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

yikes she's so tough. I love her to death, but omg I work so hard in this class. This is the toughest 200 level I've taken. would only recommend if you REALLY want to work. Loving the material is essential.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOC265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've had her for SOC 111, 265, and now 300. She's definitely a tough teacher and expects the best out of assignments and projects, but her lectures and are amazing and get you excited about the material. She teaches her 200 level classes almost at a seminar level. I'd suggest taking her Intro and 300 level classes if you are looking for less rigor.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOC111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

LOVE LOVE LOVE her. Great professor, and felt inspired by the lectures. She made me question around me daily. But, be ready to work.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SOC111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

one of the hardest classes, so much reading and work, but overall worth it. good preparation for any sociology class in the future because she prepares you for every topic and you read literature from all different parts of sociology.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SOC111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Love this class! My favorite professor so far at Grinnell, and I love every minute of the class. There is a lot of work (95 pages or more of reading a week), a lot of papers (at least 14), and a lot of participation, but you will enjoy it. She is also one of the most helpful professors I've ever had.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SOC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst prof I had at Grinnell. I was warned I'd hate the class, but I said "it's Intro Soc., how bad could it be?" The class manages to be not academically challenging but still hard- lots of busywork. She is very condescending & acts like a kindergarten teacher. Once she had us just write racial slurs on the board. So educational!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SOC265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

As a male, I didn't feel the bias that others mention. Hard class, but very good lecturer. Friendly and helpful outside of class. Papers are position papers that synthesize readings. Some say that you must "mimic her opinion," but with a lot of these readings, there's one position--"bad things happened." The only SOC class I don't regret.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SOC265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I thoroughly enjoyed my Health and Illness class. Prof. Ferguson puts a lot of time and effort into teaching and she really cares about her students. As long as you're doing your job as a student, she will treat you with respect and kindness. The class wasn't easy and she was a difficult grader. There were a LOT of assigned readings each week.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SOC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you disagree publicly with her in class, she will do everything in her power to fail you. Fairly LGB friendly, but not trans friendly at ALL.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOC111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Super patronizing. Unethical grading practices. Does not encourage critical thought, just wants parrots... Favors females. The most childlike professor I've had here. Very disappointing because I liked sociology in HS.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SOC265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The thing to understand about Professor Ferguson is that she is very opinionated and can be very blunt and honest at times. This class (Health & Illness) is not a good class to get a feel for her as a professor. Also, it does require a little sucking up in order for her to be responsive to your opinions and be willing to help.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SOC265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

extremely patronizing, although she tries to be sweet and motherly. assigns a ton of reading and 2 six pagers for the midsem and final. shows way too many movies and rarely lectures, has students teach the class through presentations so she doesnt have to. not very accessible outside of class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SOC390
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Yes. "The" seminar. Ferguson is a brilliant, "old-school" type of professor who values original thought in reference to past literature. She challenges individuals when she thinks they are wrong and some people feel singled out but will ultimately be receptive to your counter-arguments. Grading reflects quality not effort.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SOC257
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took her for Soc. of Health and Illness. Super interested in the class, but she killed it for me. Very biased in grading towards males. Any opinion but her own does not matter. On papers of my own opinion, I got bad grades. When I mirrored her, I did marginally better. Also makes you read her own books. Narcissitic much???

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOC275
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Really amazing class. Workload was very irregular and unbalanced. I didn't like the group presentation emphasis, but it worked somewhat well. Pretty easy/fair grader. Super helpful outside of class.