Barry Gaspar - Duke University

Professor: Barry Gaspar

Department: TBD

College: Duke University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIS319
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

First came off as dull and weird, but when I got to know him better he became my fav prof I had at Duke. Gaspar is actually super funny and teaches history like none other. The man is brilliant. Class is reading/writing heavy. Make an effort to get to know him outside of class -- it will pay off. Polarizing but I think he's the GOAT.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIS318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you see him, you'll get a better idea of what he wants, and it will improve your grade. His quirkiness make the class worth attending. Barry Gaspar has an incredible perspective on the Atlantic Basin and Carribean history. Chance to broaden horizons about history.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIS318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Gaspar is the worst professor I've had at Duke. He manages to make pretty interesting material boring by droning on in a monotone voice. There were a few classes when he literally didn't show up and didn't send an email or anything. I have a high GPA and ended up getting a "B" in his course. Going to see him outside of class didn't help at all.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST271
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Gaspar is one of the best professors I have had at Duke. Definitely talk to him about your papers in advance and he will guide you in the right direction. A lot of people skip class, but participating and having clearly read the material clearly makes him happy. :) Would take again. Have taken again.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST319
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The class was full of athletes and was super easy, but Barry is also one of the coolest people you'll ever meet. You should go to class so that he learns your name because then he grades you even nicer because no one goes to class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIS319
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Strange, confusing guy. Grades papers rather hard, but if you see him for help you'll get a better idea what he wants and it'll help your grade. His lectures are almost always off topic and less than half the class will show up. They really don't matter unless its the week before a test. Also, the reading is never necessary

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CARIBBEANHIST
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Seems easy to get a decent grade but he is a hard grader when it comes to papers considering he has written several books. Very cool guy to talk to. Unusually teaching methods, it seems that no student can produce the correct answer in lectures.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Gaspar is the man. People who complain about grading only got screwed over by TAs, so try to take a seminar with him. He loves when people demonstrate an interest and sense of curiosity in the material that he so dearly loves. Some might denigrate his seemingly disorganized style, but his quirkiness and passion makes class amazing.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST127
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Funny dude. I'm fairly sure he was high half the time. Pretty entertaining if you actually pay attention, but worthless if you're looking to learn something. Regularly shows up 10 minutes late and didn't show up at all twice with no explanation or email. For the money we pay per class, this one's not worth it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST127
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy. Easy class. He is interested in material and if you want to learn you can go to class and pay attention and learn, readings are interesting but not really necessary for doing well on Exams. Course Work = 2 Essay Exams (1 essay question each), 1 4-5 pg book review and a Final (2 essay questions). None of these were difficult.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST127B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Literally not a single valuable piece of information in the class. Nothing happened in the Caribbean basically, but he tries to add a lot of importance to his subject. Go to office hours once and your grades will improve dramatically. Attendance definitely NOT mandatory. I got an A and went to class about 6 times the whole semester.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST127
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Unfortunately the class was taught in White Lecture Hall, and this took away the ability to have class discussions. Gaspar still managed to do an ok job. His grading could be a bit arbitrary at times.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST168
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Gaspar is relaxed without compromising professionalism. More importantly, though, he is a true scholar in that he has this unyielding thirst for the acquisition of knowledge. Sometimes in class he will tell us how much he wished to be able to relive his own undergrad years if only to tackle the material once again. He genuinely enjoys teaching!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was disappointed by him. He didn't really take the class seriously (rambled, was regularly late for class) and he took the evals himself (rather than give them to a student to ensure anonymity).

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST168
• 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:

Oh I love me some Barry Gaspar. Most people don't get into the lectures if they have no interest in the subject matter or if they don't read the material, but there are great rewards for doing the reading, participating in discussions, and getting to know Barry outside of class. He's had an amazing life, and he's a brilliant man.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST168A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Snore. Great guy, but oh so boring.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY129S
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Gaspar is the best professor at Duke. He has excellent knowledge in this subject and does not hesitate to give his students a in depth perspective. At the same time he keeps the class discussion oriented and light hearted. A very easy class to get into and enjoy. If you have not taken a class with Gaspar and have any interest in history, do it!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST92D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

gaspar is good, the readings for his classes are relevant and interesting, he helps you to take a new perspective on a lot of past events. pretty cool if you like history.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: 127
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

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