Don Goldthwaite is an Engineering professor at Northeastern University rated 2.2/5 by 15 students, with 2.0/5 difficulty (TRACE + RateMyProfessors + Reddit, updated July 2026).
Don Goldthwaite professor reviews and ratings: 2.2/5 from 15 student reviews at Northeastern. TRACE + RateMyProfessor + Reddit.
Professor Goldthwaite changes what he wants for every homework assignment, and expects the students to always know what he doesnt tell them. He also barely knows the basics of C++ Matlab and Solidworks, which the course revolves around. He gets mad when no one goes to his office hours, but if you do go, he almost never helps. DO NOT TAKE!!!!!!GE1111 2016-04-23 16:32:57 +0000 UTC
Goldthwaite is by far one of the worst profs I've ever had here at NU. He is incredibly disorganized, never grades anything in a timely manner, gives useless feedback, gives students confusing instructions, lectures about stuff that hardly ever has to do with the class, is very boring. You need to show up, otherwise you won't do well.GE1110 2014-12-04 15:22:30 +0000 UTC
so unorganized. nice guy. always willing to help you out, but does expect more from you than he presents. useless class, but easy to get a good grade inEGDES1110 2012-02-18 14:49:56 +0000 UTC
he's the most disorganized man i've ever met. As a person I think he's a great guy. Understanding, lenient and reasonable. he's obsessed with mechanical, aeronautical and computer stuff but otherwise he knows nothing. His office hours are much more helpful than his lectures. He'd make a better tutor than lecturer.GEU110 2009-01-17 22:31:20 +0000 UTC
Nice guy. Lousy lecturer. made constant mistakes requiring correction by his students. Lecture was a good time to do homework.STATICS 2005-05-24 07:06:22 +0000 UTC
He is a very fair and freindly guy, he learns everyones names and he is very down to earth. Class was always enjoyable and on most days interesting.GEU100 2005-04-07 10:14:18 +0000 UTC
Great guy. Lightens up the class with humor and fully explains what is expected. Fair and honest and pleasant to be with. Just be careful of the crab.... you'll see.ENGINDESIGN 2005-03-07 15:53:23 +0000 UTC
Very unorganized and extremely unhelpful. The only stuff I learned from his class were things that I taught myself out of the book. Expect to use the book a lot in his class. But on the plus side, this is probably the easiest class I've ever had/will have. I was confused throughout the entire class and still breezed by with an A.GE1111 2014-02-07 10:47:58 +0000 UTC
Had him for GE 1110, don't listen to anyone who says to not take his class. Yes he is disorganized but compared to the other teachers the work load is MUCH less. If you do the assignment and put in a little extra effort to ask him clarifying questions about the projects you will do very well.GE1110 2013-03-18 23:28:54 +0000 UTC
This guy is ridiculously unorganized and throws projects out of no where. Don't know if he honestly knows what he's talking about. You can tell he's a good person and knows his stuff, but only about aeronautical engineering. Overall not very much help if you have him be prepared to figure it out yourself.GEU110 2007-11-19 12:47:28 +0000 UTC
Things in class were never explained clearly, never knew what the assignments were, assignments were not taken seriously.GEU100 2005-03-28 16:33:35 +0000 UTC
The professor is never clear on assignments or deadlines, and also fails to motivate his students. However, the upside to this course is that it is much easier than other professors, just don't expect to learn anything at all.GE1111 2013-12-26 14:45:36 +0000 UTC
He just doesn't really care, kinda disorganized in his lectures, a lot of the times late for class, your mind really drifts in this classGEU110 2006-01-20 16:06:55 +0000 UTC
Avoid if at all possible. Incredibly disorganized, and blames students for misunderstandings caused by him. Very poor lecturer. Changed assignment requirements multiple times, often the night before they were due. This made the class extremely stressful, until you realize he grades so leniently that you don't have to understand anything.GE1111 2013-11-25 12:16:29 +0000 UTC
completly useless teacher. he speaks in monotone the entire class, and his lectures are vague and unhelpful. He is rarely in his office hours for actual help, and expects you to be able to figure everything out for yourself.GE1111 2011-02-01 13:11:19 +0000 UTC
Don Goldthwaite has an average rating of 2.2/5 from 15 student reviews.
Don Goldthwaite's classes have a difficulty rating of 2.0/5 based on student reviews.
Data updated July 2026.