3.2
Quality3.8
Difficulty71%
Would Retake172
Reviews71%
Would Retake
172
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
37
4
44
3
43
2
30
1
18
What Students Say
“This class was very difficult”
CHEM120 - 2.0 rating“RRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNN”
CHEM130 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
91%
Textbook Required
43%
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B+
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CHEM110
5.0
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5.0
(1)CHEM120130
4.4
(8)CHEM122
4.1
(10)CHEMISTRY120
4.0
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41257
5.0
130
4.7
120
4.5
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4.4
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Reviews (172)
Dr. Barnes is an extremely organized teacher. she is great at presenting the subject and makes it easy to understand. the quizes are a bit challenging, but stay on the material and you will do fine. plus she is an incredible person and she really cares about her students.
Please take her. You will learn more and she is helpful. Great teacher and would reccommend to anyone for chemistry.
Very fun and easy class. Every opportunity of help is provided for you. She is great at explaining things and practicing till it gets in your head. There is no way you can't make an A in here. Great teacher and class!
Just started this class a few weeks ago, but it's hard! Lecture is 300+ people and she flies through the material. I'm scared for how the rest of the semester will go.
This class is extremely difficult if you don't have a basic understanding of chemistry to being with. Would NOT recommend.
Do not take her unless you have work ethic high enough to study by yourself, because her lectures are useless.
She is a really great teacher. She explains things very well and her class is very easy.
I learned a lot in this class but it's pretty tough.
TA is really helpful. Labs are complete bs, which is a good thing. Her lectures are pointless because she goes so fast you can barely have time to write what she's writing. Plus her handwriting is awful. Basically you are on your own for learning material.
Ms. Barnes is a great teacher because she actually cares whether her students learn. She does go fast in lectures, but they ARE NOT useless! Things not in the notes are not on the tests, so as long as you go to class and copy everything down you know exactly what to study. There are 7 exams, the lowest grade is dropped. I recommend her!
Great teacher. She cares if you learn the material. Best notes in a science class ive ever had. Class isnt mandatory but if you want a good grade you should go to lecture. Tests arent bad but you should study for them. Not an easy A but what chem class is?
Didn't find lecture useful and struggled.
Barnes is one of the best professor you will find in the Chemistry department. Her lectures are optional, but go! She randomly gives out extra credit, and her notes are vital for the test. She does move quite fast, but if you go back and review the notes later it will be clear. Chemistry is Chemistry. She will not trick you. Very fair.
This class is hard, but with Dr. Barnes it is much more do-able! She gives 7 tests so even if you don't get a section it won't kill your grade. She's often in the tutor lab helping students which is awesome. Her exams come straight from her online homework so if you just do the work there's no way you'll do poorly in this class.
I took her for two semesters. Her lectures are extremely boring but attend for easy quizzes and rare extra credits, especially toward the end of the semester. I never paid attention in her lectures and crammed every tests and got an A. 88-100 is an A in her class.
She is a great chemistry teacher! Her tests are over everything in the notes. Reading the book is not required but it helps alot. You do have to do some studying on your own because the lectures themselves will not get you an A. Very clear, easy to talk to, willing to help out.
Good class to take, I'm in her class at this second and she is giving us answers to the homework :)
Be smart and take her! lots of grade padding and extra credit. awesome at explaining. Tests are exactly like the examples in the notes. Easy A. the person below this was right. She did give us the answers to the prelab today! forreal. TAKE HER!!!
If you can take her, do it. Definitely the best option compared to the other chem teachers. Her tests are not that bad at all.
Barnes is a good teacher, she's one of the few teachers that makes Chem 120 doable. She gives 6 exams total and lets you drop the lowest. Go to lecture and discussion. If you're prepared to work hard then you should easily make an A.
Great Chemistry Teacher! 6 total tests, drops the lowest one. If you go to lecture, do a small amount of studying, then you should get the grade you want. She does a lot of practice problems.
If you're going to take Chem 120, TAKE BARNES. I repeat, TAKE BARNES. She only takes attendance every once in a while, so you can get away with not always going. She also drops your lowest test grade which is awesome. She'll slow down if needed, and she curbs at the end.
Best chem 120 teacher so I've heard. Her lectures are boring and she will post the notes filled out before your test so attendance isn't mandatory. Fairly easy just hard material.
Very fair. She gives attendance quizzes which count for 5% of your grade, so showing up helps. She cares about her students and will talk with you. If you do the work you can get an A. She gives extra credit opportunities.
Very helpful and understanding. She is easy to understand and puts it in terms that are easy for students. I would recommend her to anyone.
Easy class. She really tries to get people good grades since its a beginner class. She gives six tests and a final and drops your lowest test grade, and the tests and exam are a cake walk. The material is for the most part easy; if you took Chem 2 in highschool you will have had the majority of the material. The remainder just takes some thinking.
Great teacher. Easy tests, plus one is dropped at the end of the class. Take Barnes if you can!
This semester for 130 she changed her testing method. Half of our lecture takes their exam 5 days after the first group does. It doesn't modal what she does in class. It will take up absolutely all of your time to make an A on a test. It's not fair, and the test are ridiculous.
I had her for 120 and it was great! She allows one drop grade and is very helpful if you ask. Attend every class because she does give pop quizzes but mostly for attendance points.
In my honest opinion, Dr. Barnes is the best teacher to get for Chemistry 130. However, this doesn't mean she's easy. I've been studying for 10-15+ hours for each exam and going to just about all of the lectures and have made in the 80's on the exams. Although she goes too fast in lecture, sometimes there is extra credit you can get.
TAKE HER for 120. She is most likely the best chem teacher at UTK. She gave us 6 tests, drop one. Pop quizzes in class, so go. Homework is reasonable. Read the book! Get good test grades in the beginning, so you don't have to play catchup toward the end. Also, know how to do every problem in the class notes (on tests!). I ended up with an A.
Chem 120 was a breeze if you studied. 8 tests. totally fair. The best 120 by far. DO not take her for 130. Only 4 test, with no hope of making a good grade even if you put time in and go to every SI session. Even through she genuinely cares, She cannot seem to understand how we do not understand her at her doctorate level thinking.
Barnes was great in my opinion. I know many people struggled a bit, but she is very understanding and friendly. I had a bad TA though and that made things worse than it needed to be.
Honestly best professor for Chemistry at UT. If you attend her lectures and get extra help from SI sessions and the tutorial center you will understand the material better. This is NOT and easy class, you really have to work hard to understand Chemistry! Her exams are not too hard either.
I'm in Chem 120. This class was so hard. I struggled so much for this to be a beginner's class. Ridiculous. She is helpful but there are only 4 tests out of 150 points and they are so hard. Hoping for a curve.
Very likable teacher, but a tough course. There was NOT a curve. Most people hoped for one, but there was not. Tests are very abstract and not closely related to the notes. Wonderful person - good teacher - tough class. Worked as hard as I ever have, happy to get a B
She is terrible. DO NOT take her class. Her tests are not related to the notes and are extremely hard. Expect to study 30 hours a week for this course alone. There also is no curve at the end. She talks at a doctorate level not an entry level course
DO NOT TAKE HER. Terrible, so terrible. Worked harder than ever, didn't pay off by any means. Hinted at a curve earlier in the semester and didn't give one. Tests are extremely difficult and it's very hard to know what to study. Just avoid at all costs.
doesn't care about students
Chemistry 120 is a hard class so don't expect to not work hard in the class. She is very helpful. And sometimes the exams don't really follow anything just know how to work a lot of the problems. Go to office hours very helpful and caring
Run. Just run as far as you can. Past semesters I've heard she's been the easiest teacher, however I took her this semester and I have never tried so hard in my life. Her exams are out of 150 points & were terrible. Talked about a curve all semester and the curve did not happen. Had I known there was not going to be a curve I would have taken a W.
She's not a harsh professor. Chemistry is never easy. She can be hard to understand. The material on her tests were not super hard, but not easy either. She drops the lowest test score, and sometimes the lowest quiz score too. She did not curve, so it probably depends on the class average. Most of the easy points will come from the lab reports.
Not as bad as everyone is saying. A lot of work has to be put in to make the grades. She can be hard to understand at times but she can also be helpful. Go to class
I was told she was the best chemistry professor but that wasn't the case for me. I also was told she gave extra credit & a curve. That wasn't the case either! I've never tried so hard and not succeeded. I went to all the SI sessions, review sessions, and always went to class and still didn't pass. I had a 3.5 GPA and this class ruined my GPA.
Class has completely changed. Its now 10X harder. I have taken Micro 210 & high level bio classes at UT & this is by far the worst course. Attend ALL lectures AND discussions b/c she gives random quizzes & attendance points. Nice lady, but if I could go back I definitely would have taken a different professor.
Barnes was told that her class was "too easy" so this semester she changed. Her lectures are still basic and easy to comprehend but her tests were extremely difficult and impossible to study for. She did not teach what she tests on. Also never responds to emails. And promised a curve in class then refused to give it after the final. DO NOT TAKE!
Dr. Barnes may have been a little monotone but she is a very nice lady who is easily the best choice for a Chem 120 teacher. She gave 4 tests, dropped the lowest grade and also curved. Homework was reasonable. Quizzes always caught me off guard, but stay on top of the material and you'll be fine. If you go to office hours she will help you!
Okay no she did not curve. The class was hard and tests were pretty in-depth and not as basic as they used to be apparently. hard class. But she's nice
She actually made me hate chemistry. She knows her stuff but she is terrible at teaching, goes fast and does not follow a very logical lesson plan. But what is even worse is her attitude towards her students, she is uncaring and unhelpful and will put obscure unreviewed questions on tests just to make sure that people will get it wrong. Stay Away.
RUUUNNNNNN!!!!! DONT TAKE IT WITH HER AT ALL FINAL COSTS!!! Her tests are impossible and her notes reflect nothing about what she tests you on. I've studied longer for a chapter test in this class than I have on the chem 120 final and got a better grade on the chem 120 final. Her first exams average was a 45%... If that says anything to you!!
Dr. Barnes is often thought of as the "easy" teacher that you can easily get an A in that in not the case. She is helpful but the class is very difficult. She is hard to pay attention to and goes very fast. This class requires a lot of outside work to do well in.
Barnes is the worst teacher I've taken here at UT, she rushed through the lecture in class and seemed annoyed when people would ask for explanations. Her tests are impossible to study for, I outlined the book, went over hw, and the study guide and her tests were still impossible. Much harder than my genetics & physics classes. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
AVOIIIDDD!!!! Her tests are impossible to study for. She tests nothing based upon what she teaches. I have no idea where she gets her test questions from but if you'd like to suffer go ahead and take her. Btw she's a HORRIBLE TEACHER!!!!! Avoid at all absolute costs. I'd rather take a foreign teacher that I don't understand than to take Barnes
Avoid at all costs
Barnes is a good teacher, her class did get harder this year, so that was a bummer.. Her exam questions came from the review questions after every chapter. If you knew how to do those, you could do the exam, no problem. I just did not put in the time required for this class. Take her though! Drops lowest exam!grade.
This is a tough class, but Chemistry is a tough class in general. Yes she is a tough teacher, her tests are hard, and the final sucks, but it is possible. GO TO HER OFFICE HOURS. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IF SHE KNOWS YOUR FACE. She does care, but she's not going to throw you the grade YOU think YOU deserve. You have to work hard in this class. STUDY!
get ready to teach yourself! her notes are ridiculous. almost NOTHING she says in class will be on her 6pg exams. she knows her material, but shes just not a good professor. get someone else fast!
this class is by far one of the hardest classes ive take at ut. dr barnes makes it unnecessarily hard when it doesnt need to be. ive literally studied all of her homework, reviews, and all of the SI reviews for her tests and still failed all of them. when i met up with her all she told is to keep doing what i already am... NO HELP AT ALL.
Chemistry was not my best class. With that being said, Barnes was very clear with what she wanted. EC for attendance and the homework helped buffer my horrible test grades. She is very easy to talk to and overall sweet. Would recommend if Chem was necessary
Dr. Barnes is straightforward in what she expects from her students. If you do the homework and practice the problems in the lecture notes, the tests are not that bad. I made an A on all of them. She is helpful in office hours and will answer any questions you have. Reading the chapters can also be helpful if lecture notes are not clear for you.
RRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNN!!! class is harder than the organic chem class i took!! makes it harder than necessary and really didnt learn anything from her class. she is way too vague
Dr. Barnes is a really nice and sweet lady, but she is not that good of an actual teacher. She's very vague and doesn't actually teach the material, just reads it to the class. Her tests are extremely hard, even though I put countless hours into studying. Just do the homework and take your labs seriously, because the tests will screw you over.
Dr. Barnes' test are horrible. Not to mention she doesn't even give you the answers to the study guide until a few hours before the test No help there. She expects students to basically teach themselves so she is no help and doesn't need a job in that's the case. AVOID.
Barnes is a very good teacher. If I was continuing on to Chemistry 130 I would definitely sign up for her class. The tests are hard, but if you study you will do fine.
Chemistry is a very difficult subject to begin with. I think Barnes is by far the best choice for 120 at the very least. We had four exams and dropped the lowest. As of right now I'm sitting at an 84 (which is a B) and am awaiting the news on a curve. That being said, take the labs seriously. That is what screwed me. And read your book. Good luck.
Overall not a bad teacher. You can get an A in this course as long as you put in the effort and really study for the tests. The hardest part of this course is lab and she's not even the instructor for the lab section of this course.
If you take her be prepared for a monotone lecturer. Reads everything from her powerpoint and excepts you to know stuff before coming into class. She got behind in lectures vs labs so we would fail those. Be careful. I ended with a B+ in the class, but how?
Hardest class I have ever taken. She makes you take your test with two other class at the same time. What is covered in class and discussion is not on the test.
Chemistry is a hard class, but Dr. Barnes does a good job of giving example problems in lecture. Her tests are difficult, but she drops the lowest test grade. She gives reviews for her tests in discussion. These are very helpful for the test. She moves very fast through the notes, so pay attention in class and be ready to write!
Very laid-back teaching style and very funny to listen to, but not my style personally. I think she's a good teacher though even though the class itself was extremely difficult. I would take again. Tests for all chemistry classes are tough but she's there for you if you need it.
Dr. Barnes is a great professor. Chemistry is just a hard class, so I think people just blame that on her. She's a good lecturer, and is really entertaining. The class just requires a lot of effort because it's innately hard. I wouldn't hesitate to take her again.
Worst class I have taken at UT. Her tests are long and very rough. I spent hours doing the homework, SI sessions, and went to the tutor center 2 times a week and still struggled on exams. Lectures are monotone and she does not seem to care about the students. I made As in everything yet did poorly on exams because they were so tough. avoid.
Christiane Barnes is by far the WORST teacher I have ever had! Sitting through her monotone lectures are like torture. It's so hard to understand her and the tests are unnecessarily hard. The exam reviews are no help at all either! It's obvious she doesn't like teaching and doesn't care about her students.
Be prepared to be on your own for this class. The lectures are useless besides the clicker attendance points. Do well on the labs and quizzes and homework. Basically everything besides the tests. They aren't easy and there is no curving of any grade. You get what you get. Averages on tests were 65's so if you aren't gonna work, don't take her.
I had Dr. Barnes my first semester at UT and she was a great teacher to have. I had her two years ago and she still remembers my name and greets me whenever she sees me. Chemistry is a tough subject and she makes it reasonable. Participating in class helps you learn. Study her notes and do the study guides and you should be fine. Tests can be tough
Chemistry 130 does not have to be a difficult class, but Dr. Barnes acted as if we should have already known everything. Go to class and take advantage of the SI sessions and tutorial center.
Very tough course and you really need to read to book if you want to learn anything. The lectures don't really teach you anything other than how to copy down her notes.
Barnes' lectures do not clarify the content. You have to read the book to understand a concept completely. The homework assigned, however, is what really helps you prepare for the exams.
Something super nice that Dr. Barnes does is that she gives 4 tests rather than 3 and then she drops your lowest test grade! She's a nice lady though I didn't feel that her lectures really did much to help. The course was really challenging but that's to be expected - it's chemistry. Don't forget your clicker!!! It's how attendance is taken!
In order to succeed in this class, you must attend SI sessions or go to the chem tutorial center. Going to Dr. Barnes' lectures alone is not enough considering that she just reads from her ppt slides. Attendance is still mandatory if you would like to receive all of your attendance points.
She's a nice lady, but her lectures won't help you. You must go to SI sessions for clarification. Go to her lectures to get your participation points, but you will most likely need to look through the book to know what's going on. There is homework, but fortunately, it's similar to some of the test questions. Her tests are hard so study early.
Chemistry is never a fun subject, but I have heard that if you have to take it, Dr. Barnes is the teacher to take. She does read straight from the screen, but she also knows what she is talking about. If you have a question in lecture, she will answer it. Her test are hard, but if you do the study guides that are put out, you should be okay.
Dr. Barnes' class was very tough. I never made above a C on any test and I'm not a slacker. She reads straight from the powerpoint and does not post the full notes after class in case you missed a slide (because she goes very very fast). Her tests are extremely hard and feeling prepared was never an occurrence. I would not take again.
Of all the chem teachers I would recommend her. She may read straight from the screen in lectures and I hear that her exams can be harder than Bass's but she makes the final since she is head of the department so if you take her you know what the layout of the final is like.
Dr. Barnes is a good professor, but she teaches a horribly boring subject. Do not expect an easy experience in any section of Chem 130. She is very helpful when you approach her. Lectures are long and dry, but after all, it is Chemistry.
Dr. Barnes wasn't very helpful for me when I went to her office hours after the first exam to see how I could improve, nor did I feel like she prepared me for the final. Don't expect a curve and don't expect it to be as easy as Chem 120. She loaded us down with online quizzes the week before finals as well.
Tests are hard. The final average was a 50% and she still didn't curve. The chemistry department is awful but with other professors (Bass) you actually learn the material and lectures aren't completely awful. She reads off the power point slides and isn't good at explaining examples/material.
Flies through lectures every class and covers a ton of topics. She reads off of a PowerPoint and doesn't explain much beyond what's written. The homework is very redundant (online), but is useful as most of the time her lectures are somewhat unclear. Tests are similar to her practice tests, but definitely harder.
Awful. Lectures are totally unhelpful, teacher reading off her powerpoint but still doing clickers. Test sometimes cover topics not discussed.
Dr. Barnes was a great chemistry professor. She gave lots of good clear examples and took the time to explain subjects in many different ways. It is not hard to succeed in her class if you go to lecture and take good notes. Out of all the gen. chem professors she is easily the best one.
Great teacher, explains material well. Goes fast sometimes.
This class was very difficult. If you want to pass, you have to study 25/8. Do not recommend to anyone who is new to chemistry.
Lectures are her reading off powerpoints, very dull. Clickers everyday so you have to go. She uploads notes with blanks so if u miss & don't have friends, you're screwed. TA's are super lenient on labs, made an A. DO NOT count solely on study guide for exams. You'll need much more info outside of that.
Boring and unhelpful lectures. Tests are extremely hard. Pray you get a good TA for your Discussion Group, Do online homework in study sessions offered by the department. Get a tutor. She does not give extra credit and she does not grade on a curve. I am an A student and am hoping for a C. This class is horrible
Professor Barnes isn't my favorite teacher, but she is the best teacher you can take for chem 120 and chem 130. Her lectures are extremely boring and her tests are pretty difficult. But willing to help if you come to her.
Barnes is the one to take but that doesn't mean she's great. Go to lab and do your homework because you will fail tests. She doesn't curve so make sure to go to class to get clicker points. Use your resources like the tutoring center and TA. Honestly it isn't the professor, Chem 120 is just hard!
She reads off the power point for her lectures but shes really good at answering questions. If you study her tests aren't that bad. The final was so rough.
She pretty much just reads from the book in her lectures so you might do better to read the text on things you don't understand, but you need to go to class because she does clicker points. I do not like chemistry and I had to take it but I ended up pulling out a C+ because she drops one exam and the online homework/lab easy.
Barnes knew her stuff and was very articulate in her meaning but wasn't very engaging in lecture and hard to access outside of class. In regards to the labs, don't ever be late, like even two minutes late because they won't let you in.
I'm an A student and got a C in 120 last semester and struggling in 130. The course material is intense, not the professor. It's a large class, so I recommend introducing yourself. She genuinely cares about your well being if you are doing your best and encourages you to keep trying. I'd take her class again but fingers crossed I don't have to...
Her tests were usually very difficult because of the difficulty of the content, but she does a good job of teaching and leading the course. There's always a way to get help and she posts lots of practices for the exam on canvas. Take her if you are looking to really learn this stuff, not for an easy a.
Dr. Barnes is kind of a lackluster lecturer, but she provides optimal opportunity for success in the course. Provides ppt notes online with blanks. Takes attendance by clicker participation and a couple discussion quizzes. Gives extra credit at the end of the year and curves final grades. Prob your best best for a CHEM 130 professor. Very nice!
Dr. Barnes is not the most entertaining or hands on instructor, however, she is incredible helpful one-on-one. Chemsitry at UT is already difficult, but if you put in the time and the energy you should come out alright. Make sure to not skip labs and do all the homework and be present for the discussion quizzes. They'll all help your grade.
Dr. Barnes is Brilliant. She is probably one of the best teachers in the chemistry department. Her lectures are very helpful but I would still recommend tutoring and hard studying. This class is extremely difficult. Her test are very very hard, but I enjoyed this class the most of my Chems so far
she spppeeeeeds through lecture so if you don't understand it, go to office hours or get a tutor. SI doesn't work. shes rough and you will fail your third exam
Better than Yang. I would highly suggest utilizing the chem tutorial center for any questions about concepts, homework, post-lab assignments, etc. Go to class and start studying the material the day it is lectured so you can absorb it efficiently. It is possible to make an A if you are dedicated.
Shes my fav professor! In my opinion, shes the best out of the chem department! She is consistent. She gives quizzes every morning & is very helpful. Get to know her & she will notice your effort!
Dr. Barnes is an amazing teacher. If you do the problems in the back of the book you will have NO problem with her exams. Her exams really determine who studies and who doesn't . She's very easy to get to know . I've had her for chem 120 and 130 and I came in not knowing what a mol was and now I'm applying to be an SI leader. 10/10 recommend.
Dr. Barnes is a rock star. Her charisma during lectures demonstrates her brilliance without showing off at all. She has a respectful balance when explaining concepts; not too low-brow, not too unduly technical. Her course is challenging, so you might consider taking this course as a primary focus for the semester. Dr. Barnes makes chemistry sexy ;)
Chemistry at UT is hard enough as it is. Barnes does her best to guide you through its ins and outs, and is very easy to access outside of class. If you seek extra help, go to office hours, and the review sessions, you'll be fine. Skip any class and you'll be behind. Great teacher, tough class.
Great teacher. If you dont understand a topic, she is more than willing to discuss it in office hours (she is very flexible in doing so). She also takes the time to get to know her students which makes it easier to go up and talk to her. Overall, an awesome person and teacher.
Dr. Barnes knows the material she is teaching but her lectures are terrible. The only way I learned anything in this class was by teaching myself and using the textbook and homework as my lecture. This is probably the hardest class I've ever taken and it requires a lot of work on your part. With this said, she does care and will help you out, maybe
Chem120 is hard but Barnes is a good professor! She gives A LOT of examples in lecture and puts slides with blanks on canvas. She is very helpful and super nice! She goes kinda fast in lecture but will gladly slow down if you ask. She does clicker questions like every lecture so you should go to get your clicker points. Would take again!!
Dr. Barnes is one of the best chem professors at the university. Even though her lectures are hard to sit through, there are plenty of opportunities to get extra help. If you get her as a professor, congrats you will do good if you try hard.
I love this teacher BUT I took things for granted and should've worked harder. Her lectures are pretty fast so it is also important to keep up. It's also important to keep up with the online homework assignments in this class and going to discussions is key to passing this class as well. Good Luck to future chem 120 students. You're gonna need it..
Dr. Barnes was fantastic. She was very accessible outside of class if she was needed. Her lectures were very fun, especially once she got used to the class. She was always open to explaining anything that the class did not understand.
I went into college not knowing ANYTHING about chemistry. I went to her office hrs fairly often and was always in the chem tutoring center. If you put the work in and study, her class is very doable. Work the problems at the end of each chapter before the test!! If you're still not understanding a concept, go to her office hrs or to chem tutoring.
Professor Barnes was a pretty good professor. I rarely went to lecture and was still able to get good grades on the tests. Tests were kind of hard but just study for them. There were pop quizzes in discussion though. I definitely think she was one of the best chem professors at UT- chemistry is just a hard class so be prepared.
She does clickers every lecture, but if you have the code you can skip lecture and still answer them. I never used the book, but you do have the online hw to do. Exams were very hard. My advice is to do the online hw before it's due to study for the exams. Also, learn the polyatomic ions and molecular structures. GO TO DISC. There's 5 pop quizzes.
Chemistry is a very difficult subject, but Dr. Barnes keeps it as easy as possible.
This was a good large lecture class. These classes are typically boring, and this one was no exception. Good at teaching the material. Grading is reasonable. Homework is time consuming.
I liked Dr. Barnes as a professor. Chemistry is a tough subject and sometimes the lectures move fast, but if you put the time in to do the homework, study, and attend SI sessions, the course is certainly doable. Dr. Barnes truly wants to see her students succeed and is always willing to answer questions. I would recommend taking her class.
Dr. Barnes is truly the best gen chem teacher at UTK. She cares about the students deeply and knows the material she is teaching in and out. She uses powerpoints in class and posts them after every chapter for easy studying. Office hours are very open and useful, she respects you coming in. Overall, a very hard class, but passable with Dr. Barnes.
Listen to this review! If you remeber anything from chem in highschool youll be fine if you dont youll be fine. Do the homework its easy 100 and do well in lab. Dont worry about exams at all if you go to Si tutoring and do her practice tests youll be just fine. come to class she does attendance on clickers so in the end itll make a difference.
Lectures are really basic, she's a little monotone so it is often hard to focus but she does explain everything well. Lots of homework, lots of quizzes in discussion. Curves a good bit at the end of the semester but don't expect a C to become a B. Tests always offer an extra credit question at the end, but are fairly difficult. GO TO LECTURE.
She does a really good job explaining what will be on the exams and what she expects of you. Her class is organized, which I like. Chem120 is going to be rough no matter who you take it with, so take Barnes if you can.
Barnes is a very nice lady who you can tell is very smart, but during lecture she mostly reads directly from the slides, with the occasional example. My main issue was that if you missed class you were unable to get the full powerpoint because she puts blanks in. The class is hard, but if you show up and put in the work you will do fine.
She has set expectations, if you miss a homework assignment she wont let you make it up, but she knows what shes teaching and if you go to her office hours you can get lots of help and youll find shes a really respectable and nice person as well
Dr. Barnes was sub par chemistry professor. She blew through her lectures leaving no time for students to ask questions and did nothing but read directly off the slide. If you ever hear her state "You won't need to memorize all this for the test", don't believe her. She also gave lots of pop quizzes on material she hadn't yet covered in lecture.
Dr. Barnes relies heavily on lectures but she's really nice and will help you. Her lectures are also pretty easy to follow since she posts them. The homework and labs are tedious but they are for any chemistry class. She's definitely the one of the best professors for chem.
Dr. Barnes is a great professor. Although she does go fast in lectures sometimes, you'll do fine in her class if you took chem in high school. Her class is very organized and she wants you to succeed in this class. Lots of opportunities for help too. Highly recommend taking Dr. Barnes if you can!
I learned most of the material by going to the discussion section and SI sessions. Her lectures are very hard to focus in but if you go it will definitely help. If you want a good grade in this class you definitely have to work for it
I took her over the summer. Shes snarky, doesnt teach clearly, and the practice exams never seemed to prepare me for her exams. Ive heard good things about her fall/spring classes though. She seemed stressed out. One time we asked for an extension so she moved it from midnight to 8am !! WHAT
Bruh this class is so hard.
Dr. Barnes is a really awesome person and teaches the material well. Would recommend her for 130. Just make sure you follow along in lecture and take notes because her notes have blanks. Also make sure you understand the homework and you'll do ok on tests.
Dr Barnes was a good professor. Her teaching style didn't line up perfectly with my learning style, but of all my professors, she was the one that transferred best online for COVID-19 in Spring 2020. She's very flexible, personable. She cares about her students and added a pretty good curve at the end of the semester (B to A) to help with COVID
Shes not the worst prof it just takes a hot sec to get used to her class. Dont miss an assignment!!
I know chemistry is difficult on it's own, but Dr. Barnes does not contribute much to help you learn. She zooms through powerpoints and if you ask her to slow down she'll refuse. She also is really bad at answering emails, I've had to ask my TA or other students for help.
Great Professor, learned a lot! Takes a hot sec to get used to her testing style and wordings on questions, but if you do the homework and put in the effort you should do fine!
Easily the worst chemistry professor I have had throughout my entire time in school. She is uncaring and monotone in her teaching style, and often rude to students.
She's a read off the slides type of gal, but overall seems ok. She holds no punches on exams, so really work to understand. There's usually a curve at the end of the semester.
I had Dr. Barnes last semester. It takes a while to get used to her teaching style and exams. Attendance is 5% of your grade so that can help or hurt. She is very sweet and is willing to help during office hours and during lecture. There is usually a curve at the end, but still, you have to really put in work towards this class to get a good grade.
Dr. Barnes was fine but she moved too quickly through slides and was not very good at explaining concepts. If you have a bad TA you're probably not going to do well. Don't expect to learn anything from just her lectures. Her tests were also very difficult and she had discussion quizzes a lot.
Dr. Barnes is one of the better professors in the chem department at UT, but that's not saying a lot. She covers the material that you're expected to know, but lectures are boring and she tends to be very unenthusiastic. Her grading policy was very unclear until I received my final grade, which caused a lot of unnecessary stress. Very hard quizzes
Never talked to the professor up until one day to ask a question and was automatically given attitude for a question I was asking regarding my attendance. Doesnt seem approachable at all or willing to give assistance.
quite literally do not take her!!!! tests are impossible! not caring whatsoever! the entire class failed the first test (average 50.7) and she yelled at us in class about it! when everyone gets a question wrong on the exam because she didn't teach it, it's still somehow our fault!! literally was hospitalized and still not excused from assignments!
I knew going into this class that I would struggle, and Dr. Barnes didn't make the class any easier. She sped through the slides and if anyone would ask her to slow down she either wouldn't or was extremely condescending and snide if she did. The exams seemed to cover completely different material than what she taught. Smart but rude.
Her lectures are very monotone and she goes very fast. You basically have to teach yourself the info outside of the lecture. It is very hard to pay attention in class because it is very boring. She is nice enough but her tests are very hard. She is the best for this course, but still not the best at all. Have fun.
Look. People don't like Dr. Barnes because she teaches a hard class. Do not get this confused - chemistry is hard. It will be hard no matter who you take it with. But Dr. Barnes genuinely cares about her students and she wants them to succeed. If you put in the work, you will be fine. Definitely go to the SI sessions, and ask questions when needed.
She's the best of the worst. I found her lectures to be very monotoned, she treats her students like they already know what she's teaching. With that being said, though, she really does care and want us to succeed. It is just a very difficult class for someone who has not had much chemistry before. Definitely will need SI sessions and prob a tutor.
Barnes can be monotone, but she cares about her student and lays clear expectation on her tests and how to approach them. If you do attend class, do practice problems (with SI or on your own) and review lecture slides before an exam you are golden. Expect hw, quizzes, and attendance points.
This is a very difficult course. Dr. Barnes is very easy to communicate with and does appreciate it if you come to her office hours for help. You have to go to class to not fall behind. I study 15+ hours and still don't do better than a 55 on every exam. The course has been changed to 122 and the lab is now a separate class and grade. Good Luck.
Barnes is a good teacher who cares about students. I feel like her rating is affected by how hard chemistry is to many students. Dont worry too much though, she plans to retire after next semester.
Chemistry is hard. Period. It doesnt matter who you take, its going to be hard. Khan Academy has videos on EVERYTHING she covers. Watch their videos!! They help so so much! Dr. Barnes seems like she really cares about her students and I think shes the best option to take for chem.
Show up to lectures or you will not do well. People love to hate on Dr. Barnes but I thought she did a great job, she is very clear and will help out a ton if you go to office hours. Tests are hard, if you don't study or go to lecture you will fail. Usually a big curve at end of class b/c it's a weed-out class. Best you'll find in our chem dept.
UTKs chemistry department is equivalent to psychological torture. It is a poorly structured mess. Your professor does not teach for your understanding. Generic, lengthy homework is given at the expense of the student. Exams lack mercy and actual lecture material. You will study yet fail. And most sad of all, you wont retain any chemistry.
Dr. Barnes is a good professor although the class is very hard. You will have to work on Chem each day to be successful. The tests are very hard, but if you do the homework and study you will be fine.
It was a very negative experience. Supplemental instruction is a must in order to succeed. Lecture consisted of PowerPoints read to 350 students and lab was taught by underqualified TAs. Unless you plan on majoring in chemistry, completing natural science requirements at a community college will save you a lot of stress and frustration.
Dr. Barnes seems harsh, but she is very helpful when asking questions about the material. Homework is a must, but I found that all of it really helped me teach myself. The practice tests are a LIFESAVER. I took and retook all of the practice tests for each exam until I could get them all right, and this was the most helpful thing to do.
Honestly Dr. Barnes is a fine chem teacher. The situation that UT has put professors and students in concerning gen chem is not fine, however. Many difficult math classes are taught in small class sizes so that students can easily reach out to teachers and there is a more 1:1 experience. It's a shame that chem class sizes are easily 100+ students.
Her teaching style is just to read the powerpoint slides.Her exams are impossible and the practice materials she gives are nothing like the actual exam. The workload is insane because you can study for weeks and still fail the exams. Homework assignments take hours to complete. One of the worst teachers I have ever had and way too hard for gen chem
I would give her an average rating. She isn't the best teacher ever but there are worse chem teachers so as long as you try then you will be fine
Lectures are focused more upon the solutions to problems as opposed to cultivating an understanding of the topic to know why those solutions work. It would not be uncommon to derive more benefit from the homework than the class itself, but even still, you will need to study often outside of class just to maintain long-term memory of the concepts.
The class itself is extremely difficult no matter what professor you take. Dr.Barnes was a great professor for gen chem 1 & 2 and genuinely cares if you are willing to ask for help. The class is lecture heavy so it is important to pay attention and attend lectures. Take advantage of SI, tutoring, and office hours and you'll do fine in the course.
#1 rule: chemistry is hard but not impossible. Lots of people make talk poorly of Barnes but she does her job. In my lecture, she always took the appropriate time to answer questions, give practice, make hw/quiz extensions, exam corrections, etc. I had to spend a lot of time studying and doing homework but that's just the college experience.
I had Dr. Barnes for Chem 122 and 132. She went very fast in lectures, so I made sure to attend every single one. She was accessible for questions during lecture, after, and online. Her tests are very difficult, but they are similar to the practice tests and review material she gives to study. I liked Dr. Barnes and would take her again.
Makes a hard class much easier, very understanding of issues students may have. Willing to answer questions and help students. Workload is a lot but not too hard. If you do all the homework the right way and not cheat you'll do well on the tests.
Great professor! She is hilarious, understanding an amazing teacher! She makes chemistry interesting and easy to understand.
Dr. Barnes was an amazing professor in Chemistry. Participation is measured through clickers and is added towards the end of the year. Class is test heavy so study hard. She is always willing to help outside of class and truly wants you to succeed. Explained things well and held review session days.
I loved Dr. Barnes. She was funny and she had great lectures. She explained things well and always went back a slide if you spoke out and asked in lecture. I really enjoyed her class.
Such a kind and caring professor! She does a great job getting through the material and helping students understand it. Very helpful to attend lectures and pay attention.
Prof. Barnes is a caring teacher who explains things clearly. The class is challenging, but she's always willing to help. unstuckstudy and the textbook were super useful for studying. Attend lectures, do the homework, and you'll do well.
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Attendance Mandatory
91%
Textbook Required
43%
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