Awesome teacher. Just a warning, you absolutely want a financial calculator for this class. Doing everything algebraically is horrific.

Always willing to help out. Her lectures are usually pretty fast paced but if you ask questions about the homework she will go through each problem step by step. Very helpful.

I loved the class, it had great information for life. The professor really took interest in our lives and I thought she was amazing!

Professor Barnes is a super sweet and fun teacher to have! She is always there for her students and wants them to do well.

She's really good and tells lots of good stories. She shows lots of ways to be smart about money and investing. But she moves through the power points pretty quick so you have to really pay attention.

Lauren Barnes was so fun, and sweet. Very great teacher, and supportive with help and questions.

Helpful class, not her specialty because she is a Marriage and Family Relations person, but she did a good enough job . I like her as a teacher for sure.

If you go to the lectures and pay attention, the class is very doable! Professor Barnes goes over so many practice problems in class and they're really helpful. The TA lab is great and helps with homework. Overall, a very clear-cut, manageable and useful class.

Dr. Barnes truly cares about her students and she explains the material clearly.

Dr Barnes does a great job of teaching complex and not very entertaining subject matter in a way that is (sort of) fun and easy to understand. She does a really good job of explaining and re-explaining if necessary.

Dr. Barnes is seriously awesome!! She is funny and witty and makes this class interesting and fun! It really is an easy class if you just do the work and pay attention to the lectures! Really useful class learned a lot of important information I will definitely use in the future!

She is awesome!

This was a really useful class. I just got married and learning about great ways to deal with our money helped a lot. Dr. Barnes is a family therapist and even though she's not an expert in the field, she does know her stuff and keeps class exciting. It was pretty easy, and if you go to the TA lab, they'll help you get 100% on every homework.

Dr. Barnes is one of the nicest, and most interesting teachers I have had at BYU. I didn't do well on the tests, but primarily because I couldn't memorize all the formulas. She is always jolly and her lectures are super interesting. The class is also not very difficult if you put the effort in.

Everyone should take SFL260 hands down. You need this class so you can handle your financial future. Professor Barnes is really sweet and makes lectures worth attending. She makes even some of the more-dry sections intriguing.

You need to take SFL 260 or some other finance class. It helps so much. Professor Barnes is sweet and has a way of making even the dry material more interesting!

She's an excellent teacher hands down. The class it's self has a lot of content to go over but she does a great job of explaining it. she's probably one of the only teachers that seems to care about how you do and wants you to succeed. overall good class, great teacher.

Grading is lenient but must put forth an effort. Weekly assignments due plus several projects. Textbook is required for this class.

If you wanna learn how to be a good therapist, take another professor. If you wanna be a great therapist, take Lauren

Lauren's is one of my favorite professors. She is practical in the way she teaches and tests, which means we learn in a way we can really use. While some classes feel slow and wasteful, Lauren incorporates activities that help us learn and keep us entertained!

She cares deeply about her students and wants them to succeed.

This class is as fun as you make it since it requires presentations and group participation. Lauren does an amazing job at teaching relevant information and making the lectures interesting and engaging.

three of us, that are not part of the MFT program, entered the class. Lauren had done what she could to help make the material as relevant as she could. she understood that MFT has something to offer the Military Chaplaincy and desired to insure that we were familiar with the basic concepts that could best apply in our unique field.

Lauren is a great teacher!

She is a great professor. She is very helpful and she focuses on the most important information for the students to understand. She is willing to help you with whatever you need and seems to really care about her students. There isn't busy work and the assignments given are helpful to understanding the material.

This class was so helpful! The teaching format was that each week a student taught part of the class. This made the class fun, interesting, and informational the entire semester. The expectations for the class were clear and appropriate for the course level. I would take this class again.

This is a good class because it will help you understand more about theoretical concepts related to marriage and family therapy. This class will help prepare you for the licensing exam after you graduate. You should expect a presentation in this class, as well as a paper every week and readings.

Lauren is one of the most helpful faculty I know. She clearly has student's best interest in mind and works hard to provide good opportunities for learning.

Lauren Barnes is a fantastic teacher! She takes time to help with the math and make sure you understand the material. She genuinely cares about the students and inspires deeper learning. She is good with grades and is very respectful. Tests are based on math and lecture. Read the book and enjoy learning info that will help you for life!

Dr. Barnes is an incredibly helpful teacher. She is very reasonable and is often helpful if you missed an assignment. She is always willing to help and does her best to make the tests reasonable, even though they can be difficult. I would take more classes from her.

Dr. Barnes has been so very helpful this semester in our Family Finance course. she is able to explain topics very well. she is also very personable and makes sure we have a good time. it is obvious to see that she is always doing her best to help us do better and learn more.

Sister Barnes is an awesome teacher! I really loved this class so much! It isn't hard and I learned so much! I recommend this class to everyone! I assume that every class that She teaches will be a great class because she really cares about her students and wants them to succeed. The tests and quizzes are not hard and not time consuming.

Dr. Barnes cares about her students. Not only does she provide many extra credit opportunities to help keep her students' grades up, but she helps her students feel like they completely understood the material. She tells great, relatable, real-life stories in class and everything you learn in class is extremely valuable. Dr. Barnes is amazing!

Dr. Barnes is a wonderful teacher. She is quite knowledgable and teaches you as much as she knows. She respects her students and wants them to do well. She gives students MANY opportunities to help their grade and encourages them to learn. Sometimes seems casual with tests and the course material. Killed the first test got a C on the 2nd test.

Take SFL 260 from Professor Barnes. Teaches the math in class and doesn't give too many assignments.

I thought Dr. Barnes was a great professor! I felt like I learned a lot, and you could tell that she really wants to help her students succeed - not just in the class but in life in general. It was a great experience!

Dr. Barnes is awesome and she's an open book. Seems much easier and applicable than a personal finance class. A few projects, only 2 tests and the final. Weekly online quizzes are good math practice. Buy a financial calculator during the first day or two! She says tests aren't hard but you have to memorize small details from the slides.

It was a really interesting class and Dr. Barnes did an excellent job of getting her point across. The math can get a bit tedious and it is really helpful to come to class. She is really good at explaining things and it is ok to ask questions for clarification. She wants that. I recommend it because I learned a lot of practical life skills.

Loved this class! Extremely valuable knowledge and lifelong application. Dr. Barnes is young, fun, and makes class a great learning environment. The course is a finance class and does require math and a financial calculator is super helpful. Tests were not difficult if you practice the math in weekly assignments and review the slides beforehand.

I loved this class, I learned about a lot of useful things for my future. She's an awesome professor!

Dr. Barnes is awesome! Finance is not her main focus as a professor, so she really knows how to help you understand the material and how to apply it, even if you're not financially-savvy. She's also way funny and spunky, and the workload is super manageable. I think all BYU students should take this class!

Professor Barnes was amazing! She is really interested in helping you understand the concept and is excellent at giving real life scenarios and applications. I learned a lot of great money managing skills in this class which I will definitely use for the rest of my life.

I think she's a really great professor who does truly care about the students and whether they learn. She knows a lot about family issues, but sometimes I felt like she didn't teach the math of the financial problems as clearly. The only thing I didn't really like about the class was the lecture slides every one was a long list to memorize.

I greatly enjoyed this class. I found it to be very helpful beyond just a class you take and Dr. Barnes did a great job of teaching and taking the time to make sure students understood what she was saying. The book was useless in my opinion (I never used it, just looked at her power points and they were enough). She has your best interests in mind.

Great class and really gets you prepared for life. Learn everything from investing, car loans, buying a house...

Dr. Barnes is awesome! She is good at what she does (MFT), and yet sees importance in other aspects of education, such as Family Finance. I don't think I've had another professor that goes more out of their way to help students with both the content of the class as well general balance in life. She's kind, helpful, and her class is low stress.

Lauren Barnes is a great teacher and a great all-around human. She is so approachable, which is really nice in a class where questions come up regularly. The only critique I have of the class is that much of the information is pretty basic. It's really great if you have little knowledge of finances, but might be too basic for upper classmen.

Dr Barnes made the family finance class so much fun! There is some math, but as long as you get the financial calculator it's not bad at all. Tests are reasonable. Projects are practical and not too difficult. It's a small class, so we could go over math problems and ask lots of questions. I would definitely reccommend taking this class from her.

I loved this class!! I didn't have any background on finance but felt like Dr. Barnes taught clearly. It's an easy A but you learn things that you'll use for the rest of your life. Make sure to go to class, she says some things in class that aren't on the slides but on the test. Overall, I loved Dr. Barnes and family finance!!

Dr. Barnes gives out plenty of extra credits, so you can easily get an A as long as you study for the two midterms and the final. Learning how to use a financial calculator is such a bless to my life, because I can now find out if an investment is good for my family. She is not going to teach SFL 260 next year, but take a class from her when you ca

Most practical class you will ever take in your life! Can apply immediately to your life. A must take kind of class!

She is very willing to help and her class is overall pretty easy. Stay on top of things and you'll be just find.

This was a great class. Dr. Barnes was very helpful. I could tell she wanted the class to succeed.

I really liked this class. It was a lot of reading when i took it, but we were also the first time she taught SFL 354 and she said she would decrease the reading in the future. The class seems a bit overwhelming when you start but it is TOTALLY doable! the lectures and class discussion was AMAZING!

An excellent professor and an excellent class. This class was loosely structured to allow for a lot of class discussion, which I love. Dr. Barnes is fair and definitely approachable. Prepare yourself for a lot of reading, but I felt that everything we read was worth my while. I would definitely take another class from Lauren.P

Need to be in class for the pop quizzes and reflections. I liked the class but I did feel the organization was all over the place. She did a good job of following the calendar but once it got to student presentations, that ruined it for me. There were no long class discussions, just listening to a month or presentations.

Professor Barnes is the most amazing and inspired professor I have ever had. The discussions we had in class were hard and uplifting and really made you think. The guest speakers are amazing. the class isn't structured as a normal class, there is tons of discussion and the learning is a lot deeper than any class I've taken before. TAKE THIS CLASS

Professor Barnes has definitely has been one of my favorite professors. She is very understanding and willing to work with you. There is lots of class discussion. There was a lot of reading in this class and papers. Professor Barnes organization wasn't the greatest, but it was her first semester teaching this class. Overall great teacher!

Dr. Barnes is the sweetest! You can tell she really cares about her students. There are a lot of thought-provoking discussions. You have to present in front of the class a lot, so this might not be the best class if you're afraid of public speaking.

Dr. Barnes is amazing. She makes you think and promotes great open discussions during class. There's a TON of reading and multiple presentations throughout this course. There's a lot of work, but it's all beneficial to your learning, This class really changes you and makes you want to be a better person.

Amazing amazing class! Dr. Barnes is still working out kinks, but she was willing to change things mid-semester to make sure we felt like we were having good discussions. Would highly recommend. Exams were a bit challenging, it was hard knowing what exactly to expect. Classes were thought provoking and challenged my personal stereotypes of others.

Dr. Barnes is a really great professor, but this was her first semester teaching so she wanted to do more than we actually had time for. There was literally hundreds of pages of reading and it was hard to know exactly what to get out of it. She makes you work for an A but overall it was enjoyable.

Lauren is a wonderful teacher who will push you to think. She tries to help people see a more rounded perspective of an issue.

Great class! Lots of student participation and presentations. Lauren assigns a lot of readings but most of them are interesting. I love classes that involve loads of self-reflection and this was definitely one of them.

Awesome!!! I honestly looked forward to going to class. It was super easy-just participate and do the readings and you'll get an A! Plus I actually gained a lot of real life knowledge.

This class had so much potential. Dr. Barnes is funny and thought-provoking. The organization was kind of a disaster, and the test questions require an overwhelmingly detailed knowledge of the readings. It was a good class to push our boundaries, though it's probably the most social-justice-warrior-esque class I've had at BYU. #whiteprivilege

okay FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE professor ever. TAKE CLASSES FROM HER IF YOU COULD BE SO LUCKY. She's awesome. I'm totally trying to go to grad school partially just to take more classes from her. I would recommend this class to everyone and anyone so...

She is a phenomenal teacher that cares about her students and is always trying to help us learn in the best possible way. She teaches in a way that helps me apply these things to my life and to adopt them into who I am.

Dr. Barnes is great! For this class we basically just had discussions every day about different cultures, race, and gender issues; no structured lectures. She really opens your mind and helps you view others better and in a different light. There are a lot of readings, but she herself even says that you only need to skim them ;)

Dr. Barnes is one of the most genuine, enjoyable, and interesting professors I have had at BYU. It's easy to feel how much she truly loves her job and values her students. I loved the class discussions we had. It always felt like a very safe place to express your honest opinions. She is very validating and understanding. Take her class if you can!

This class is very eye-opening. I really appreciated it. Some of the readings are long and dull. Unfortunately, I did not feel that the mid-term reflected my knowledge of the readings. Essays are thought-provoking and short. I would take this class again.

You can not go wrong with Professor Barnes for SFL 354 class. It's called, "Cross-culture Fam. & Hum Dev. She is awesome!! Get ready for some reading! they are long but they are worth the read and it's something you can relate. The discussions are eye-opening so I would advise you to attend class. Take the class, you won't regret it.

Dr. Barnes is wonderful! She is such an intelligent, loving, and kind woman. She's one of the best professors I have ever had. I love hearing her life experiences and hearing from other students during class discussion. I have become a better person because of her class. The readings can be long, but they're worth it. Take this class!

Honestly, Dr. Barnes is AMAZING and her class is AMAZING. I have never loved a class more, it has changed my life. I wish every class at BYU was like this. The papers we write are very reflective and helpful. The class discussions are so insightful. I ALWAYS look forward to going to her class!! Take this class and take it from her!

Incredible class. You do have occasional quizzes on the readings and the readings can be long, but they are good. The overall vibe of the class is just great and all controversial topics are discussed with care. Class discussions are the best. Dr. Barnes is amazing!

She makes you think outside the box. Lots of great class discussions. Real life applications of the material.

She is great! Lectures include fun video clips, class activities, guest speakers, and class discussions regarding controversial topics. Course material is a bit disorganized and readings are long, but I think she is working on improving those factors. Tests can be difficult but if you stay on top of readings and take notes, you will do well!

Probably my favorite class all semester. So amazing. Loved the discussions in class, really widened my perspective. Never felt like there was busy work. I don't feel like the course material was disorganized at all. Only a couple of the readings are long, but someone provides a summary which is super manageable. Take this class from Barnes!

Definitely one of my favorite classes I've ever taken at BYU. Through class discussion and participation, Lauren really created a safe environment to share thoughts and be vulnerable with each other. The class goes through a lot of controversial issues, and allows everyone to have a voice. This class may just change your life!

Dr. Barnes is the best professor I have ever had! The class is discussion and presentation heavy, which I actually loved. If you want to have an incredible experience at BYU, take this class. So good. There is a lot of reading, but don't be afraid of it.

Dr. Barnes is my favorite professor I have ever had. She was very respectful and honestly cared about her students. The lectures were amazing and focused a lot on group discussion, but no comment was stupid or inappropriate. There were also several small assignments that helped to understand the material better. I will honestly miss this class.

I highly recommend this class, especially for those going into a clinical field. Dr. Barnes is also an LMFT and adds a therapy and emotion-based focus to her lecture that challenges you to grow as an individual. TA is excellent and holds amazing reviews!

She is an amazing individual who truly cares about her students. The class discussions were amazing. She created an environment where we could open up, and discuss all sorts of difficult issues that have to do with different cultures. I absolutely loved the class and learned so much. This is one of the few classes that have changed me.

This class was my favorite class I have taken at BYU. Lauren creates a safe place to talk about some of the most controversial/taboo topics in family development. There are multiple short papers that are manageable and fair. Tests are based on readings but if you come to class you will do fine. Lauren is awesome and don't take it from anyone else!

She has lots of interesting class discussions that make you more culturally aware. She is great at making it a safe space in class to talk about controversial stuff without putting you in the hot seat. Really caring and personable but still professional. I would definitely take another class from Dr. Barnes!

She's so caring! She has a gift for being able to address difficult topics in a non-offensive way by creating a caring environment that welcomes all ideas. She really cares so much about students and listens to all opinions. It has been such an enlightening and character building course. Be sure to read syllabus so as to not miss any assignments :/

She is an excellent professor and leads very though provoking discussions.

Dr. Barnes class is incredible! She cares so much about her students and the lectures are amazing! Her TAs grade tough but you can do well in the class for sure.

Dr. Barnes is amazing! I learned so much about how to be more respectful and aware of others in terms of culture. There are 6 papers, a final presentation/paper, and 2 tests. The papers weren't hard if you worked with the TA. Everything you do helps enlighten your mind and open your eyes to real issues. LOVED class! (Guest speakers were inspiring)

LOVE Dr. Barnes. Lots of discussion, and you actually use the readings in class! Several papers, but they're nice and short. I have learned so much that is actually useful, and this is finally a class that allows you to really think and form opinions for yourself. Her class was a safe environment to ask questions you couldn't ask anywhere else.

Dr. Barnes is very smart and kind! The discussions in this class feel safe and really make you reflect. This is a reading heavy course and there are quite a few short papers due. The topics we cover definitely mold you into a more sensitive and aware person. The tests can be tricky, but it is still possible to do well in the class. The TA is great!

Dr. Barnes made this a really good class. I could tell that this was a topic that she cared about and she did a good job teaching. She was good at including activities, videos and interesting discussion questions for class involvement. The many papers could be tiring, though they weren't too long. Also go to the test reviews, they're very helpful.

I absolutely LOVED Professor Barnes because she keeps things real and helps you open up and get outside of your comfort zone so that you can easily participate in class discussion. She also focuses a lot on stretching your character so that you can apply what you learn in class into the real world. :)

Dr. Barnes is INCREDIBLE. She makes her class a safe place to learn and participate in! It was very easy to be open and participate in her class. The homework work load isn't terrible, there are a couple of papers throughout the course. However, the tests are all based off of readings and class discussions so it's important you come to class!

Lauren Barnes is an awesome professor. She is a therapist, so she's really open and really great at validating students and creating an open environment for class discussions. This class really opens your eyes and leaves you inspired. There are a few papers with somewhat unclear instructions, but Dr. Barnes and her TA are always happy to answer ?'s

Lauren Barnes is an incredible teacher. This class was more than a check box for credit, rather she made it something that changes lives. She is caring and created a safe environment to explore hard topics together. The class does have a lot of papers so be ready for that.

Dr. Barnes is such a fun professor, and makes her students feel like individuals as opposed to a classroom full of students. She is very good at answering specific questions and creates a safe environment amongst her students. There is a lot of reading, but there are only two tests and the rest feels like life learning applicable to make you better

No textbook. She is excellent at helping you understand other's experiences. I think she has a little bit of personal bias but she will love you and tries to help the class. She has no problem talking about difficult subjects to help students. Overall, she is an excellent professor and I recommend taking a class from her.

Dr. Barnes is a marriage and family therapist and professor. Her teaching style mirrors therapy in a way in that she seeks to provide experiences that encourage growth. All the readings are online via library/learning suite access as of Fall 2018. The papers are graded pretty toughly. Work with the TA to get help/guidance.

Dr. Barnes is great at tackling tough subjects with sensitivity and care. This class makes you think about and confront taboo topics, try to figure out where you stand on the issue, and then look at it from all perspectives. You will get so much more out of the class if you put in the effort, do the readings, and make yourself vulnerable.

IN CLASS: Discussion based. Lots of videos. Student presentations. Participation matters. Feels a lot like Relief Society.. AT HOME: Lots of reading. Lots of papers. A few projects... GRADING: Vague rubrics for papers. Never sure what will be tested on. . Disclaimer: this review was written for extra credit.

I love Dr. Barnes! Some people dont think she cares about the students but that is false. If you show that you care about the classshe will care about you and give extra credit. If you dont go, or dont participate in class discussionsshe doesnt go out of her way to help you. Its pretty simple. Go to class, participate, and you will do great.

In Dr. Barne's class you will dive deep into your family of origin and cultural background as well as that of others. The class is heavily discussion based and Dr. Barnes is very successful in creating an open environment for anyone to share their thoughts and feelings on difficult topics. Grades are determined by test, several essays, and quizzes.

Pros: class each day is largely discussion based and its nice to hear other students opinions. You learn a lot about cultural issues and Dr. Barnes is super awesome! Cons: reading is INTENSE, plan on spending at least 1.5-2 hours each day. There are a lot of papers that are graded very vaguely and it takes a long time for them to be graded.

Dr. Barnes is amazing. Here's the thing, the subject matter of SFL 354 is really challenging in the sense that you are pushed on what you think and believe a lot- and she manages that tricky terrain so well. I learned so much in this class. From an organizational perspective it's a little tricky, but Dr. Barnes is willing to work with you.

Dr. Barnes cares a lot about the individual students. Concepts were taught clearly and questions were welcomed. She expects participation in lectures and really listens to comments that are made. There are several papers and a lot of reading. The rubrics for the papers were vague so be sure to send the TA an email with any questions you have.

Dr. Barnes is so fun and kind and really cares about us as students. We had a lot of readings but they were all relevant. There are a lot of small(er) assignments, which is actually really nice. Just make sure you follow the syllabus for papers exactly, as it remains the same and the small points add up. Would definitely take again!

She is great!! The class is pretty much all discussion based-- you have to read a lot, but every bit of literature is really interesting and gives you great perspective on the world and other cultures. This class really helps you discover your own identity and culture!

Dr. Barnes is a HOMIE! She just loves what she teaches, so if you go into it with a desire to learn--you are going to love it. Quizzes and tests are based on readings and discussions. If you go to class you will be just fine! Quite a few papers and assignments but they spread out throughout the semester and not too difficult. Take her class :)

The class was great and helped me grow in my understanding and character. The rubrics for the papers were pretty vague and they were graded fairly harshly so make sure you understand what is expected. Class was discussion based, which helped us learn a lot, but made it hard to study for tests.

This professor is amazing! Lectures are discussion heavy about readings. The papers we wrote were thought provoking and, at times, life-changing. The TA is really good at helping with papers (a little necessary to get help with!) This class was phenomenal! Definitely take it if you want to widen your horizon and understand people better!

Dr. Barnes is sweet, respectful, and a great professor! There are some really deep topics covered in this class, but I feel like I walked away being so much more well-rounded and with a whole new perspective of the world. There are lots of assignments, but they aren't too hard and some are actually fun to do. Such a great class and professor!

Dr. Barnes really knows her stuff and cares about her students. You discuss some really great things in this class and voicing your opinion is important. Her papers and rubrics are a bit vague and graded tough so make sure you talk to the ta for clarification. Overall I learned a lot in her class though and enjoyed it.

Dr. Barnes is an awesome professor. I really enjoyed the discussions in class and looked forward to going to class! There are some heavy topics in this class, but it offers a great opportunity for self reflection. I would definitely recommend taking this class from her - she is so great!! There are several papers, but most are only 2-4 pages.

There were MANY readings, but I have learned so much about myself through learning about and caring for other cultures that it was worth it! Professor Barnes is amazing and provided a safe place for us to discuss our thoughts on important (sometimes touchy) subjects. I would love to take more classes from her!

Great teacher with great discussions in class. This class will help you reexamine cultural and racial biases or preconceptions you may have. Really cool. However, this class also comes with a lot of reading and a vague assignment rubric. As long as you're aware of those, you'll be fine. There weren't any reading quizzes or check when I took it. :)

Dr. Barnes has good intentions for the class, but it was much tougher than it should've been. There are so many readings you need to know for the tests. The grading criteria is pretty unclear, making it tough to get a good grade. Overall, the class was fine and the discussions were mostly interesting, but get ready for lots of papers and reading!

I loved taking this class from Dr. Barnes. She is a great mediator during the discussions and encourages her students to ask questions. Yes, there's quite a bit of readings to complete and the papers can be a bit much, but for a 300 level course it was to be expected. I wish I could take more classes from Dr. Barnes!

Dr. Barnes is seriously so awesome! The class is tough. You have to work for the grade, but it is totally worth it. I have gained such a greater perspective on life and on the interactions I have with others. I feel like the things she taught me will actually help me in real life, instead of just spitting out memorized info on a test.

I love Dr. Barnes! I've taken more than one class from her and she is seriously amazing. Although this class is a little bit tough and makes you work, Dr. Barnes is so willing to work with you to make sure you can be successful. The lectures are inspiring and focus not only on helping me learn more, but become a better person. Take this class!

Love love love Dr. Barnes! She genuinely cares about her students, and her primary goal is to help them change and be a better, more understanding influence in the world. Toooons of reading, but it's good stuff and you can honestly get away with skimming it. Papers are graded at an MFT level but rubric is straight-forward. Take this class from her!

She is the best. So nice, so understanding. YOU WILL LEARN SO MUCH IN THIS CLASS and wonder how you went about your life NOT knowing this stuff before you took the class. It's really discussion based. There's a lot of reading. This is the best class I have ever taken at BYU

Dr. Barnes is incredible! I loved taking SFL 354 from her. This class is very eye-opening. You'll discuss a lot of very hard topics, and sometimes class can be very difficult because of this. However, Dr. Barnes is wonderful and really helps you process your emotions! There's a lot of outside work, but there are some interesting assignments!

This class changed my life. The material was intense/heavy but Dr. Barnes was able to help us through it. This is one of the most impactful classes I have taken at BYU. There were a lot of readings but they were incredibly interesting and important to the subject. I definitely recommend Dr. Barnes.

Professor Barnes was the best professor I have had! She did such an incredible job at teaching the SFL 354 class and helped me open my mind and see things in a different way. I completely recommend everyone to take a class from her if they could!

Dr. Barnes is the most compassionate, caring, loving teacher I've ever had! She has an amazing skill for teaching tough concepts. She encourages discussion and makes you feel like your thoughts matter. Fairly easy grader on papers/projects, but the quizzes and tests are pretty tough. Highly recommend still!

This class quickly became one of my favorite classes I have taken at BYU thus far. The class content is amazing and impactful. It makes you think and truly takes humility to see perspectives other than your own. Lauren does an incredible job at engaging students in this class and making it fun and interesting! Take this class!!

Dr. Barnes is one of the best, most caring professors I've ever had. You learn a LOT but with little to no busy-work. She is very flexible and accessible outside of class. Midterms are the toughest part because they are memorization questions from obscure readings, but everything else is graded pretty lightly. HIGHLY recommend Dr. Barnes!!

Dr. Barnes is a very kind person and makes class fun. The syllabus is overwhelming because there are too many assignments and readings in the class, but she and the TAs are lenient graders. The exams are a little hard to prepare for because there is a lot of content and it is unclear what we are going to be tested on, but I did fine on them.

The nature of this class was at times uncomfortable but Lauren was amazing at making sure everyone felt heard and understood. She lectured very passionately and you could tell she was very knowledgeable and cared about the topic. There was a lot of busywork, but it was easy to get a good grade as long as you completed it. She was very accomodating.

Great and thoughtful professor, she really cares about her students. Lots of insecure students may get uncomfortable with content as tough as this but Dr. Barnes makes it easy to learn and adapt to.

Dr. Barnes was the most phenomenal professor. She taught with such grace and professionalism. This class is one that I feel should be a requirement for every student to take before graduating. The empathy for others that Dr. Barnes shares is tangible and I would highly recommend this class. I learned so much about different cultures. Sign up!

Dr. Barnes is a gem; I LOVED taking SFL 354 from her! There are challenging, sometimes uncomfortable topics covered, yet she taught with respect, humility, and grace that made class enjoyable and very educational. She's so genuine, down-to-earth, and fun. You'll learn a lot, write several papers, but just stay on top of things and you'll do great.

Best class EVER for SFL majors. She only teaches during Winter semester so seriously wait to take the class with her if you can. The class is so insightful and amazing. You will learn so much about yourself and the class material.

Dr. Barnes is a great teacher and really helps you see things in a different light. This class was super good for me in becoming more open-minded and compassionate toward others and their struggles! She is very easy to work with and understanding, and passionate about what she teaches! Definitely recommend this class :)

Professor Barnes is so loving and caring. She is more than willing to help and to encourage her students to grow in their empathy and love for others. There is a lot of reading for class but they're generally interesting!

Dr. Barnes is an incredible teacher! She is very knowledgeable in her field of study and always willing to learn with her students. She facilitates great discussions in class and the readings are applicable to class and life in general. The tests are pretty specific so there is a lot of studying for the test but overall I really loved the class!

Dr. Barnes does a great job of creating a unique learning environment. You discuss hard topics but it's all handled with respect. There are in-class quizzes so be aware of those and the tests are hard. The test material comes both from readings and class slides, but the slides are posted and the TAs hold incredibly helpful reviews!

Dr. Barnes is great. There is a lot of reading for the class, but lots of it is very interesting. We had some really great class discussions and Dr. Barnes leads them in a kind, open, and loving way. I didn't feel embarrassed to share my honest thoughts. The reading summaries waste class time though and the class could do without.

Dr. Barnes was such an amazing professor! She is so good at letting everyone share their opinions and took a very neutral stance. She made it a safe space. We talked about a lot of hard and current things going on in the world and it was brought to pass in such a beautiful way, it brought me to tears often! Totally recommend her class!

Dr. Barnes easily became my favorite professor this semester! She is SO kind and understanding, which helped us always have a safe class environment to discuss/share our opinions and experiences. This class helped me become more open-minded, empathetic, and aware of other cultures and their people, and the assignments honestly weren't too bad.

Dr. Barnes is a great professor. The content of the class wasn't too challenging to learn and remember, but you have to put in a lot of work for this class. There is a reading reflection due for every reading, so there's no skipping readings like with most classes. Dr. Barnes had great lectures and really promoted class discussion.

Professor Barnes creates a welcoming and thoughtful classroom environment. The readings can be heavy, but engaging discussions and helpful TAs make up for it. Unstuck AI was great for prepping for the challenging tests.

Dr Barnes usually teaches graduate students but she did so well with our freshman class! She was funny and kept us engaged and interested despite the redundant curriculum (she didn't get to pick the curriculum). She is genuinely so nice plus she'd bring us treats every once in a while. She was flexible with deadlines and easy to contact.

Professor Barnes is AMAZING! Her lectures were incredible, and I learned a lot from the people that she invited to speak to us. Her assignments were all applicable, and the test was harder than expected, but not terrible. Overall, loved this class.

She is funny and nice, and things were easy points except for the papers (graded harshly but may depend on T.A.). Do the readings, but get the main ideas for quizzes (they're rare). Take lots of notes for it can help for the test, but it wasn't super hard. Remember when things are due, she doesn't remind you.

Dr. Barnes does an incredible job integrating academic resources on topics with real human perspectives. She emphasizes discussion & participation in class, so that's how you really get the most out of it. It can be hard to know what she expects you to know for tests, so you just have to be willing to ask your questions & seek clarification.

You can tell Dr. Barnes is a therapist. It kind of reminds me of a religion course. Lots of discussion about reflection, reaction, and feelings. I sometimes wish we would talk more about research but overall it was a great class because it really changed the way I think. I feel like I am a better person because of this course!

This class is one everyone should take. Dr. Barnes gives meaningful readings and short papers! The class is front heavy so it eases out during finals which was soo nice. Lots of introspective work and emotional weight in the class but I learned and grew more than I ever thought possible!! Dr. Barnes does a great job of making sure that's the case.

This is a very lecture based class. Students participate through presentations. The material is interesting - I didn't find the lectures super engaging though! Mrs. Barnes is very kind!