Psychology · Columbia University
Worksheets and assignments are not difficult at all and the grading is pretty fair.
She goes over the content very thoroughly in class, although it is sometimes hard to keep up with her pace. The tests pretty much reflect what is on the slides. She may come off as rude or blunt sometimes, but I really don't think she means that in a bad way.
The workload was totally fair. We had homework twice a week, and a hands-on every other week or less. One midterm and one final. This workload made sense for the class and was manageable.
Professor Komissarouk is awesome! At first she may seem strict and harsh at times, but as the semester progressed and I got to know her more I realized she is very kind and caring. She is always available for office hours by appointment, and answers any questions we have. She truly wants us to succeed and is passionate about her teaching role. At the end of the semester, she even offered to give us all an extra point on our final for submitting the course review. She is a great professor, and I am glad that I took her class.
The workload is not crazy. There are seven Hands-On assignments and some in-class worksheets, and all of them are extremely useful. The exams are open-note, and attendance is taken. The TA, Adela, is also very kind and patient. She responds to emails quickly and always with the best attitude!
What can I say about Professor Komissarouk? At first, she might seem tough and very strict about things like attendance and punctuality. But once you actually get to know her, you realize her heart is one in a million. She is truly one of the most available, caring, and supportive professors at Barnard. During a very sad family situation in my life, she showed me so much empathy and kindness, she was there for me every step of the way. As a teacher, her passion shines in every class. There was never a day when she didn’t encourage us by saying, “Please ask! I’m here for you.” She genuinely means it. She cares deeply about her students, teaches with clarity, offers open-book exams, and designs assignments that actually prepare you for success. Her work isn’t busywork; it is truly helpful. With her, it really comes down to this: Do your work, and you will succeed. She is a GEM. Take her!
1 midterm and 1 final on the last day of class In class worksheets graded for completion 7 hands on assignments due every couple weeks
Svetlana was a solid and engaging lecturer! This class is a prerequisite for psychology majors and thus, some of the material is dry, but its not her fault at all. She always worked in real world examples and was very open to questions and clearly cared about our comprehension of the concepts.