how to develop a course syllabus

1. Start a new document in your word processing software. Word processing software like Microsoft Word is usually the best place to create a syllabus.
2. Put your identification information at the top. The first step in creating your syllabus is to put your identification information at the top of the document.
3. Write a course description. Your course description will describe your course in a way that gives students (and parents) an idea about the general content of your course.
4. Outline the course objectives. Course objectives will give students a sense of what they will accomplish while in the class.
List any prerequisites to the course. Prerequisites are courses, content, or other qualifications a student must have to take the course for credit.
List required materials. You also need to include a list of all of the materials needed for your course.
Include a brief statement about the format and organization of the course. ...

Full Answer

How do I create a syllabus for a course?

Basic course information: This likely comes as no surprise! Typically, the first items on a syllabus will be the course title, number, section, credit hours, meeting times, and location. It is also a good idea to note any prerequisites for the course so that all students are aware of the required preparation, knowledge, and skills for the course.

What information should be included in a syllabus?

To do this, a syllabus should include the following: Basic course information (course by number, section, title, semester, meeting times, days, place, format) Instructor information (name, title, rank, office location, office phone number, e-mail) Description of the course content

What is a traditional course syllabus template?

Consult our Canvas resource: Create a Student-Centered Syllabus. (link is external) to review some recommended best practices for syllabus construction. From the Canvas site, you can import a syllabus template into your own Canvas course or download a Google Doc to customize when constructing your own syllabus.

What is a syllabus and why is it important?

Include the course designator and number (e.g., ENGL 103), the section number, course title, total credit hours, classroom location, course day(s) and meeting times, any related lab or recitation session locations, and course website URL (e.g. https://webcourses.niu.edu – the web address for accessing Blackboard at NIU).

How do I create a course syllabus?

How Do You Create a Syllabus?List your class's name and official course code (if applicable)Fill in basic course information.Create a course goal.Note and describe who you are.Note all needed materials.Create a class calendar.Note any policies that differ from school policies.Note grading systems, scales, and curves.More items...•Oct 1, 2019

What is included in a course syllabus?

A syllabus is your guide to a course and what will be expected of you in the course. Generally it will include course policies, rules and regulations, required texts, and a schedule of assignments.

What are the ways to design an effective syllabus?

Make It Stick: One HBS Professor Shares His Take on Course Development―and His SyllabusStep #1: Determine What You Want the Course to Achieve Overall. ... Step #2: Map Out the Arc of the Course. ... Step #3: Create Links Between Classes, Modules, and Cases. ... Step #4: Balance Technique with Overall Takeaways.More items...•Aug 9, 2019

How is syllabus different from curriculum?

Syllabus is the focused outline of a subject. Therefore, the main difference between curriculum and syllabus is that curriculum is a set of guidelines set out for educators whereas a syllabus is a more descriptive list of concepts that are to be taught in a class.Apr 14, 2016

What are the types of syllabus?

Types of SyllabusFunctional & Notional Syllabi –Concentric syllabus –Cyclic syllabus / Spiral syllabus –Topical syllabus /Unit syllabus –Eclectic syllabus / Mixed syllabus –

What tone is used in a syllabus?

CORVALLIS, Ore. — College course syllabi written in a warm, friendly tone are more likely to encourage students to reach out when they are struggling or need help, a new study from Oregon State University found. Conversely, when a syllabus is written in a more cold, detached tone, students are less likely to reach out.Mar 2, 2021

What is syllabus example?

The definition of a syllabus is a summary of what will be covered in a course of study. An example of a syllabus is what a college professor hands out to his students on the first day of class. A summary of topics which will be covered during an academic course, or a text or lecture.

How to write a syllabus for a course?

Getting Started with Writing a Syllabus 1 Check how your course contributes to your department, program, or graduate field curriculum and learning outcomes. Certain programs may have requirements set by their accrediting organizations (e.g. ABET in Engineering). 2 Review syllabi for the same course from previous instructors. Consider meeting with them to discuss how they have taught the course in the past, what has gone well, and what has been challenging for students to learn. 3 Find out which students typically enroll in this course (year, major) and how many? 4 Search online for sample syllabi for the same or similar courses created by colleagues at other universities. Some disciplinary societies provide online resources for common subjects in introductory courses. 5 This Course Decision Guide can guide you in the process of designing your course.

Why is a syllabus important?

In particular, it: sets the tone for the course. communicates what, when, and how students will learn.

What is a syllabus?

The syllabus is a primary source of information to guide your students throughout the semester. A syllabus should carefully explain course components. Think of the syllabus as a roadmap you and your students can follow throughout the semester as you navigate the course.

What is the purpose of a syllabus?

The goal of a well-designed syllabus is to ensure students understand what is expected of them. Therefore, the syllabus should be easy to read, understand, and follow. Use welcoming and encouraging language and explain what you will do to help students throughout the semester. Most likely, your syllabus will be one of the first substantial means ...

What is a course schedule?

Course Schedule. Many faculty provide a schedule format that clearly lays out the course meeting dates, assignments, readings, exams, and due dates, which can be very useful in helping students plan for the semester. Course schedules also help you stay on task. If you plan to develop a course calendar or schedule, ...

Can you customize a syllabus?

You can customize your syllabus to match your subject and teaching style, but personalizing a syllabus does not mean it shouldn’t be organized and thorough. The order in which the sections are presented here follows many syllabus models but can be arranged to fit your needs.

What to include in a syllabus?

Include things such as due dates, page length/word counts, and samples. If you want to hold onto details until you give an assignment, let students know that in the syllabus to ease their anxieties.

How long is a syllabus?

Developing Your Syllabus. Your syllabus will probably be five to eight pages long. Longer than that is probably overkill; shorter than that, you may miss something important. However, the standards for syllabi vary by discipline, so you may want to see what your colleagues have developed.

How to create a syllabus for a course?

When creating a syllabus for a course, start by first determining what key learnings you want students to take with them at the end of the term. There are two different elements to this:

What is a syllabus?

A syllabus is just the first step in creating a memorable learning experience for students—one that not only underpins your key objectives but that is also interesting and creates the tension necessary for retention . Download my syllabus to further explore these principles and see how this all comes together.

What is the purpose of a syllabus?

Then an arc for the course forms through a series of modules. And then, module by module, a set of topics—a syllabus—is designed. Its primary purpose is to relay a course’s pedagogy.

What is the common mistake professors make in course building?

A common mistake professors make in course building is to skew more heavily toward quantity at the cost of quality. There is so much to cover in MBA courses, sometimes there is a tendency to pack the syllabus. I used to do that. Eventually, I realized that more is not more. Sometimes, less is much more effective.

What happens as you move through the syllabus?

As you move through the syllabus, two things are happening—you’re developing the technical content while keeping pace with the overall takeaways for each case, each module, and the course as a whole.

Who is Suraj Srinivasan?

Suraj Srinivasan is the Philip J. Stomberg Professor in the accounting and management area at Harvard Business School . He is currently the course head for the HBS required course Financial Reporting and Control. He also teaches executives in leadership and corporate governance programs.

The basics

Syllabi are highly personal — some are very short, some are very comprehensive. How you choose to describe your course and assignments is unique to you. However, you may find that when a syllabus is created for an online class, there are areas where you may need to be more explicit that you hadn’t considered before.

Practical tips

Check to see if your department has a standard syllabus for online classes. Consistency in structure can be helpful for online students.

How to prepare for a new course?

Begin the process early , giving yourself as much time as you can to plan a new course. Successful courses require careful planning and continual revision. Consult with colleagues who have taught the same or similar courses to learn from their strategies and their general impressions of the students who typically take the course.

How to define course goals?

When you define the course goals, focus on student learning. One way to formulate these goals is to determine what students should be learning in terms of content, cognitive development, and personal development. Be as specific as you can and make sure that the goals define learning in ways that can be measured.

What is course planning?

Course planning is a continual process, as illustrated by the diagram below. Each of the steps is necessarily undertaken with the others in mind, and each will necessarily undergo revision each time you teach a particular course. As you plan and revise courses, remember the importance of teaching core concepts and critical-thinking skills.

How to teach chemistry?

Teach students problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Demonstrate how chemistry is used in other fields and in everyday situations. Teach students the beauty of chemistry. Determine course content. Select the major topics and determine the order in which you will teach them. Select the main topics to be covered.