how to make a course syllabus

by Lucius Reilly 10 min read

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

What is a course syllabus template?

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.

How to get started with writing 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

Why do you need a syllabus for your course?

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.

How do I create a syllabus for a canvas course?

Incorporating some creativity into your syllabus design can help make your syllabus more visually compelling and interesting. Simple steps like adding color, varying headings, and incorporating images or graphics (think infographics) go a long way toward creating a more interesting and creative syllabus, one that students are more likely to read and remember.

What should be included in a syllabus?

Your syllabus, at minimum, should include: Basic information about the subject (title, subject number, meeting time and place, credit hours, etc.) Contact information for instructional staff and office hour time and location. Subject description.

What is a syllabus?

A syllabus is often perceived as a “contract” between students and the instructor. Despite this not being a legal reality (Runmore, 2016), students will consult the syllabus for information about attendance, late assignments, technology, and other policies. In addition to communicating policies, a strong syllabus also communicates ...

Why is a syllabus important?

A good syllabus motivates student engagement by welcoming students to the classroom with a friendly tone and can build student self-efficacy by transparently communicating how to succeed. Structural. A good syllabus provides structure to course content and guides the work of both instructors and students in the class. Evidentiary.

What is the purpose of a syllabus?

A syllabus can serve several functions beyond outlining the grading procedure and the topics to be covered. Slattery and Carlson (2005) identify 3 different kinds of goal that a syllabus can have: Motivational. A good syllabus motivates student engagement by welcoming students to the classroom with a friendly tone and can build student ...

What is a syllabus review?

Review your syllabus (or ask a colleague to review it) for moments where you may invoke a “hidden curriculum” or a norm of higher education that may not be fully understood by all students, particularly first-generation college students or students from traditionally excluded groups.

What are the challenges students face?

As a student, you may experience a range of challenges that can interfere with learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, substance use, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation.

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.

How to write a syllabus?

Knowing this, consider using plain language in your syllabus—keeping in mind the following best-practices: 1 Organize information from most important to least important 2 Keep sentences and paragraphs short and easily scannable 3 Use common phrases over discipline-specific jargon whenever possible 4 Keep acronyms and “letter soup” to a minimum 5 Define uncommon terms 6 Use lists, tables and headings for easy navigation

Why is a college syllabus important?

With a comprehensive syllabus, you can provide all the necessary information students need to for your class —while making a positive impression on them that sets the tone for the term.

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What to Include in Your Syllabus

  • A syllabus can serve several functions beyond outlining the grading procedure and the topics to be covered. Slattery and Carlson (2005) identify 3 different kinds of goal that a syllabus can have: 1. Motivational. A good syllabus motivates student engagement by welcoming students to the classroom with a friendly tone and can build student self-efficacy by transparently communicati…
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How to Communicate Inclusive Norms

  • A key requirement for student motivation is to foster a supportive classroom climate (including fostering a growth mindset and academic belonging). Communicating inclusive norms in your subject begins with the syllabus. Many of the guidelines given above to make a syllabus more learner-centered will also make it more inclusive. In general, write your syllabus with a friendly to…
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Subject and Institute Policies

  • We recommend that policies and procedures be explicitly stated on the syllabi for the subjects that you teach. For example, you might include language in your syllabus that clarifies: 1. Homework submission guidelines (including policies for late work) 2. Expectations for attendance and participation 3. Permitted technology use 4. Permitted collaboration 5. Expectations for aca…
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Additional Resources

  • Syllabus examples 1. Nuclear Systems Design Project(22.033/22.33) 2. Thermodynamics of Materials, Brown Inclusion By Design: Survey Your Syllabus and Course Design(a worksheet) Syllabus Checklist
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References

  • Ambrose, S. A., Bridges, W. B., DiPietro, M., Lovett, M. C., & Norman, M. K. (2010) How learning works: seven research-based principles for smart teaching.Jossey-Bass. Hanish, R. J. & Bridges, K. R. (2011) Effect of syllabus tone: students’ perceptions of instructor and course. Social Psychology of Education: An International Journal, 14(3), 319–330. Richmond, A. S., Slattery, J. …
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