what information should a course syllabus contain

According to Syllabus Policy, syllabi are required to include the following elements:

• Professor name (s), office location (s), office hours, and contact information
• Course information (time, place, virtual)
• Course description from catalog (including pre-requisites, co-requisites, and GE areas met)
• All student learning outcomes listed in the approved course proposal
• Additional student learning outcomes from General Education (if it’s a GE course)

Full Answer

What should be included in a syllabus?

This section of the syllabus may be where you send students as a reminder for upcoming group activities or where you refer when students go “inactive.” Some of these guidelines may include: If you include a participation grade in your assessment, outline the parameters for success or any penalties that might come from non-participation.

How does the University use course syllabi?

The University Committee on Courses uses course syllabi in its review of courses. To maximize the usefulness of a syllabus to students and faculty, it is suggested that it contain the following information.

What is the importance of syllabus in teaching?

The syllabus functions as a major communication device that provides details of how student learning will be assessed and about the roles of both student and instructors in the learning and assessment process.— Habanek1 Introduction

Why is it important to have a clear syllabus?

Because students will view the syllabus as a kind of "contract," it is important to be as clear as possible, and to avoid changing major aspects of the syllabus after the first day of class. In deciding what to include in the syllabus, first include all information that students need to have at the beginning of the course.

Why is it important to have a syllabus at the bottom of the syllabus?

What is the most critical element of a syllabus?

What is the most tedious part of an instructor's experience?

About this website

What does a course syllabus provide?

A course syllabus is an academic document that communicates information about a specific course and explains the rules, responsibilities and expectations associated with it. A course syllabus may be set out by an exam board or prepared by the professor who supervises or controls course qualities.

How do you write 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...•

What makes a good syllabus?

The most effective syllabus goes beyond listing the logistics and the topics covered in the course - it (a) articulates the conceptual framework for the course; (b) introduces students to the key questions or problems facing experts in the field; (c) suggests the ways in which an understanding of the course subject ...

What are the four contents of a syllabus overview?

Both face-to-face and online syllabi should include instructor information, course description, course objectives (or course outcomes), course methodology, grading criteria, grade computation and course policies.

What are examples of syllabus?

An example of a syllabus is what a college professor hands out to his students on the first day of class. (law) Brief notes preceding and explaining the decision or points of law in the written report of an adjudged case. A summary of topics which will be covered during an academic course, or a text or lecture.

What is the most important part of a syllabus?

Perhaps most important, your syllabus is the "constitution" of your course; it is a contract that binds both you and your students. It details what you are going to give them and why. It specifies what is expected of them and how you are going to assess their efforts.

What is difference between curriculum and syllabus?

Curriculum contains all the subjects and outlines how they will be studied during the course while syllabus is more detailed version for each subject under the course.

What is the best syllabus?

1. CBSEIn India, it is the most commonly followed syllabus and hence accepted everywhere.Many important exams for higher studies in India is connected to the CBSE syllabus because of its relevance and popularity.More items...•

How do you introduce a syllabus?

Syllabus icebreaker: You can roll exploring the syllabus into an icebreaker activity. For example, you can assign students to become an expert at one portion of the syllabus, then ask them to move through the room, introducing themselves to one another and learning about the syllabus from their classmates.

How do I write a self learning syllabus?

Developing a Personal SyllabusA short description of the area you want to explore (i.e. your course description)A list of what you hope to learn through the exploration (i.e. your learning objectives)A reading and/or resources list that you will use to deepen your knowledge.More items...•

What is difference between curriculum and syllabus?

Curriculum contains all the subjects and outlines how they will be studied during the course while syllabus is more detailed version for each subject under the course.

How do I write a syllabus online?

3:166:04Creating Your Online Course Syllabus - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere. You know course textbook will be neat need to be replaced with your own information how youMoreHere. You know course textbook will be neat need to be replaced with your own information how you grade. Now. You have your own way of grading. And one of the things you want to take a look at is.

How to Make the Best Syllabus Ever | Turnitin

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Steps to a Good Syllabus - University of South Carolina

A primary purpose of a syllabus is to communicate to your students what the course is about, why it is taught, where it is going, and what will be required of the students for them to complete the course with a passing grade.

How do I Create an Effective Syllabus

4 can be valuable to explain to students why you maintain a certain policy so that students don’t perceive it as being merely arbitrary. Here are a few issues that you should consider addressing: o Attendance and/or tardiness.Let students know how you approach attendance and lateness in

Developing an Award Winning Online Course - University of California ...

© Copyright 2016 UC Regents ce.uci.edu 1 Developing an Award‐Winning Online Course EDUC_X987.65 2 Units Winter 2016 Class Meeting Information This course meets ...

Overview

A course syllabus can function like a roadmap for a course, communicating important information like course-level learning outcomes, necessary prerequisites, instructor grading policies, etc. CSU Channel Islands has a Syllabus Policy for required items and recommendations for additional items to be included in course syllabi.

Required Syllabus Items

According to Syllabus Policy, syllabi are required to include the following elements:

Recommended Syllabus Items

A tentative class schedule, so students can plan ahead for assignments and time commitments.

What is a syllabus for a course?

A course syllabus is a document created by instructors to communicate all need-to-know information about how students can be successful in a specific course.

What is a syllabus?

A syllabus isn't a document that you simply review at the start of the semester. It's an essential guide for both you and students throughout the course. Let's dive in.

What are the main principles of syllabus design?

Writing a syllabus that both prepares and excites your students for your course depends on more than just the information you include in it. Factor in how you include that information as well.

What to do in the weeks leading up to the new semester?

You may be researching innovative instructional design trends, organizing your in-person and online classrooms, or conducting research toward your own ongoing educational efforts. And of course, as your curriculum for the new semester is finalized, it's up to you to write a straightforward, detailed syllabus to communicate this information to your incoming students.

What is the purpose of the syllabus document?

This document serves as a single source of truth for the general progression of the course. Both the students and instructors will be expected to complete the objectives set out in the syllabus by the end of the semester.

What is a reasonably detailed calendar?

By reasonably detailed, we mean a calendar that has enough content for students to understand what each week will bring.

Why do you use bullet points in a syllabus?

Incorporate bullet points to break up large blocks of text, left align content , and only bold points that naturally make sense to emphasize to help your students quickly navigate your syllabus and find the information they need.

What should be included in a syllabus?

To do this, a syllabus should include the following: Important dates (e.g., assignment due dates, exam dates, and holidays)

What is a syllabus?

The syllabus as a permanent record. A syllabus should serve accountability and documentation functions. It should document what was covered in a course, at what level, and for what kind of credit. Such a syllabus contains information useful for evaluation of instructors, courses, and programs, and can thus be useful in course equivalency transfer ...

What is a syllabus in college?

A syllabus lets students know what the course is about, why the course is taught, where it is going, and what will be required for them to be successful in the course (Altman & Cashin, 2003). By clearly communicating expectations, instructors can circumvent a whole host of student grievances and misunderstandings during the semester.

What is the quality of a syllabus?

The quality of the syllabus is a fairly reliable indicator of the quality of teaching and learning that will take place in a course (Woolcock, 2003). Therefore, it behooves instructors to make the effort to construct a high-quality syllabus. The results of that effort can benefit the instructor as well as his or her students.

Why is a syllabus important?

The syllabus as a learning tool. A syllabus should help students become more effective learners in the course. While many of these items are not required for syllabi at Illinois, adding them can greatly improve students' ability to learn the material. To do this, a syllabus should include the following:

What is the process of developing a syllabus?

The process of developing a syllabus can be a reflective exercise, leading the instructor to carefully consider his or her philosophy of teaching, why the course is important, how the course fits in the discipline, as well as what topics will be covered, when assignments will be due, and so on (Eberly, Newton, & Wiggins, 2001; Grunert, 1997).

Does the University of Illinois have a syllabus?

Note: All instructors of courses at the University of Illinois are expected to provide a syllabus to their students clearly stating expectations for student learning outcomes.

What is a course syllabi?

Not only read by prospective students, it is the best, concise, description of a course by those who teach it that is available to students and colleagues. The University Committee on Courses uses course syllabi in its review of courses. To maximize the usefulness of a syllabus to students and faculty, it is suggested that it contain ...

How many hours are required for a graduate degree?

Therefore, a 3-credit graduate course would typically engage students approximately 120 hours; a 4-credit graduate course may be expected to entail approximately 160 hours for the average student for whom the course is designed.

What is academic scheduling?

Academic Scheduling. As the primary, commonly available, summary of a course, the syllabus serves several purposes. It outlines the course, it denotes what students may expect from the course, and it locates the course in the curriculum. Not only read by prospective students, it is the best, concise, description of a course by those who teach it ...

How to write a syllabus for a course?

Before you start writing your syllabus, think first and foremost about the knowledge and skills students should gain in your course, then about how you will assess these knowledge and skills, and finally about the best ways for the students to learn them.

What are the parts of a syllabus?

We recommended that the syllabus be created in three main parts: (1) Course Description, (2) Course Outline, and (3) Policies and Procedures. Creating each of these parts separately gives you a set of three documents that can be easily adapted or directly reused for other courses taught. 2. The Course Overview Section.

What is course outline?

The course outline is a part of the syllabus that may be subject to change as the semester progresses. For example, a topic students find more difficult than anticipated may require additional time, or weather conditions may cancel sessions.

Why is it important to have a clear syllabus?

Because students will view the syllabus as a kind of "contract," it is important to be as clear as possible , and to avoid changing major aspects of the syllabus after the first day of class .

What are course expectations?

Course Expectations are policies and procedures that describe how you will treat students. What you include and how it is stated will influence your classroom’s climate. It is therefore important not only to state what you expect of students, but to explain why. It is also recommended that you include a statement of what the students can expect from you. Since there is a good chance that your expectations of students will be the same in most of the classes you teach, it is a good idea to create your policies and procedures as a single document that you can reuse. You may consider include the following sections:

How many weeks should a distance education course have?

A time allocation framework (e.g., week 1, week 2, etc. to include at least 14 weeks for a standard academic year course session) All distance education courses must include a statement about the estimated instructional time commitments for students. For example, the syllabus could state that students will spend approximately 150 minutes ...

Can a syllabus be changed during a course?

The course description components of the syllabus should not be changed during the running of the course. A well constructed one or two page document is usually sufficient to include the following:

What makes a good syllabus?

First: a good syllabus relies on thoughtful course design. The strongest syllabi are built on a solid foundation of course design. In course design, the instructor first chooses learning goals that are appropriate for the level of the class and the students in it.

How many categories are there in a syllabus?

On any given syllabus, you can find similar, standard information. Barbara Gross Davis lists 12 categories of elements that are common on what she refers to as a “comprehensive course syllabus” ( Tools for Teaching p 21-36, 2009). What follows is a condensed list of these categories. A chart based on Gross Davis’s chapter can be found here, courtesy of the University of California, Berkeley. First listed are categories that are often seen as a given, the backbone of most syllabuses:

How can the tone of the syllabus affect learners?

Researchers at James Madison University surveyed student responses to detailed and brief versions of the same syllabus, and concluded that students associated the detailed syllabus with qualities of a master teacher (Saville et al 2010). Researchers have explored the effect of “warm” and “ cold” language in a syllabus on student perceptions of the instructor. An example of “warm” language in a syllabus is “I hope you actively participate in this course. I say this because I found it is the best way to engage you in learning the material (and it makes lectures more fun.)” “Cold” language, on the other hand, expresses the same idea using different words: “Come prepared to actively participate in this course. This is the best way to engage you in learning the material (and it makes the lectures more interesting.)” Students who read the syllabus with the “warm” language rated the hypothetical instructor both more approachable and more motivated to teach the class (Harnish and Bridges 2011). Assistant Director Nancy Chick has written previously about the disconnect between what is written in the syllabus and what she wants her classroom to be like: ( http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/2014/01/whats-in-your-syllabus/ ).

What are examples of policies and resources I can use?

As mentioned above, syllabi can contain a variety of information that helps orient students to the class or to resources the university offers to help students. The following areas are frequently considered:

How does a syllabus affect students?

How the syllabus looks affects our students’ perceptions of the class and of us as instructors. It also helps students learn to organize their knowledge in meaningful ways. “Visuals communicate the structure and interrelationship among the topics to be covered and the abilities students will acquire. ] They can also be designed to communicate an instructor’s approachability, sense of humor, and caring for the students.” (13) With more and more syllabuses being available online, there are fewer restrictions on using images due to the cost of printing in color. We could even include links to relevant videos to explain our expectations. Something as simple as separating the calendar of readings into visually distinct and meaningful thematic groups can help students organize their learning over the course of the semester.

What are the resources Vanderbilt provides?

The readings, handouts, and other materials we provide students in our courses are typically meant for our students’ personal educational use. You might give students access to a journal article through a Vanderbilt library subscription, provide students with a PowerPoint slide deck you created for a lecture, or hand back to students a graded test that you designed for your course. Students are encouraged to use these learning resources while they are taking the course, but, depending on the resource involved, you may not want them to share the resource with people outside the course or access the resource after the course is over.

Who wrote the language guide?

1 This guide was originally written by Jessica Riviere, Senior Graduate Teaching Fellow 2013-2014. It was updated in 2016 by Danielle Picard (Senior Graduate Teaching Fellow 2015-2016) and Richard Coble (Graduate Teaching Fellow 2015-2016) to include more examples of language instructors may want to use in their syllabuses.

What is a syllabus?

The syllabus is a description and plan for a course and, if well written, may be a tool that improves student learning, facilitates faculty teaching, improves communications between faculty members about their courses, and assists with monitoring program quality.1 –6Altman and Cashin state that, “The primary purpose of a syllabus is to communicate to one’s students what the course is about, why the course is taught, where it is going, and what will be required of the students for them to complete the course with a passing grade.”7Additionally, Parkes, Fix, and Harris suggest that the syllabus serves as a contract between the instructor and the learner.8Typically focused on the learner, well-written syllabi communicate to students what is expected to succeed in a course and what competencies must be mastered.2,3Thus, syllabi assist faculty members with communicating with their learners and help learners understand what is expected of them.1,5

What is the purpose of a syllabus?

The syllabus functions as a major communication device that provides details of how student learning will be assessed and about the roles of both student and instructors in the learning and assessment process. —

What is a course objective?

Course objectives: Course objectives are more specific than goals and address achievable, measurable skills, knowledge, and attitudes that students will need to acquire.5Cours e objectives are specific statements that describe, in precise and measurable terms, what the student should be able to do or know once completing the course. These are specific items written for the learner (not the educator) and typically are written with action verbs (eg, using terms as found in Bloom’s or other taxonomies). Course objectives translate the goal into specific outcomes for the learner. Objectives help students understand the clear expectations that they will need to meet in order to pass the course and master the competencies that the course training provides. A course objective should be measurable, understandable, and attainable within a given amount of time. An objective should advance the student toward a corresponding course goal. Ideally, objectives should aim at what the student should be able to know or do as a result of the learning experience, as opposed to what the teacher will do or provide. Writing the objectives from the students' point of view helps learners better understand what is expected of them. Course objective may then be broken down into lesson, module, or unit objectives, which are more detailed and aimed at specific learning activities and lesson plans.5

What is a course goal?

Course goals: Course goals are broad, general statements that are directly related to programmatic goals. Course goals describe a practical purpose for a course. Typically goals relate to core competencies (eg, CCE competencies). Each course goal should represent a solution to a well-defined training need. Course goals establish the direction of the course. Goal statements describe a general learning outcome and are typically not measurable. The successful implementation of program goals is accomplished through clear, well-defined course goals stating the overall purpose of the course. Therefore, course goals should be clearly linked to program goals.

What is additional course information?

Additional course information: Some faculty members include additional material describing the importance of the course and how the material fits into the larger educational program. This helps the student understand where they are on their path toward their ultimate goal of graduating with a degree.

What should the name of a course be?

Name of course and course identifying information: The course name should match the most recent college catalog. Include the course number and level of study, as found in the most recent catalog.

What is a prerequisite in a course?

Prerequisites/corequisites: List the prerequisites (a prerequisite is a course that must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in the course ) and/or corequisites (a corequisite is another course that must be taken at the same time). This section should include course names and numbers in order to easily identify them.

Why is it important to have a syllabus at the bottom of the syllabus?

Setting a syllabus up with the basics at the top of the syllabus and the course schedule at the bottom helps encourage students to keep scrolling down and presumably reading the entire outline of the course and policies. And lastly, since syllabi should emulate the effort we as instructors hope to see from students throughout the semester, it’s important that we include comprehensive (and proofread) details upfront to save time and set clear expectations for everyone.

What is the most critical element of a syllabus?

One of the most critical elements in a syllabus are the very specific instructions students will need to follow in order to complete assignments and activities in the course. In this section, you might include:

What is the most tedious part of an instructor's experience?

One of the most tedious parts of any instructor’s experience is to become the tech team or “help desk.” Thankfully, our universities and higher education partners (publishers, LMS platforms, and digital learning systems like McGraw-Hill’s Connect) have their own tech support—and that’s exactly where we should be sending students. Save time, energy, and avoid frustration for yourself and students alike by taking some of the non-classwork off your plate and including these resources on your syllabus:

Detailed Descriptions

• After you’ve covered the basics in an easily accessible format, it’s time to add a bit of clarity about you as the instructor and what the course is all about. In these more detailed write-ups, you’ll be able to set the tone and expectation for the course while creating an approachable atmosphere f…

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