Syllabus Design

Course Syllabi Are Useful For Students And Instructors

Design Syllabus

Course syllabi serve as a key resource to communicate your teaching practice in several ways:

  • Communicate course expectations and policies to your students.

  • Document changes in your teaching over time to help evaluate what is working well and what can be improved.

  • Compare and contrast teaching methods with colleagues in your discipline, or colleagues teaching courses similar in structure and format.

For many students, the syllabus is their first introduction to your course. What information is important for students to know in order to be successful in your course? Explore a non-exhaustive list of recommended information and template statements to include in your course syllabi. We encourage all instructors to adapt the template language and resources provided below to meet the needs, interests, and goals of your students and course context.

Communicate Course Expectations In Your Syllabus

Whether you’re designing a syllabus from scratch or revising an existing one, consider including the following information to make learning transparent.

  • Course Description - What can students expect to learn and do? What kinds of assessments can students expect to engage with in your class? How will your course help students to develop as learners, emerging scholars, or early-career professionals?

  • Course Learning Objectives - What skills, topics, or knowledge will students be expected to demonstrate after they’ve completed your course? List 3-6 course-level learning objectives that are student-centered, actionable, and measurable. For guidance on how to craft effective learning objectives, explore CTL’s Establish Course-level Learning Objectives.

  • Grading Policies - Will you accept late work? Will students have an opportunity to resubmit work to replace an existing score? For each grading policy, describe what is and is not permitted and explain the procedures students are expected to complete.

  • Course Assignments - For each assignment, provide a brief description detailing what students are expected to do, when students are expected to complete the assignment, how students are expected to submit their work, and why the assignment is useful for their learning or connected to other areas of the course.

Explore Example Syllabi Statements

Syllabi help set the tone for your courses and communicate your willingness to interact with and support students from all backgrounds, communities, and experiences. Explore a non-exhaustive list of example syllabi statements and select one or more to adapt for your own teaching goals and context.

Syllabus Template

Download or print a template to guide your thinking as you design a syllabus from scratch or revise an existing one.

Download a version to edit [doc] or a version to view [pdf].

Design Experiences to Support Student Learning

What activities, assignments, or discussions will help prepare students to demonstrate their learning? Explore active learning strategies that meaningfully engage students in their learning, build on prior knowledge, and foster collaboration.

Promote Equity and Inclusion in Your Syllabus

Explore the following resources on designing equitable and inclusive course syllabi.

An Accessible Syllabus(link is external)

While important to take the necessary steps to design an accessible course, the syllabus itself should not be overlooked as an accessible document(link is external). A project out of Duke University curated and created an entire site devoted to designing an accessible syllabus because accessible classroom resources promote student engagement and agency.

Classroom Technology(link is external)

Using instructional technology in the classroom includes everything from the whiteboard or chalkboard to audience response systems to video projection to rearranging the furniture to promote student engagement. Learn more about Classroom Technology Support(link is external)

Addressing DSP Accommodations in Your Syllabus

Many instructors struggle to articulate a comprehensive disability accommodation statement on their syllabi. Of course, every class is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all statement. Review suggestions of language for presenting your accommodation policy accurately and setting appropriate expectations and procedures for your students.