The course syllabus is an artifact of course design that is asked to do a lot in a learning environment. You and/or your students might expect a course syllabus to:
- Provide necessary logistical information students need to successfully complete the course (e.g. class time, assignment due dates, office hour availability)
- Set the stage for positive relationships in the learning environment
- Spark student interest and motivation, especially in required courses and/or courses that have a reputation for being difficult
- Put the course in context, particularly as it relates to the broader curriculum
- Lay out a roadmap through the course, giving students a sense of their learning trajectory and enabling them to plan their time
- Make expectations, rights, and responsibilities clear, clarifying the how and why of course policies and procedures, what you expect of students, and what students can expect of you, one another, and the institution
- Communicate a scholarly argument about the field(s) of study
Syllabus Design Resources
The fact that the syllabus is often trying to get a lot done — and potentially speaking to multiple audiences (i.e. students and colleagues) — can make it a tricky artifact to craft. We have a number of resources intended to help you think through your options as you (re)design your syllabus.
- An overview of content that is typically expected in BC syllabuses
- Reflection questions to help you fine-tune your syllabus tone
- Sample syllabus statements for a number of different course statements or policies that you can adapt to your context
- A syllabus template that can help you use to get started in designing your syllabus
While these are general resources for designing syllabuses, individual schools and departments may have their own expectations or requirements for syllabus design, and some instructors may be asked to work from a syllabus template. If you have less flexibility to personalize your syllabus content, you might consider finding other spaces to convey that more personalized information, such as in an addendum to your syllabus or on a page on your Canvas course.
Additional Resources
- Kevin Gannon, How to Create a Syllabus, The Chronicle
- Creating Your Syllabus (University of Michigan)
- Syllabus Rubric (University of Virginia)
- Accessible Syllabus (Tulane University)
- UDL Syllabus (UDL on Campus)
- Syllabus Construction (Vanderbilt University)