Syllabus Development

A syllabus is one of the most important documents created for an online class. A syllabus is a descriptive outline and summary of topics to be covered in a course along with all expected work. The syllabus should include at least a mention of all quizzes/exams/assignments/projects etc. It is preferable that a reasonably detailed explanation of all required works are given to assist the student in understanding the exact subject matter covered in the course and what the faculty expects the student to understand. The syllabus will be displayed in an online environment where there is no face to face interaction and therefore serves many purposes.

1. Provides information to assist students in successful completion of the course.
   
   
2. The syllabus ensures a fair and impartial understanding between the instructor and the student
   
   
   • Listing the course policies
     
     
   • Setting clear expectations
     
     
   • Providing a roadmap for course description and organization
   
   
3. Maximizes efficient learning by clarifying student understanding of specified material such as:
   
   
   • Grading policy
     
     
   • Textbook information
     
     
   • Important instructions and dates (Exams, Assignments, etc)
   
   

As well as giving the students all the course requirements and policies, the syllabus will also include a Calendar that is used to show all the content covered along with all work required in a chronological format.

In an effort to standardize all of our online courses our department has created a syllabus template. You can obtain an editable copy of the template by contacting your E-Learning Consultant (Instructional Designer).