This edited material was graciously shared by the UCF Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning.

Syllabus Design

When crafting your syllabus, you may want to consider choosing a soft tone. Defensive language might create student disenfranchisement or disengagement.

Elements of a Syllabus

Contact Information

• Instructor’s name
• Contact information for instructor
  
  • Office location and hours
  • Email and phone
• Contact procedures for class: email or Webcourses

Course Information

• Course name
• Course ID and section number
• Credit hours
• Semester/year
• Meeting day, time, and location
• Course description (include catalog description, departmental description, and your personal description of the course)
• Course objectives (in accord with your teaching goals and tied to your planned assessments). List these with as much detail as you can.
• Course Prerequisites; instructor expectations of certain student abilities
• Required texts
• Supplemental texts, helpful websites, and other materials
• Library resources
• Evaluation and Grading
  
  • Plus/Minus grading or flat grading
  • Grade scale (numbers/letters equivalencies)
  • Grade distribution / grading on a curve
  • Categories of assessment
  • Method of grade reporting
  • Weight of assignments and tests
  • Incomplete grades policy

Policies

• Golden Rule and other personal and academic conduct statement
  
  • Attendance, participation, and courtesy
  • Accouterments (book bags, skateboards, computers, calculators, ID’s)
  • Plagiarism and cheating. Here is one sample policy statement: “Plagiarism and Cheating of any kind on an examination, quiz, or assignment will result at least in an "F" for that assignment and may, depending on the severity of the case, lead to an "F" for the entire course) and may be subject to appropriate referral to the Office of Student Conduct for further action. I will assume for this course that you will adhere to the academic creed of this University and will maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. In other words, don't cheat by giving answers to others or taking them from anyone else. I will also adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity, so please do not ask me to change (or expect me to change) your grade illegitimately or to bend or break rules for one person that will not apply to everyone.”
  • If you require students to use turnitin.com, state so on your syllabus. Here is one sample: “In this course we will utilize turnitin.com, an automated system which instructors can use to quickly and easily compare each student’s assignment with billions of web sites, as well as an enormous database of student papers that grows with each submission. Accordingly, you will be expected to submit all assignments in both hard copy and electronic format. After the assignment is processed, as instructor I receive a report from turnitin.com that states if and how another author’s work was used in the assignment. For a more detailed look at this process visit www.turnitin.com.
• Professionalism and personal conduct statement
• Gordon Rule statement, or Diversity Requirement statement, if applicable
• Disability Access Statement

• Collaboration procedures clearly defined

• Supplemental attachments/handouts
  
  • Detailed description of assignments
  • Examples of previous student work and explanation of your assessment
• Policy about due dates
  
  • Examination rules and procedures
  • Missed assignments/exams, make-ups, extra credit
• Technology expectations and requirements
  
  • Use of e-mail
  • Use of Webcourses or other Web site
  • Use of laptops for notetaking
  • Use of calculators
  • Use of tape recorders and audio recording devices
  • Special tools or programs

Calendar

• Final exam date and time
• Deadlines
• Assignments
•  “Syllabus Subject To Revision” clause
• Class by class schedule (optional).

Plagiarism and cheating – presenting another’s ideas, arguments, words or images as your own, using unauthorized material, or giving or accepting unauthorized help on assignments or tests – contradict the educational value of these exercises.  Students who attempt to obtain unearned academic credentials that do not reflect their skills and knowledge can also undermine the value of the degrees earned by their more honest peers. Faculty members have a responsibility for your education and the value of a degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and when necessary respond to infringements of academic integrity. Penalties can include a failing grade in an assignment or in the course, or suspension or expulsion from the university.

Additional Syllabus Resources

Faculty Handbook: University-wide grading policies, registration policies, credit hours, university requirements, and federal laws such as FERPA.

Student Disability Services offers a website with policies and explanations for faculty

The Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning offers worksheets and information on course design, writing goals and objectives, and connecting these objectives with individual lesson plans and activities.

See also Judith Grunert, The Course Syllabus: A Learning-Centered Approach. Bolton: Anker, 1997.