How to Read a Syllabus

Course syllabus is a document created by instructors to give students all the information they need about a course. It covers contact information, guide and course preview, course description, outline of assignments and due dates, test dates, and material to be covered.

Your professor will hand out the syllabus and go over it on the first day of class to make sure that everything is clear and answer questions. Most of the time the course syllabi are also online.

Your ability to read and understand a syllabus can increase your chances of success in your class. Each syllabus will differ slightly, but within them you’ll find all of the information you will need to gain a clear understanding of what is expected of you.

Specific Information:

• Instructors name, office location, phone number, email address, office hours
• Course objectives or learning outcomes
• List of reading material
• Grading Policies
• Important dates, readings, quizzes, papers, exams.

Component Description:

• Title Page: Course number, semester, and year, number of credits, meeting time and location, instructor information (name, office location, office hours, contact information)
• Calendar: Days and times of class meeting, due dates of assignments, papers, quizzes and tests.
• Description Learning Outcomes: Introduction to the course: scope, purpose and relevance of material. Skills and knowledge students will gain.

• Pre-Requisites: Courses students need to have taken before this one; pre-requisite skill sets (programming languages, familiarity with software)

• Course Restrictions: Situations that would prevent a student from taking this course (not including pre-requisites) eg. If a student cannot hold credit for both this course and another course.
• Co-Requisites: A course that must be taken at the same time as the course you are taking right now

• Texts/Materials: Required or optional books (with authors, ISBN, and editions) reserve readings, course readers, software, and supplies with information about where they can be obtained

• Delivery Method: How the instructor plans on delivering the course information such as lecture, small group discussion, demonstrations, etc. Also, what forms of learning technology will the instructor utilize.

• Course Website: Provides the URL and describes how to access the course website, if applicable.

• Student Evaluation: What the final grade will be based on. There is usually a breakdown of components and an explination of the instructor’s grading policies (e.g., weighting of grades, curves, extra –credit options)

• Voluntary Withdrawal Date:

• Other Important Dates: Other dates listed by the instructor

• Course Topics: Explanation of the topical organization of the course

• Special Course Activities: Special activities such as tours, demonstrations, etc..

• Academic Honesty: Academic Dishonesty.