Writing Your Syllabus

Using a Department or School Syllabus Template
Webster classroom syllabi are relational agreements that clarify in the most positive way what is expected of students in terms of their learning as well as what students may expect of faculty in terms of their delivering specially-designed courses to advance students' education. The syllabus carries critically important information detailing: a) how the faculty member will assess the students' performance in meeting course objectives and learning outcomes, b) what students must do to succeed in the class as well as c) what the plan or program of study is for the term that students have chosen to enroll in.

In this section, you will learn the essential points of information to include in your syllabus so that it is informative, helpful and useful in providing guidance to your students. Webster views syllabi as relational agreements designed to facilitate positive expectations for both faculty and students about the educational experiences they will share as they learn and grow, together.

Crafting syllabi that encourage student success in your classroom is important. Webster University's Center for Academic Assessment and the Office of Academic Affairs lend their full support to you if you choose to write your syllabus in terms of the language of success.

FOR EXAMPLE: when you include in your syllabus a section on learning outcomes you might choose to use language that reads as follows:

To achieve success in this class, students will be asked to demonstrate their skills in:
  1. Speaking clearly in front of an audience
  2. Preparing professional correspondence
  3. Preparing financial calculations

Remember
Of course, instructors realize that your students represent either the current generation of decision-makers in contemporary business settings or they will be future decision-makers responsible for shaping businesses that could be located anywhere around the world.

The following outline is provided as a checklist for your use in preparing your syllabus.

Syllabus Guidelines
Webster University supports a policy of full disclosure of information related to the creation of syllabi for Webster course offerings. To support the spirit of full disclosure means that we encourage faculty to include the following information points on their syllabi so that students will have all the information they need to succeed in the classroom.

Introductory Information

  1. Course Number
  2. Course Title
  3. Credit Hour Designation (e.g. 3 credits)

Faculty Information

  1. Faculty Name
  2. Department affiliation
  3. Contact information
  4. Office hours or statement indicating that appointments are available upon request.

Course Content Information

  1. Course Objective (Primary purpose of the course)
  2. Student Learning Outcomes (Skills and knowledge that define the learning outcomes faculty want students to achieve)
  3. Texts, readings, films or case studies (Intellectual basis for the course)
  4. Lesson Plan (Calendar by which course material will be evaluated)
  5. Assignments (Learning exercises designed to stimulate learning)
  6. Grading System (See Academic Affairs page, Jim Staley)

Course Assessment Information

  1. Grading System (See Academic Affairs page, Jim Staley)
  2. Classroom Assignments – (Detailed notes about the assignments to be completed in the classroom. For instance, if you require a research paper, then detail the components of the paper that you want included and give students a writing- assessment scoring system).

Reference The Writing Assessment Rubric: HOCs and LOCs.

  1. Weighted Graded Assignment Schema – (How much is each assignment worth to our students? (You will help students spend their time wisely). Example: exams 20%, research papers 25%, etc.

Policy Information
If you are working within a field that is experiencing rapid change, we would support you in choosing to include a statement such as the one that follows, on your syllabus:

Faculty policy for students: The instructor may alter the syllabus at any point during the term without prior notification to students and without receiving student consent. Such alterations will only be made if they are viewed as promoting the highest levels of student excellence in academic achievement, in this classroom.

School of Education Syllabus Template
The School of Education has implemented the use of a syllabus template. Click here to view this document. Click here for more information regarding this template.

Contact Information
For questions related to syllabi, adjunct faculty should email or phone their campus director.