A course syllabus is an essential roadmap to your success as a student. While each syllabus is unique, they all contain valuable information that will help you succeed and stay organized throughout the semester. To fully benefit from the course syllabus, you need to read it, understand it, and keep it handy, as you will continually refer to it throughout your course.
What does the syllabus cover?
Depending on which courses you take, some syllabi may be more detailed or they might structure information differently. But each syllabus will cover at least these four topics.
Instructor information Near the top of the syllabus, you will find your instructor's name, contact information, and office hours.
Reading materials and supplies This syllabus section lists books, online resources, and other content you will need for class. Additional tools, like a calculator or specific software, will be listed here, too. Typically there is a note about which materials are required and recommended.
Policies A syllabus will outline how you will be graded, attendance requirements, and how the professor expects students to behave. This section may also include university-wide policies on academic honesty and respect or how students with disabilities can request support.
Class schedule The syllabus will include when assignments are due and when tests will be given. This section contains all coursework for the class, including in-class assignments, homework, essays, labs, and assessments.
How can I access the syllabus?
In the past, professors handed out paper copies of the syllabus on the first day of each class. Today, most instructors of college classes put their syllabi online. At UWF, you can find course syllabi before the course starts through Course Search. Syllabi are also available on your course schedule in Classmate. You may also get it as a link from your professor via email or they may post it to their Canvas course site.
Be aware that the syllabus can change. If you do not know where to find the latest version of the course syllabus for any of your classes, your professor or teaching assistant can help. Make sure to ask them on the first day of class so that you are prepared for the rest of the semester.
Why is the syllabus important?
A course syllabus will help you plan your semester efficiently and help limit confusion and stress if properly utilized. In short, a course syllabus will indicate what you as a student will be expected to do in a course and how your performance throughout the course will be evaluated and graded.
Taking time to read and understand the syllabus might not sound fun, but it can be really useful. Your syllabus will help you:
Meet deadlines
Be prepared for class
Understand assignments
Know how you will be graded
Manage your time
Stay organized
Connect with professors and classmates
Common questions about a course can often be answered by reading and understanding the course syllabus; What will I be learning in this course? What are the required textbooks? What happens if I miss an exam? What is the policy on late work? Where do I go if I am struggling in my courses? How will I be graded on my work? When are the due dates for my assignments? How can I contact my professor out of class?
How to Read and Understand a Course Syllabus
A course syllabus has several different parts to it. At first glance, a course syllabus may seem overwhelming, but don't be intimidated. Below you will find a list of sections you will commonly see in your course syllabus, the type of information found in each of those sections, and how that information will be key to your success in the course.
Breaking Down a Course Syllabus
Instructor Information
In this section, you will find your instructor's name, their contact information (email, phone number, etc.), and their office hours. Office hours are a time set aside by your professor to meet with students. You should take advantage of this access to your professor.
Course Information/Description
In this section, you will find information regarding your course, including the following items; a.) course name, b.) meeting/location, c.) course description, d.) prerequisites, and e.) course credit hours. Please find additional information on these different items below.
Textbook/Course Materials
In this section, the professor will indicate what textbooks and materials are required for your course. Textbooks can refer to print or digital books, and course materials may refer to different items such as calculators, clickers, computer software, etc. Usually, textbooks and course materials can be purchased or rented from the UWF Bookstore. If not, the professor will indicate where you can find the required materials.
Course Goals/Learning Objectives
In this section, you will find a list of goals and learning objectives that the professor will want their students to meet. Some professors may include a table listing the course goals, learning objectives, and assessments.
Below you will find an example of what this section may appear like in your course syllabus.
| Goals | Learning Objective | Assessments |
|---|---|---|
| Upon successful completion of this course, students will: | Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: | How the student will be assessed on these learning objectives: |
| … understand descriptive, quantitative information and data given in various formats. | - Translate between algebraic and graphical representations. | - homework assignments - midterm exam - final exam |
… know how to draw, analyze and convey meaningful quantitative conclusions. | - Think about the validity of answers drawn from the calculation. | - project - final exam |
… be open to dealing with quantitative material in life and other courses. | - Translate a problem to a mathematical problem. | - project - entrance/exit questionnaires |
Grading/Evaluation
In this section, the professor will inform you of the factors that will determine your final grade for the course. These factors will vary depending on the professor and your course.
There are two common types of grading systems that professors may use: a) Weighted Average and b) Point System. Below you will find examples of each of these two types of grading systems.
Course Schedule
Within the course schedule, professors will typically provide students with a list of their assignments along which the scheduled due dates.
The course schedule will be extremely beneficial in keeping you organized. The course schedule allows you to look ahead, see when assignments are due and when exams will occur and plan accordingly to balance your workload appropriately. It is always important to remember that the professor could update/change some items on the course schedule, so be sure to stay flexible, take notes, and ask your professor questions when needed.