A course syllabus is one of the most important documents you will receive from your professor. Believe it or not, your course syllabus will play a vital role in the overall success of your course.
What is a Course Syllabus?
A course syllabus is an important document given to you by your professor on the first day of class. Ideally, a course syllabus can be viewed as a roadmap of your course -- it contains valuable information that will help you succeed and stay organized throughout the entire 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.
Why is a Course 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.
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 be able to 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 be considered when determining 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.