Twenty years ago, many instructors would have described the syllabus as a "table of contents" or, alternatively, a "contract." Today's books on college teaching and course design are likely to draw on different metaphors: the syllabus is a map or travelogue, as it both describes the intended destination and explains why one might want to go in the first place (Nilson, 27).
The most effective syllabus goes beyond listing the logistics and the topics covered in the course - it (a) articulates the conceptual framework for the course; (b) introduces students to the key questions or problems facing experts in the field; (c) suggests the ways in which an understanding of the course subject matters; and (d) identifies the specific skills and knowledge students will be able to demonstrate upon leaving the course.
Typical elements of a syllabus
Sample Syllabus Statements:
(from the College of Commerce)
(Sandy Virtue, Psychology)Sample DePaul Syllabi
E-mail the Teaching Commons and share a syllabus with other DePaul faculty.
The School for New Learning has a large repository of their syllabi online, ordered by first letter of each class.
Face-to-face classes
Introduction to acoustical and cognitive aspects of music composition and performance
Lighting II
Acting III
History of Dramatic Literature
Playwriting
Blended classes
Introduction to acoustical and cognitive aspects of music composition and performance
Online classes
Critical Thinking
Introduction to Music Education Research – Literature and Methods
Issues in Science and Religion
Additional Readings
Grunert, J. (1997). The course syllabus: A learning-centered approach. Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing.
Nilson, Linda. (2003). “The complete syllabus”. Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors. Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing Company. (Available at the Office for Teaching, Learning and Assessment).
Wasley, Paula. (2008). “Research Yields Tips on Crafting Better Syllabi.” The Chronicle of Higher Education, 54(27), A11.
Wasley, Paula. (2008). “The Syllabus Becomes a Repository of Legalese.” The Chronicle of Higher Education, 54(27), A1.
Write a Syllabus from Carnegie Mellon includes practical information on when to write a syllabus, general advice, and writing creative syllabi.Office for Instructional Design and Development
Office for Teaching, Learning and Assessment
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