Creating A Syllabus

 

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What is a syllabus?

At the most basic level, a course syllabus serves as a road map for a course– both for the instructor and the students. It lays out the trajectory of topics, readings, assignments, activities and assessments for meeting the course objectives. The syllabus also provides students with essential information about the university, like institutional policies regarding accessibility accommodations, safety, academic misconduct, and other important details.

The syllabus might seem like just a standard formality, but it sets the tone for the semester, establishes class policies and procedures, and can help to foster an intentional, focused learning community. It's important start class off on the right note, and your syllabus is the first step!

 

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What is required by the university?

The University of Utah requires instructors to include specific information about the institution and their courses in all published syllabi. Some departments have additional requirements. Once completed, syllabi must be publicly published both to Canvas and CIS at least one week prior to the semester start date.

Institutional Policies

There are a few mandatory university-wide policies that must be included on all syllabi at the University of Utah. There are several ways to find the most up-to-date version:

• • Mandatory Institutional Policies for Syllabi
  • CTE Syllabus Template
  • Canvas DesignTools

All updates to institutional policies will be published 4 weeks prior to each semester start. If you have questions regarding updates, please email cte@utah.edu. 

Attendance Policy

PPM 6-100 also requires faculty to provide reasonable attendance accommodations to students who cannot attend classes due to sanctioned University activities, University closures, disability accommodations, and/or sudden illness or emergencies. 

Individual Department Policies

Some programs and departments have discipline-specific requirements for their syllabi. Be sure to consult with your department and find out if there is a template or set of guidelines you are required to use.

Publication

PPM 6-100 requires that syllabi must be posted via Canvas and CIS at least one week prior to the beginning of the semester. Learn how to publish your syllabus for the public below.

 

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What else should I include?

We highly recommend that course syllabi include the following information: 

• • Course Number and Title
  • Pre- or Co-Requisites (if applicable)
  • GE Designation (if applicable)
  • Credit Hours
  • Meeting Time[s] and Location[s] (if applicable)
  • Instructor/TA Contact Information
  • Catalog Description
  • Content Overview
  • Course Outcomes/Objectives
  • Evaluation Methods
  • Grade Scale (if applicable)
  • Teaching Methodology
  • Locating/Purchasing Course Materials
  • Course Schedule
  • Institutional Policies
  • Course Policies
  • Optional Additions

Find examples of other recommended policy statements and other best practice standards in our CTE Syllabus Template and Optional Syllabus Additions Library. You can also find several other training resources available from CTE in our Instructor Resource Library.

 

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How do I post it to Canvas and CIS?

As stated above, PPM 6-100 requires that syllabi are to be posted via Canvas and CIS at least one week prior to the beginning of the semester.

Posting to Canvas

We recommend always adding your syllabus to the Syllabus page in Canvas. User research indicates that this is the first place students look when they are searching for your syllabus!

You may post your syllabus as a PDF or Word document (.docx) for preview and download, or add text directly into the Canvas Syllabus tool via the Rich Content Editor (RCE). If you are posting your syllabus as a PDF or .docx, you can link to your Syllabus by uploading it into Course Files and embedding the document in the RCE.

Learn more about how to use the Canvas Syllabus tool as an instructor.

Publishing to Class Schedule via CIS

To publish a public link to your syllabus to the university Class Schedule, add your Canvas link or syllabus file via Manage Class Links, available through your CIS dashboard.

To update class links, you must either be listed as the primary instructor, have been granted security access by the primary instructor, or completed the CIS Student Administration Access Security Authorization form.

For primary instructors, Manage Class Links will be available the day the class schedule is published for the term. 

See the full step-by-step instructions available from the Registrar's Office.

 

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How do I use the CTE template?

Download our CTE Syllabus Template (.docx) and open in Word or your word processing software of choice. Edit the document as needed. The [bracket text] should be replaced with your own relevant course content.

A syllabus is a personal thing and we encourage you to add our own stamp– so adapt away! If you are unsure how to get started or have questions, reach out to our team at cte@utah.edu. Your syllabus is the first impression on your students for your course, so start off on the right foot!

 

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How do I get help?

 Do you have questions or need a helping hand? The U has several groups here to help you make your course a success!