Save time and reduce guesswork with our syllabus checklist and customizable template. Use this resource to ensure you’ve included required UTK elements, communicated expectations clearly, and outlined key course components in a student-friendly way.
Basic Information
- Name of university, semester, year
- Course title, number, credit hours, room or online schedule
- Instructor, GTA names
- Contact information (e.g., UT email address only, phone number, office address, etc.)
- Office hours Instructor web page URL (if applicable)
Course Description
- Prerequisites, co-requisites
- Course description (overall goal or purpose)
- Course learning objectives/student learning outcomes (i.e., general competencies/skills knowledge)
- Class environment (methods of instruction; role of the student, role of the faculty member)
- How can a student be successful in this course (e.g., estimated amount of time to spend on preparation, assignments, participation in class discussion, use of supplemental teaching materials, etc.)?
Materials
- Required reading (textbooks, articles, etc.)
- Supplemental reading
- Websites and links
- Other material (e.g., lab equipment, art supplies, software)
- Resources (library resources, online/technology support)
Requirements
- Exams and quizzes (how many, what kind, dates, final exam period, etc.)
- Assignments/problem sets/projects/reports/research papers (general info, assessment criteria, format for submitting work – online or hardcopy, steps in conducting research, milestones leading to larger project)
- Other assignments (e.g., posting comments to the discussion board)
Policies
- Grading procedures (weighting, curve, grade appeals)
- Policy for incompletes, withdrawals
- Attendance and tardiness
- Class participation
- Missed exams/makeup exams
- Late or missed assignments
- Extra credit opportunity or not available
- Academic integrity
- Include the honor statement
- Consequences, examples
Accommodation/Accessibility
- Disability statement and contact information for services
- Accessible syllabus available:
- Formatting: Use “Styles” to differentiate headings and normal text. Tab feature and ruler are used for formatting (do not add extra spaces).
- Tables: Use the Table feature to create a table. Select “repeat headers” and consider creating a new table for each week or class session for enhanced accessibility.
- Lists: Bulleted and ordered lists are created using the List feature.
- Images: Use “Alt Text” to describe images, photos, graphs, etc.
- Meaningful links: Use text that briefly describes the destination of the link (do not use the URL or non-descriptive words as the link).
- Font size: Font size is sufficient, at least 12 points.
- Contrast: Ensure sufficient contrast between the text and the background.
- Emphasis: Bold or italic text is used to display emphasis in a paragraph. Color alone is not used to convey information, for example, “Items on the list that are marked in red are required.”
- Page numbers: The syllabus has page numbers.
- Accessible learning materials (the textbook is accessible, and the posted materials are accessible)
- Evaluation of the course and feedback to the faculty member
- Formative feedback mechanisms
Schedule
- Tentative calendar of topics and assignments, dates for exams and due dates, and special events
Printable PDF version of the Syllabus Template.