Model Syllabus

The following information serves as a guide for creating your online course syllabus. These items identify many syllabus components that are required for all Cazenovia College online syllabi as well as provide suggestions for how you may wish to customize your syllabus for a particular course.

• Course Information

  Information to include:

  • Number, course title, section, semester, credit hours.
  • Faculty name and contact information including office location, phone, college e-mail address, and office hours.
  • A statement regarding how long students can expect to get a reply from you.
  • Course Website URL.
  • Information on how to login to your online classes.

• Course Description

  Explain the content topics and learning competencies addressed in the course, e.g. an explanation of the course as a critical component of the major or as a means of fostering student mastery of an all-college competency. Explain how the course relates to the student’s overall educational progress.

  Include any pre-requisites.

• Course Structure

  Example: This course will be taught online. All instructions, exams, assignments, and other requirements will be provided on the course site. Instructions for submitting all assignments on the website will be posted. Due dates will be listed in the “Course Schedule/calendar. Most communications will be through Blackboard messages and Discussion Forum.

• Course Objectives

  This section identifies the desired student learning outcomes for your course. Include learning outcomes that are measurable. Consulting the revised version of Bloom’s taxonomy may help with constructing this component. A brief description is available at http://ww2.odu.edu/educ/roverbau/Bloom/blooms_taxonomy.htm. Ordinarily, higher order skills would more frequently be associated with upper division courses.
  NOTE: Also include college competencies addressed in the course

• Course Communication

  • Describe the frequency and timeliness with which students should expect contact initiated by you and feedback/replies given by you.
  • Announcements – where they can be found on the course site.
  • Email – preferred method through Blackboaard?
  • Questions – where they can post them
  • Discussion Forums – – where they can be found on the course site.
  • Virtual Office Hours?
  • Netiquette (with a link to the student section on Cazenoviacollegeonline.com website)

• Course Participation Policy

  Include how you will assign a grade for class participation and how much it will be worth towards the final grade. (This could be based on thoroughness and frequency of post, responses, and leadership roles in the discussions). Here you can also provide a definition of good posts and good responses. (or link/refer to website for this information)

• Technical Requirements for the Course

  • Computer Requirements (see website)
  • Necessary downloads/plug-ins
  • IExplain how to access the course calendar
  • How to get technical support
  • Important Dates for major assignments, add/drop
  • Technical requirements for the course

• Methods of Instruction

  List your methods including Announcements; Modules; Assignments, Tests and Surveys; Discussions).  You may add: This course is taught using a variety of instructional methods including online lectures, required reading, research, and discussion forums.

• Student Responsibilities

  For instance, keep up on all announcements.Make sure technology is working well ahead of need. Back up files. Check email daily. Check course calendar often for changes.

• Grading Policy

  Minimum grading criteria should include a weighted breakdown of all requirements that determine the final grade for the class (assignments, participation, exams, essays).

• Plagarism

  Plagiarism will not be tolerated.  Make sure you know what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.  Any student who turns in plagiarized work will fail the course.  A description of plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are to be found at www.cazenovia.edu. Go to Academics and click on Academic Policies.

• Students with Special Needs

  The college requires every syllabus to include a statement that addresses the needs of special students.  First year students in particular are often embarrassed about asking for accommodations and may (falsely) believe that they no longer need help now that they are in college. They also are used to being tracked in high school and may not understand the need to self-identify to their instructor. Consider something like the following:
  If you are a student who requires accommodations in classroom or outside work due to special needs, please notify the Office of Special Services (ext. 7308).  Make sure your accommodations plan has been filed with the Office of Special Services to ensure that accommodations will be made available. You are responsible for informing your instructors of your need for accommodations by presenting documentation from the Office of Special Services.

• Other Requirements

  Online Attendance Policy (the college requires every syllabus to include a statement about the absence policy for your course. Some ideas:
  College – Students are required to login at least twice a week. Expect to send at least 6 – 9 hours on homework. Weekly progress is mandatory. Number of posts/responses per week.
  Course – faculty member can post an attendance record once a week that students can access to see progress.
  How you address work that is turned in late.
  How the course is organized and how it works
  Research information and links
  Supplemental Activities (required or voluntary community based learning experiences)
  How to succeed in an online course (see student section on website)
  The college withdrawal policy ?
  Instructor’s Withdrawal Options for Distance Education courses ?
  Copyright information for students (see student section on website)

• Tentative Weekly Schedule

  Include a list of all class and homework activities and their due dates, exams, paper and projects due dates, lecture titles, reading and research assignments.
  Include a statement instructing students on how and where they can see changes in course schedule such as: “This is a tentative schedule. Any changes to it will be posted on the messages section.