Please see below for an overview of content you should consider including in your course syllabi. You can view the recommended outline with and without annotations.
Remember the syllabus is a document that your students can refer back to as needed to remind themselves of your course expectations and requirements. A clear syllabus is useful to the student as a resource and may also cut down on students needing to ask you multiple questions about your assignments or expectations.
Please always check with your department to see if there are templates, sections, or statements that are to be included in all syllabi in your content area.
Course Title
Prefix/Number/Section
Course credits [This becomes important as students transfer or progress to future schooling. Because courses change over the years, credits may also change. It is helpful to the student to have documentation of the course they took and the credits it was worth at that time.]
Name/title [Help students know what to call you.]
Office location [Not all of your students may already know where to find you outside of class sessions.]
Contact information (phone/email)
Office Hours [you may consider including virtual office hours during which students can drop in via zoom – this is particularly useful for your online learners]
Communication expectations – Example: Your best method to contact me is via email. I check my email throughout the work hours of 8 am – 5 pm, and will respond to your message within 24-48 hours (Fall and Spring) or 12-24 hours (Summer). [By including your these expectations, learners know your preferred method of communication and a general timeline for your response, helping to alleviating student repetitive contact for the same topic.]
Instructor photo and introduction video [This lets students get to know you on a personal level. Learners can read your qualifications, it is important to show them who you are as a person, instructor, researcher, etc. A short, 3-5-minute introduction video is appropriate.]
Prerequisites (if applicable)
must match the UNK catalog description [This explains the scope and purpose, format (lecture, lab, studio, etc.), and relevance to the student’s academic program.]
[This lets students know how the topics covered in your class fit into the big-picture or the major curriculum.]
must use approved objectives from the catalog
What knowledge/skills will students learn from this course [These specific, student-centered statements define the skills or knowledge a student should possess when they successfully complete the course.]
Mode of instruction – face-to-face, online, blended [Some students may not fully understand what the various course formats and expectations are when they register for a course. By telling the students the format and including a meeting or assignment schedule you will be able to tell students the expectations without the need to send reminders.]
Frequency of meetings [Remind students when a face-to-face or Zoom class will occur. This can be shown in a table, calendar, or class schedule]
Textbooks required and/or recommended, and other required materials such as online tools for homework, assignments, subscriptions, etc. [Students need to know what materials they need to purchase before the course begins.]
Additional fees (if applicable)
Types of assignments – Example: This class will include essay, report, literature review, discussion, case study, group project, presentation, online text homework, lab, exam, skill demonstration, reflection, oral debate, written report, etc.
Breakdown of how the points are spread out through the course
Example:
| Assignment | Points | Percentage of Grade |
| Discussion Boards (5) | 20 points each (100 points) | 15% of total grade |
| Presentation (1) | 100 points | 15% of total grade |
| Group Project (1) | 100 points | 15% of total grade |
| Exams (5) | 50 points each (250 points) | 35% of total grade |
| Online Text Homework | 150 points | 20% of total grade |
[It is helpful for students to see how the points are distributed across the semester.]
Grading Scale [Students want to know how their final grades are determined. Contact your department to learn if there is already a departmental standard grading scale.]
Description of major assignments (if applicable) [This will help students gauge the amount of course work required so they can plan their time appropriately to complete assignments.]
General overview of topics [Let students know what major topics will be covered over the course.]
Placement of exams/Pacing [Let students view the pace of the course. This schedule can be an outline or a detailed view.]
[Let your students know what the procedures are in your classes. Not every instructor has the same expectations. Including them in your syllabus allows students to refer back to them if they are unsure. For instance, do you require a certain font to be used or cover pages on your assignments?]
Attendance [Let your learners know if you are taking attendance and what happens if a class is missed or if there are rewards for those who attend every class.]
Late work [Students need to know what your policy is for accepting late work. Describe any penalty, such as a reduced grade. As students may have life circumstances that come up (family emergency or death, health crisis, or other incidences), clearly outline your expectations of what plan of action needs to take place.]
Academic integrity [Consider explaining to students why it is important that they use their own words and present information in an honest way. The university has a policy that will be included in all syllabi, but it is nice to include your own thoughts on your syllabus as well to educate them about the relevance to your content area.]
Copyright Statement – Example: “The materials on this Canvas course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated. The materials on this course website may be protected by copyright, and any further use of this material may be in violation of federal copyright law.” [Include a statement to inform the learner that course materials are protected by copyright laws, held by the instructor and/or other authors and are used with permission. If copyrighted materials are used without permission the user may be in violation and be held liable. Likewise, if materials are free to be disseminated or used by the student in their future careers indicate which items that applies to.]
Use of AI [AI can be a useful tool for brainstorming, tutoring, accessibility and inclusion, and more. Include a statement telling learners what you will or will not allow related to the use of AI in your class. Check with your department to see if there is an approved AI statement already.]
[Let students know if there are helpful resources that you have put in place or that you have seen students use successfully before. Maybe you have peer-tutors available or there are online resources specific to your course such as study games and flashcards]
Example: Learning Commons services are available in person and on Zoom for all online and on-campus UNK students. To request an appointment for subject tutoring, writing tutoring, success coaching, or foreign language support, please submit an Appointment Request Form, call the Learning Commons Welcome Desk at 308-865-8905, or stop by the Welcome Desk in person in University Residence North (URN). To submit a draft of your writing for a tutor to review, go to the Writing Center page.
[this is a UNK requirement to ensure all instructors and students abide by the same standards and expectations. These statements must appear in every syllabus. The most up-to-date statements can be found at the link provided]
https://www.unk.edu/academic_affairs/asa_forms/course-policies-and-resources.php
Attendance Policy
Academic Honesty Policy
Finals Week Policy
Reporting Student Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence, or Sexual Assault
Students with Disabilities
Students who are Pregnant
UNK Statement of Diversity & Inclusion
Mental Wellness
Military and Veteran Services
Refresh the look of your syllabus utilizing Canva to create a visual syllabus
Have you considered updating your syllabus to add in visual elements? A visual syllabus may encourage students to interact with your syllabus by taking it to Canva for a refresher. By using visuals, colors, images, dividers, or other options, your syllabus can draw the student’s attention and encourage them to review it more thoroughly. Note: all required items are included in the syllabus.
CDIS 252 Example from Crystal Hinrichs
ITEC 290 Example from Karen Premer
Feel free to reach out to the Center for Teaching Excellence for syllabus examples.
Course Title
Prefix/Number/Section
Course credits
Name/title
Office location
Contact information (phone/email)
Office Hours
Communication expectations – Example: Your best method to contact me is via email. I check my email throughout the work hours of 8 am – 5 pm, and will respond to your message within 24-48 hours (Fall and Spring) or 12-24 hours (Summer).
Instructor photo and introduction video
Prerequisites (if applicable)
must match the UNK catalog description
must use approved objectives from the catalog
What knowledge/skills will students learn from this course
Mode of instruction – face-to-face, online, blended
Frequency of meetings
Textbooks required and/or recommended, and other required materials such as online tools for homework, assignments, subscriptions, etc.
Additional fees (if applicable)
Types of assignments – Example: This class will include essay, report, literature review, discussion, case study, group project, presentation, online text homework, lab, exam, skill demonstration, reflection, oral debate, written report, etc.
Breakdown of how the points are spread out through the course
Example:
| Assignment | Points | Percentage of Grade |
| Discussion Boards (5) | 20 points each (100 points) | 15% of total grade |
| Presentation (1) | 100 points | 15% of total grade |
| Group Project (1) | 100 points | 15% of total grade |
| Exams (5) | 50 points each (250 points) | 35% of total grade |
| Online Text Homework | 150 points | 20% of total grade |
Grading Scale
Description of major assignments (if applicable)
General overview of topics
Placement of exams/Pacing
Attendance
Late work
Academic integrity
Copyright Statement – Example: “The materials on this Canvas course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated. The materials on this course website may be protected by copyright, and any further use of this material may be in violation of federal copyright law.”
Use of AI
Example: Learning Commons services are available in person and on Zoom for all online and on-campus UNK students. To request an appointment for subject tutoring, writing tutoring, success coaching, or foreign language support, please submit an Appointment Request Form, call the Learning Commons Welcome Desk at 308-865-8905, or stop by the Welcome Desk in person in University Residence North (URN). To submit a draft of your writing for a tutor to review, go to the Writing Center page.
https://www.unk.edu/academic_affairs/asa_forms/course-policies-and-resources.php
Attendance Policy
Academic Honesty Policy
Finals Week Policy
Reporting Student Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence, or Sexual Assault
Students with Disabilities
Students who are Pregnant
UNK Statement of Diversity & Inclusion
Mental Wellness
Military and Veteran Services
Refresh the look of your syllabus utilizing Canva to create a visual syllabus
CDIS 252 Example from Crystal Hinrichs
ITEC 290 Example from Karen Premer
Feel free to reach out to the Center for Teaching Excellence for syllabus examples.
