Center for Teaching Excellence
For additional resources about teaching and learning visit the Center for Teaching Excellence at www.gmu.edu/cte
Designing your Syllabus
All faculty are required to provide students with a printed syllabus during the first class meeting. A course syllabus is essentially a contract between the instructor and the student and is a vital tool for communicating expectations between students and faculty. A well-constructed syllabus provides a roadmap for the course, answers frequently asked questions, can help to lessen student anxiety, and allows the faculty member to concentrate on instruction. The enclosed checklist can assist you in determining whether your syllabus includes all of the components considered essential.
Basic Information
- About you (and your TA): name, title address, office/(home) phone numbers, office hours, restrictions on calls to home, message arrangements, E-mail address, and website if any.
- Course by #, section, title, credit hours, meeting days and times, room, and bldg.
- Prerequisites (course and/or skills)
- Required purchases: texts and supplies.
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Space for names and telephone numbers of at least two classmates. Ask students to fill this in on the first day - this connects them with others in the class, gives them someone to contact about questions, and starts to build a community in the classroom.
Course Descriptions and Objectives
- Description of the course. Why do people study this area of knowledge?
- Course goals and objectives. What factual material, characteristics, qualities, abilities, or competencies do you expect the student to have mastered at the end of the course?
- What is the value of the course to the student? And how does this particular course fit into the student's discipline or gen ed requirement?  
- Why is the course content arranged in this order?
- How will instruction be handled: lectures, discussions, group work, labs, etc?
Grading and Course Requirements
- Grading standards, weight, and criteria for each graded component to be included in the final grade. This may include points for class participation.
- Course assignments and projects: due dates, format suggestions/requirements, level/type of research expected, approximate length, criteria for grading. And an explanation of the purpose of each assignment and project.
General course policies
- Policies regarding attendance and participation. If participation is included in the grade, how do you define and measure participation?
- Policy regarding late assignments, make-up exams, and extra credit.
- Policy regarding incompletes
- Policy on electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, etc)
Honor Code Statement regarding academic honesty and integrity. See http://www.gmu.edu/catalog/apolicies/ for more information
Honor Code Statement: To promote a stronger sense of mutual responsibility, respect, trust, and fairness among all members of the George Mason University community and with the desire for greater academic and personal achievement, we, the student members of the University Community have set forth this honor code: Student members of the George Mason University community pledge not to cheat, plagiarize, steal, or lie in matters related to academic work.
Tentative Course Schedule
- Topics to be covered in sequence with dates.
- Dues dates for reading assignments, projects, exams, etc.
Student Support Resources on Campus
- Office of Disability Services: REQUIRED
Example Statement: If you have a documented learning disability or other condition that may affect academic performance you should: 1) make sure this documentation is on file with the Office of Disability Services (SUB I, Rm. 222; 993-2474; www.gmu.edu/student/drc) to determine the accommodations you need; and 2) talk with me to discuss your accommodation needs.
- Include other resources, as appropriate.
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