Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT)
UK Syllabus Template
This template was designed by the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) to help instructors at the University of Kentucky create a syllabus that contains the necessary information for students and is in keeping with the University Senate guidelines for syllabi.
Feel free to use any or all of the categories and text in the template in any order or any format that best fits your course. Substitute your own text for the existing text if you would like. Include any additional information that you deem important for your class or is required by your department or college.
For additional information or assistance on creating a syllabus, visit the CELT office in room 518 of the Science Library (King Building).
Departmental Prefix, Course Number, Section Number and Title of Course
Semester
A quote appropriate for the course could be included here.
Course Information:
Meeting Time
Meeting Location
Course Web Site
Other Information (e.g., Facebook page, Twitter address, Blog URL, etc.)
Instructor Information:
Name
Office location
Phone number
Email address
Office Hours (scheduled hours, if an appointment is needed)
Preferred method for reaching you
Teaching Assistant Information (if applicable):
Name
Office location
Phone number
Email address
Office Hours
An introduction to the course should go here. You might give an overview of the course content and activities (conforming to the Bulletin description). You could state the relevance of the course and describe how it fits into the rest of the curriculum. If the course satisfies a UK Core requirement, this should be stated in the introduction.
Course Goals
What are the objectives of the course? They could be written as:
1) To provide knowledge about …
2) To enhance skills in …
3) To promote the values of …
Student Learning Outcomes
What do you want your students to leave with in terms of knowledge, skills and/or attitudes? They are usually written as:
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
(Examples of possible outcomes)
List the major causes of …
Summarize in writing your feelings about …
Describe the steps involved in …
Explain the principles of …
Give examples of …
Create an action plan for …
Compute the results for …
List outcomes using measureable and observable action verbs. Avoid terms such as “know,” “understand,” “appreciate” or “become familiar with.”
Note: If this course satisfies UK Core requirements, learning outcomes must conform to the outcomes listed in the appropriate course template (e.g., Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities.)
Textbook
If applicable, list the textbook(s) and any other reading materials that the student will need for the course. State whether they are required or optional. You might want to describe how the textbook or readings will be used in the course.
Other Required Materials
List any lab supplies, equipment or other materials that will be required for the course.
Exams and Assignments
List and describe the components of the course that will contribute to the determination of the course grade. Specify the number of points for each and the relative value given to each activity in the calculation of the course grade. For example,
Exams: How many? How many points each? What is the format for the exams? What will the exams cover? What kind of questions will be asked? Will there be sample questions available? Is a grading rubric for essay questions available? What is the make-up exam policy? Will there be a study guide or review session? Can students challenge a question or the grading?
Final Exam: Day? Time? Duration? Location? How many points? What will it cover? What is the format? Will there be a study guide or review session?
Written Reports: How many? How many points each? What are the topics of the reports? What is the format for the reports? Will a report be handed in at one time or will there be multiple submissions involving drafts or sections of the report? Will the specific instructions be given out as a handout or posted at a web site? Are samples available from previous semesters? Is there a grading rubric available? Is the report an individual product or a group effort? What is the policy for late papers?
Other Assessments: What kind (lab reports, oral presentations, artistic product, etc.)? How many? How many points each? Will the specific instructions be given out as a handout or posted at a web site? Is there a grading rubric available? Are the assessments individual products or group efforts? What is the late submission policy?
Extra Credit: What is the policy for extra credit?
Note: When scheduling exams and assignments in undergraduate courses, you must adhere to the University Senate rules regarding Dead Week (the last week of instruction ion a regular semester or the last three days of instruction in a summer session.) The Senate rules for Dead Week can be found at http://www.uky.edu/Ombud/DeadWeek.php.
Relative Value of Assessments Toward Course Grade:
Grades will be based on the following exams and assignments: (Sample Table)
Assessment / Number of points / Percentage of Course GradeExam 1 / 30 / 10%
Exam 2 / 30 / 10%
Exam 3 / 30 / 10%
Final Exam / 60 / 20%
Library Assignment / 15 / 5%
Online Simulation / 15 / 5%
Interview Report / 15 / 5%
Group Oral Report / 15 / 5%
Reflection Paper / 15 / 5%
Research Paper / 75 / 25%
Total / 300 / 100%
Course Grade
What is the numerical grading scale and the relationship to letter grades? Is the course grade norm-referenced (curved)? Are there any other policies pertaining to the course grade?
Course grades are assigned according to the following criteria. (Sample table)
Course Grade / Percentage / PointsA / 90% or better / 270 – 300
B / 80 – 89% / 240 – 269
C / 70 – 79% / 210 – 239
D / 60 – 69% / 180 – 209
E / Below 60% / Less than 180 points
Policies
Attendance
Will attendance be taken? How many excused and unexcused absences are allowed?
Excused Absences and Verification (boilerplate)
Students need to notify the professor of absences prior to class when possible. S.R. 5.2.4.2 defines the following as acceptable reasons for excused absences: (a) serious illness, (b) illness or death of family member, (c) University-related trips, (d) major religious holidays, and (e) other circumstances found to fit “reasonable cause for nonattendance” by the professor.
Students anticipating an absence for a major religious holiday are responsible for notifying the instructor in writing of anticipated absences due to their observance of such holidays no later than the last day in the semester to add a class.
Students are expected to withdraw from the class if more than 20% of the classes scheduled for the semester are missed (excused or unexcused) per university policy.
Students may be asked to verify their absences in order for them to be considered excused. Senate Rule 5.2.4.2 states that faculty have the right to request “appropriate verification” when students claim an excused absence because of illness or death in the family. Appropriate notification of absences due to university-related trips is required prior to the absence.
Make-Up Opportunities
When there is an excused absence, students must be given the opportunity to make up missed work and/or exams. What is the policy for make-up exams when tests are missed for an excused absence? What are the make-up opportunities for other assignments?
Submission of Assignments
How are assignments to be turned in? Format? Time? Means of submission?
Academic Accommodations (boilerplate)
If you have a documented disability that requires academic accommodations, please see me as soon as possible. In order to receive accommodations in this course, you must provide me with a Letter of Accommodation from the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC coordinates campus disability services for students. It is located on the corner of Rose Street and Huguelet Drive in the Multidisciplinary Science Building, Suite 407. You can reach them via phone at 257-2754 and via email at . Their web address is http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/DisabilityResourceCenter.
Academic Integrity (boilerplate)
Per university policy, students shall not plagiarize, cheat, or falsify or misuse academic records. Students are expected to adhere to University policy on cheating and plagiarism in all courses. The minimum penalty for a first offense is a zero on the assignment on which the offense occurred. If the offense is considered severe or the student has other academic offenses on their record, more serious penalties, up to suspension from the university may be imposed.
Plagiarism and cheating are serious breaches of academic conduct. Each student is advised to become familiar with the various forms of academic dishonesty as explained in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Complete information can be found at the following website: http://www.uky.edu/Ombud. A plea of ignorance is not acceptable as a defense against the charge of academic dishonesty. It is important that you review this information as all ideas borrowed from others need to be properly credited.
Please note: Any assignment you turn in may be submitted to an electronic database to check for plagiarism.
(See the appendix below for the text from Senate Rules 6.3.1 regarding plagiarism should you want to include this in your syllabus or make it available to students elsewhere.)
Group Work and Student Collaborative Policy (if applicable)
Classroom Behavior, Decorum and Civility
A statement could be included here asking students to be respectful to others in the class and engage in civil discourse when discussing topics that have a diversity of perspectives. Include information about policies regarding classroom behavior such as inappropriate use of electronic devices, carrying on conversations, arriving late, or any other issue that you deem important for maintaining civility in the classroom.
Course Schedule
A course schedule should include class meeting dates, topics to be covered, readings or other preparations for class, due dates for assignments and exam dates.
Sample schedule:
DATE / TOPIC / READINGJan. 14 / Topic / Syllabus Review
Jan. 16 / Topic / Chapter 1
Jan. 19 / Topic / Chapter 2
Jan. 21 / Topic / Chapter 3
Jan. 23 / Topic
Library Assignment Due / Chapter 3
Jan. 26 / Topic / Chapter 4
Jan. 28 / Topic / Chapters 5 & 6
Jan. 30 / Exam 1 / ------
Feb. 2 / Topic / Chapter 7
Feb. 4 / Topic / Chapters 8, 9, & 10
Feb. 6 / Topic
First Draft Due / Chapter 11
Etc.
FINAL EXAM: Date, Time, and Location
APPENDIX
Wording of University Senate Rule 6.3.1 on plagiarism:
All academic work, written or otherwise, submitted by students to their instructors or other academic supervisors, is expected to be the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression. In cases where students feel unsure about a question of plagiarism involving their work, they are obliged to consult their instructors on the matter before submission.
When students submit work purporting to be their own, but which in any way borrows ideas, organization, wording or content from another source without appropriate acknowledgment of the fact, the students are guilty of plagiarism.
Plagiarism includes reproducing someone else's work (including, but not limited to, a published article, book, a website, computer code, or a paper from a friend) without clear attribution. Plagiarism also includes the practice of employing or allowing another person to alter or revise the work which a student submits as his/her own, whoever that other person may be. Students may discuss assignments among themselves or with an instructor or tutor, but when the actual work is done, it must be done by the student, and the student alone. Plagiarism may also include double submission, self-plagiarism, or unauthorized resubmission of one’s own work, as defined by the instructor.
When a student's assignment involves research in outside sources or information, the student must carefully acknowledge exactly what, where and how he/she has employed them. If the words of someone else are used, the student must put quotation marks around the passage in question and add an appropriate indication of its origin. Making simple changes while leaving the organization, content and phraseology intact is plagiaristic. However, nothing in these Rules shall apply to those ideas which are so generally and freely circulated as to be part of the public domain.