Things to Look for When Reading Your Syllabus
The beginning of the term can feel overwhelming, especially if it's your first time back in the classroom in a while. But there are some things you can do to make things easier, both now and down the road. The first thing to do – is read your syllabus.
What is a Course Syllabus?
Each professor or instructor will give you a digital or paper document that outlines the course. It will tell you the required reading, test dates, how and when to contact your professor with questions and a grading scale. It outlines the professor's expectations for you and how they will respond.
A syllabus will answer most of these questions:
What will I be learning in this course?
What are the required textbooks?
What happens if I miss an exam?
What is the policy on late work?
Where do I go if I am struggling in my courses?
How will I be graded on my work?
When are the due dates for my assignments?
How can I contact my professor out of class?
How to Read Your Syllabus
See how important this document is? It may seem long or overwhelming, but you'll be able to find the information you need in various sections. Some of those may be important at the beginning of the course, and some you may reference later.
Instructor Information
This section has your professor's information, how to contact them and when they are available. It should also indicate how they prefer to be contacted (most like emails) and when you can expect them to respond. Remember, they are teaching several classes and likely have at least 100 students to respond to, so it may take them a day or two.
Course Information
You may be tempted to skip the course information section since you know what course you've enrolled in, but glance over it anyway. This section should include:
Course Name – as it appears in the course catalog
Meeting location – where, when and how the class meets (may also include the attendance policy, if there is one)
Course description – should look a lot like the one in the course catalog
Prerequisites – what courses are required before taking this course
Course credit hours – how many units of credit you'll receive for completing this course
Course Materials
Here is where you will learn what textbooks or required reading assignments you'll have for this course. You may need a novel, an atlas, a special calculator or even a particular version of a textbook. Most of the time, these are available from the bookstore or online.
Course Goals
This brief section allows the professor to outline their goals for instruction. Here's what they will teach and want you to learn. This is an excellent section to read closely, so you know what to expect from the professor and what topics you'll likely cover.
Grading & Evaluation
The professor will list the things that affect your grade here. You'll see how much tests are worth and whether attendance is factored into the grade. This is also where you should find the information on the grading system the professor uses. Read this section thoroughly and ask questions before the first graded assignment is due.
Course Schedule
You'll want to have your calendar nearby when reading this section. The schedule of events for this course will be listed here. Generally, things include reading assessments, test dates and other important information. Keeping track of these dates and planning around them will help alleviate stress and last-minute work. You can also compare test and project due dates from your other classes and ask your professor about potential conflicts.
You may find additional information regarding attendance policies, disability accommodations and specific resources for citations or assistance with classwork included in your syllabus. This document is provided to help you plan for your courses and to answer basic questions about the class. If you have more questions, reach out to your professor.