Syllabuses

A syllabus, in education, is a document that outlines the scope, requirements, and organization of a course. It typically describes the course goals, learning objectives, schedule of topics, required readings, assignments, assessment methods, grading policy, and classroom expectations.

Syllabuses (plural) is the term used to refer to multiple such documents; the word syllabus is Latin in origin. The plural forms syllabi and syllabuses are both encountered, with syllabi more common in scholarly writing.

A syllabus serves several purposes: it communicates expectations to students, provides a roadmap for the term, and helps instructors plan alignment between activities and assessments and learning outcomes. It may include prerequisites, policies on attendance, late work, academic integrity, accessibility statements, and resources for support.

Typical components: course title and code, instructor contact, scope and sequence of topics, required and optional readings, assignment due dates, grading criteria, exam dates, and policies on collaboration and plagiarism. Some syllabuses specify weekly modules, learning outcomes aligned with program goals, and how to track progress.

Variations exist by country and institution. In some contexts a syllabus may also refer to a broader program or curriculum outline, whereas in others it is strictly a single course document. Institutions typically provide templates or guidelines to standardize content while allowing disciplinary differences.