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To:COE Faculty and Staff

From:Larry Hovey

Re:Course Syllabi

Date: December 3, 2014

The fall 2014 semester is drawing down, it will soon be time to begin 2015 classes, and new course syllabi must be prepared. Let’s try to simplify the process by focusing on the minimum university/college requirements, and by eliminating the relationship to the NCATE/CAEP Conceptual Framework.

There is no longer a standardized “NCATE/CAEP” syllabus format for the entire college. The format for course syllabi is the responsibility of each program, should be consistent within a program, but may vary between programs. That said,there are factors to consider.

Texas Tech Universityhas some syllabi parameters as Operating Policies and Procedures (OP).

  • OP 32.06: Faculty Responsibility
  • …within the first week of the semester, faculty members must provide a course syllabus that includes:
  • the course outline;
  • the expected learning outcomes from the course;
  • the methods of assessing those outcomes; and
  • the criteria for grade determination.
  • Additionally, the faculty member should include in the course syllabus statements on university policy concerning academic integrity/honesty (OP 34.12.3), special accommodation for students with disabilities (OP 34.22), and student absence for observance of a religious holy day (OP 34.19). Additionally the college recommends the inclusion of statements of grade appeals (34.03) and Classroom Civility/Etiquette as discussed in the Strive for Honor brochure.
  • OP 32.32: Performance Evaluations of Faculty
  • The administrator responsible for evaluating a faculty member shall provide written evaluations of the faculty member's performance for the preceding year. As one part of the evaluation, the chairperson will verify the inclusion in the course syllabi of the expected student learning outcomes and the methods used to assess those outcomes (as required by OP 32.06, Faculty Responsibility).
  • House Bill 2504 requires that students, parents, alumni, and community members have easy access to course syllabi. By the seventh class day of each semester/session, undergraduate course syllabi with associated instructor vita must be posted online and accessible from the TTU homepage. H.B. 2504 specifically applies to undergraduate courses. However, as a courtesy to students and other faculty members, the college expects graduate syllabi and faculty vitato be posted. The Office of Planning and Assessment provides guidelines for posting syllabi through Digital Measures. These syllabi and faculty vita will then automatically be posted to the university’s Public Access website.

The College of Education also has set course syllabi guidelines.

  • Courses and associated syllabi should not be stand-alone, but considered part of an integrated program. Syllabi should reflect how a given course contributes to the overall program, particularly supporting to theprograms trademark outcome(s).
  • Syllabi shouldindicate how the course relates to the program’s three phases of curriculum and assessment, including appropriate interventions.
  • P1)focuses on the acquisition of knowledge and skills;
  • P2)applies P1 knowledge and skills into guided or hypothetical settings; and
  • P3) usesP1 and P2 knowledge and skills to solve problems in real world situations.
  • Syllabi should indicate how courses incorporate Apply and Evaluate (A&E) activities.
  • Syllabi no longer need to indicate a relationship to the NCATE/CAEP Conceptual Framework.
  • Syllabi examples are found online at the university’s webpage for Public Access to Course Information. However, these examples vary considerably, so a standardized syllabi format should be developed for all courses within a program.

Guidelines for course syllabi are summarized in the following table. Also, an attached document contains elements of course syllabi, which may be modified and incorporated into a syllabus specific to your course. The elements are taken from several existing syllabi, including online ones, and are referenced as to the source. Also, certainly your previous syllabi will be a main resource.

COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Information
  • Prefix, Number and Section
  • Course Title
  • Course Credit
  • Semester and Year
  • Course meeting time and location
  • Course Description1
  • Course Purpose

Instructor
  • Name
  • Office location
  • Office telephone number
  • E-mail address
  • Office hours

Trademark Outcome(s)
Indication how the course relates to the program’s three phases of curriculum and assessments, and the Phase(s) being addressed by this course.
Apply & Evaluate (A&E) incorporated into the course
Course Outline 2 with Student Learning Outcomes 3and associated assessments
Textbook or other printed/electronic required or supplemental materials
Assignments, Evaluation Procedures, and Grading Policies
Schedule of activities and assignments
Course Policies and Procedures 4
Selected Bibliography5
Other guidelines and policies as determined by program faculty.

1 Course Description:This should be the university catalog course description, which may be found online

2Course Outline: This a detailed listing of the major topics included in the course. Major headings and subheadings should be linked to specific student learning outcomes.

3Student Learning Outcomes: What faculty members expect students to know and to be able to do by the end of the course, which should include skills and products.

4Course Policies: This section is used to describe policies for class attendance, make-up work, absence for observance of religious holidays, etc. Included here are also such statements as accommodations for students with disabilities, appropriate dress for field experiences, academic honesty and civility in the classroom.

5Selected Bibliography: The literature/knowledge base that supports the course.