Loyola University Chicago

Faculty Center for Ignatian Pedagogy

Syllabus Design

A syllabus is a guiding document that maps out course requirements and expectations. Since the syllabus is one of the first documents students will see in the course, making a good impression is important. The syllabus can lay out expectations and policies while using a welcoming tone. The syllabus generally includes a course calendar and schedule, a description of university policies, a list of student support services, grading and assignment guidelines, a description of the technology requirements, a set of guidelines for discussion, a list of course materials, and a list of course goals and outcomes. Here are resources to help you as you craft your syllabi.

Resources: 

Chosen Modes of Address Resources - In this short video, FCIP's anti-oppressive pedagogy specialist discusses what is meant by chosen modes of address and the importance of using chosen modes of address in the classroom.

Creating a Student-Centered Syllabus - In this video, School of Continuing and Professional Studies faculty member Dr. Ryan Cumming shares what it means to design a student-centered syllabus and why it matters for the students. He also discusses ten effective strategies for creating a student-centered syllabus.

Decolonizing Your Syllabus and Making Your Syllabus More Inclusive - In this video, political science professor Dr. Lavar Pope discusses decolonizing his course syllabus on the history of rap and racism in the U.S. to represent non-White voices and raise students' awareness about racism. Pope shares how he organizes his syllabus, course objectives, course work/readings, and assignments to form an integrative, inclusive, racially plural understanding of U.S. history. 

Sample Syllabus Template from the Office of Online Learning - This syllabus template, designed to promote student-centered learning, includes sections on instructor and course information, assignments and grading, policies and resources, student support, and the weekly schedule.

Syllabus Design Workshop Materials - This workshop covers topics such as what a syllabus is, why it is important, how to give it a warm tone, and what to look for when auditing your own syllabus.