Portland State University
Graduate School of Education
Syllabus Framework
This framework is designed as a guide for your creation of a syllabus for a class in the PSU
Graduate School of Education. The items that are starred (*) are required in all syllabi.
Remember a syllabus is a contract between you and your students.
The instructor has the discretion to put these in any logical order:
Item
1. University &
Department
2a. Course
Identification
information
2b. Course
Reference
Number
(not required but
may be helpful
for students &
you)
3. Term this
syllabus is
applicable
4. Instructor
Contact
Information (a
minimum of one
method for
contacting the
instructor)
5. Disability
Access
Information
September 2013
Content
Portland State University
Graduate School of Education
Department Identification, Course #, Course Title
Required
*
*
CRN#
*
For example, Fall 2012
*
Instructor:
Office Location or mail box location:
Phone:
Email:
Availability for meeting with students (when, where and
how to contact):
*
“If you require accommodations (e.g. special seating,
interpreter, note-taker, etc.), please inform your
instructor immediately. Students with disabilities should
register with the PSU Disability Resource Center (503725-4150; TTY or Relay 503-725-4178) to document their
need for accommodations and obtain support services. I
will work with you to arrange the supports you need in
this class.” Further resources for faculty can be found
here: http://www.drc.pdx.edu/facultyresources.html
*
1
Item
6. GSE
Conceptual
Framework
7. Narrative
Course
Description
8. National
Professional
Standards
9. Required
text(s) and
materials
10. Course
Objectives
11. Class
schedule with
topics,
activities and
assignment
due dates
12.
Procedures
and criteria
for
assessment
13. Course
evaluation
reminder
14.
Differentiated
assignment(s)
September 2013
Content
Vision Statement: Preparing professionals to lead life-long
learning and development within our diverse communities.
The Conceptual Framework can be found here:
http://www.pdx.edu/education/gse-conceptual-framework
Introduction to the course
Catalogue course description (unless it is a 410, 510 or 610
course, and does not have a catalog description).
Will differ by specialty area
Required
*
Books, journals, laboratory materials should all be listed
here with enough information for the students to find the
materials online or locally. Please use APA style. For
assistance go to: http://library.pdx.edu/citing_sources.html.
Objectives should be listed and linked to the GSE Conceptual
Framework (http://www.pdx.edu/education/gseconceptual-framework), program objectives and TSPC
competencies, and/or national standards as appropriate for
specialty area. A table or matrix is a useful way to show this
information
Session by session schedule of classes with dates, topics and
assignment due dates. If you anticipate changes in the
schedule during the term you may add “subject to change”
as appropriate.
*
A description of all assignments and the extent to which
they contribute to the course grade (point value or percent).
Rubrics are not required but are strongly recommended.
Linking assignments to course objectives is also strongly
recommended (this information can be added to the table
created for #11 above).
Please insert an “assignment” into the final week of your
syllabus that reminds students of the importance of
completing the online course evaluation.
Courses with both undergraduate and graduate students
(400/500 courses) must include distinct, substantive
requirements for undergraduate and graduate students, i.e.,
graduate students are required to do additional work
beyond what is expected for undergraduates. A distinction
can be made by indicating additional readings and/or
distinct or additional assignments. Instructors may also
want to include separate learning objectives for
undergraduate and graduate students, and/or distinct
criteria for the final grade. Expecting graduate students to
produce higher quality work is not considered sufficient
basis for defining the graduate experience.
*
*
*
*
*
* (for all
online
courses)
* (for all
4xx/5xx
courses)
2
Item
15. Policy:
Late
Assignments
16. Policy:
Attendance
and Tardiness
17. Policy:
Classroom
Demeanor
and Courtesy
(highly
recommended)
18. Policy:
Incompletes
(highly
recommended)
19. Policy:
Academic
Integrity
(highly
recommended)
Content
No explicit GSE policy. You may create whatever is
comfortable for you; however an explicitly stated policy is
only fair to students and will avoid future problems.
No explicit GSE policy. You may create whatever is
comfortable for you. An explicitly stated policy will avoid
future problems. Many of our students are working
professionals and there is often a balance between their
work demands and the rigor we expect from our
coursework.
No explicit GSE policy. You should however make some
statement about classroom demeanor and courtesy, such as:
“Because students may not share the same opinions on
different topics on this class, it is important that we
remember to respect the opinions and ideas of others. We
expect all students to show respect and courtesy for all
members of this class at all times.” You may want to make
reference to the Student Conduct Code:
http://www.pdx.edu/sites/www.pdx.edu.education/files/g
se_handbook_student_conduct.pdf
An explicit PSU policy exists:
http://www.pdx.edu/ogs/incomplete-grades
Make it clear to students that the instructor is not obligated
to give students an Incomplete (I), and that four criteria
need to be met to assign an incomplete.
In the PSU Student Conduct Code # 577-031-0136
Required
The following constitutes conduct as proscribed by Portland
State University for which a student or student organization
or group is subject to disciplinary action:
(1) Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research,
administration, disciplinary procedures or other University
activities, including the University's public service functions
or other authorized activities on University-owned or controlled property, or any other location where teaching,
research, administration, disciplinary procedures or other
University activities take place.
(2) All forms of academic dishonesty, cheating, and fraud,
including but not limited to: (a) plagiarism, (b) the buying
and selling of course assignments and research papers, (c)
performing academic assignments (including tests and
examinations) for other persons, (d) unauthorized
disclosure and receipt of academic information and (e)
falsification of research data.
September 2013
3
Item
20. Policy:
Returning
student work
(highly
recommended)
21. Student
Health
Insurance
(highly
recommended)
Content
Due to FERPA guidelines, student work must be directly
returned to each student (either face to face or via
electronic or “snail” mail). It is recommended that
instructors let students know that if they want a hard copy
of their work returned that they should provide a stamped,
self addressed envelope large enough to hold the
assignments to be returned.
PSU provides students taking 5 or more inload, non selfsupport credits per term (1 credit for international
students) with the mandatory PSU/Aetna Student Health
Insurance Plan.
Required
See http://www.pdx.edu/shac/insuranceplan for more
information.
Students may waive the insurance but must provide proof
of enrollment in a comparable insurance policy offered
through another company. Students only need to waive
out once per academic year.
All eligible students will be charged
for insurance unless they waive out by the waiver
application deadline, the second Sunday of each term.
See http://www.pdx.edu/shac/insurancewaiver for
specific information and directions about waiving the
health insurance, and a link to the online waiver
application.
22. LGBTQ
Resolution
Statement
(Recommended
C&I Dept.)
September 2013
Contact insurancehelp@pdx.edu for more information.
As part of its commitment to social justice and human
dignity, the Curriculum and Instruction Department
demonstrates LGBTQ advocacy through inclusive policies
and practices that are both intentionally proactive and
strategically responsive.
4