Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT)
UK Syllabus Template
This template was designed by the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and
Teaching (CELT) to help instructors at the University of Kentucky create a syllabus that
contains the necessary information for students and is in keeping with the University
Senate guidelines for syllabi.
Feel free to use any or all of the categories and text in the template in any order or any
format that best fits your course. Substitute your own text for the existing text if you
would like. Include any additional information that you deem important for your class or
is required by your department or college.
For additional information or assistance on creating a syllabus, visit the CELT office in
room 518 of the Science Library (King Building).
Departmental Prefix, Course Number, Section Number and Title of Course
Semester
A quote appropriate for the course could be included here.
Course Information:
Meeting Time
Meeting Location
Course Web Site
Other Information (e.g., Facebook page, Twitter address, Blog URL, etc.)
Instructor Information:
Name
Office location
Phone number
Email address
Office Hours (scheduled hours, if an appointment is needed)
Preferred method for reaching you
Teaching Assistant Information (if applicable):
Name
Office location
Phone number
Email address
Office Hours
An introduction to the course should go here. You might give an overview of the course
content and activities (conforming to the Bulletin description). You could state the
relevance of the course and describe how it fits into the rest of the curriculum. If the
course satisfies a UK Core requirement, this should be stated in the introduction.
Course Goals
What are the objectives of the course? They could be written as:
1) To provide knowledge about …
2) To enhance skills in …
3) To promote the values of …
Student Learning Outcomes
What do you want your students to leave with in terms of knowledge, skills and/or
attitudes? They are usually written as:
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
(Examples of possible outcomes)
List the major causes of …
Summarize in writing your feelings about …
Describe the steps involved in …
Explain the principles of …
Give examples of …
Create an action plan for …
Compute the results for …
List outcomes using measureable and observable action verbs. Avoid terms such
as “know,” “understand,” “appreciate” or “become familiar with.”
Note: If this course satisfies UK Core requirements, learning outcomes must
conform to the outcomes listed in the appropriate course template (e.g., Intellectual
Inquiry in the Humanities.)
Textbook
If applicable, list the textbook(s) and any other reading materials that the student will
need for the course. State whether they are required or optional. You might want to
describe how the textbook or readings will be used in the course.
Other Required Materials
List any lab supplies, equipment or other materials that will be required for the
course.
Exams and Assignments
List and describe the components of the course that will contribute to the
determination of the course grade. Specify the number of points for each and the
relative value given to each activity in the calculation of the course grade. For
example,
Exams: How many? How many points each? What is the format for the exams?
What will the exams cover? What kind of questions will be asked? Will there be
sample questions available? Is a grading rubric for essay questions available?
What is the make-up exam policy? Will there be a study guide or review session?
Can students challenge a question or the grading?
Final Exam: Day? Time? Duration? Location? How many points? What will it
cover? What is the format? Will there be a study guide or review session?
Written Reports: How many? How many points each? What are the topics of the
reports? What is the format for the reports? Will a report be handed in at one time
or will there be multiple submissions involving drafts or sections of the report? Will
the specific instructions be given out as a handout or posted at a web site? Are
samples available from previous semesters? Is there a grading rubric available? Is
the report an individual product or a group effort? What is the policy for late papers?
Other Assessments: What kind (lab reports, oral presentations, artistic product,
etc.)? How many? How many points each? Will the specific instructions be given
out as a handout or posted at a web site? Is there a grading rubric available? Are
the assessments individual products or group efforts? What is the late submission
policy?
Extra Credit: What is the policy for extra credit?
Note: When scheduling exams and assignments in undergraduate courses, you must
adhere to the University Senate rules regarding Dead Week (the last week of
instruction ion a regular semester or the last three days of instruction in a summer
session.) The Senate rules for Dead Week can be found at
http://www.uky.edu/Ombud/DeadWeek.php.
Relative Value of Assessments Toward Course Grade:
Grades will be based on the following exams and assignments: (Sample Table)
Assessment
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Final Exam
Library Assignment
Online Simulation
Interview Report
Group Oral Report
Reflection Paper
Research Paper
Total
Number
of points
30
30
30
60
15
15
15
15
15
75
300
Percentage of
Course Grade
10%
10%
10%
20%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
25%
100%
Course Grade
What is the numerical grading scale and the relationship to letter grades? Is the course
grade norm-referenced (curved)? Are there any other policies pertaining to the course
grade?
Course grades are assigned according to the following criteria. (Sample table)
Course Grade
A
B
C
D
E
Percentage
90% or better
80 – 89%
70 – 79%
60 – 69%
Below 60%
Points
270 – 300
240 – 269
210 – 239
180 – 209
Less than 180 points
Policies
Attendance
Will attendance be taken? How many excused and unexcused absences are
allowed?
Excused Absences and Verification (boilerplate)
Students need to notify the professor of absences prior to class when possible. S.R.
5.2.4.2 defines the following as acceptable reasons for excused absences: (a)
serious illness, (b) illness or death of family member, (c) University-related trips, (d)
major religious holidays, and (e) other circumstances found to fit “reasonable cause
for nonattendance” by the professor.
Students anticipating an absence for a major religious holiday are responsible for
notifying the instructor in writing of anticipated absences due to their observance of
such holidays no later than the last day in the semester to add a class.
Students are expected to withdraw from the class if more than 20% of the classes
scheduled for the semester are missed (excused or unexcused) per university policy.
Students may be asked to verify their absences in order for them to be considered
excused. Senate Rule 5.2.4.2 states that faculty have the right to request
“appropriate verification” when students claim an excused absence because of
illness or death in the family. Appropriate notification of absences due to universityrelated trips is required prior to the absence.
Make-Up Opportunities
When there is an excused absence, students must be given the opportunity to make
up missed work and/or exams. What is the policy for make-up exams when tests
are missed for an excused absence? What are the make-up opportunities for other
assignments?
Submission of Assignments
How are assignments to be turned in? Format? Time? Means of submission?
Academic Accommodations (boilerplate)
If you have a documented disability that requires academic accommodations, please
see me as soon as possible. In order to receive accommodations in this course, you
must provide me with a Letter of Accommodation from the Disability Resource
Center (DRC). The DRC coordinates campus disability services for students. It is
located on the corner of Rose Street and Huguelet Drive in the Multidisciplinary
Science Building, Suite 407. You can reach them via phone at 257-2754 and via
email at drc@uky.edu. Their web address is
http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/DisabilityResourceCenter.
Academic Integrity (boilerplate)
Per university policy, students shall not plagiarize, cheat, or falsify or misuse
academic records. Students are expected to adhere to University policy on cheating
and plagiarism in all courses. The minimum penalty for a first offense is a zero on
the assignment on which the offense occurred. If the offense is considered severe
or the student has other academic offenses on their record, more serious penalties,
up to suspension from the university may be imposed.
Plagiarism and cheating are serious breaches of academic conduct. Each student is
advised to become familiar with the various forms of academic dishonesty as
explained in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Complete information
can be found at the following website: http://www.uky.edu/Ombud. A plea of
ignorance is not acceptable as a defense against the charge of academic
dishonesty. It is important that you review this information as all ideas borrowed from
others need to be properly credited.
Please note: Any assignment you turn in may be submitted to an electronic
database to check for plagiarism.
(See the appendix below for the text from Senate Rules 6.3.1 regarding plagiarism
should you want to include this in your syllabus or make it available to students
elsewhere.)
Group Work and Student Collaborative Policy (if applicable)
Classroom Behavior, Decorum and Civility
A statement could be included here asking students to be respectful to others in the
class and engage in civil discourse when discussing topics that have a diversity of
perspectives. Include information about policies regarding classroom behavior such
as inappropriate use of electronic devices, carrying on conversations, arriving late,
or any other issue that you deem important for maintaining civility in the classroom.
Course Schedule
A course schedule should include class meeting dates, topics to be covered,
readings or other preparations for class, due dates for assignments and exam dates.
Sample schedule:
DATE
Jan. 14
Jan. 16
Jan. 19
Jan. 21
Jan. 23
Jan. 26
Jan. 28
Jan. 30
Feb. 2
Feb. 4
Feb. 6
TOPIC
Topic
Topic
Topic
Topic
Topic
Library Assignment Due
Topic
Topic
Exam 1
Topic
Topic
Topic
First Draft Due
Etc.
FINAL EXAM: Date, Time, and Location
READING
Syllabus Review
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapters 5 & 6
---------Chapter 7
Chapters 8, 9, & 10
Chapter 11
APPENDIX
Wording of University Senate Rule 6.3.1 on plagiarism:
All academic work, written or otherwise, submitted by students to their instructors or
other academic supervisors, is expected to be the result of their own thought, research,
or self-expression. In cases where students feel unsure about a question of plagiarism
involving their work, they are obliged to consult their instructors on the matter before
submission.
When students submit work purporting to be their own, but which in any way borrows
ideas, organization, wording or content from another source without appropriate
acknowledgment of the fact, the students are guilty of plagiarism.
Plagiarism includes reproducing someone else's work (including, but not limited to, a
published article, book, a website, computer code, or a paper from a friend) without
clear attribution. Plagiarism also includes the practice of employing or allowing another
person to alter or revise the work which a student submits as his/her own, whoever that
other person may be. Students may discuss assignments among themselves or with an
instructor or tutor, but when the actual work is done, it must be done by the student, and
the student alone. Plagiarism may also include double submission, self-plagiarism, or
unauthorized resubmission of one’s own work, as defined by the instructor.
When a student's assignment involves research in outside sources or information, the
student must carefully acknowledge exactly what, where and how he/she has employed
them. If the words of someone else are used, the student must put quotation marks
around the passage in question and add an appropriate indication of its origin. Making
simple changes while leaving the organization, content and phraseology intact is
plagiaristic. However, nothing in these Rules shall apply to those ideas which are so
generally and freely circulated as to be part of the public domain.