Online Course Syllabus Template
Instructions for using this Course Syllabus
Template

The syllabus is broken into discrete sections, which can be
rearranged, removed, or modified to best fit your course and
teaching style.

Adjust descriptions of activities and outcomes to fit your
course.
o Look for text in brackets [ text to change ] used as a
placeholder, to indicate information needed, text you
should change, or notes. Be sure to delete these
notes before finalizing your syllabus
o Be sure to remove references to tools, activities, or
outcomes that you do not plan to use in your course.
o The syllabus includes some common language to
describe campus policies and services to serve as a
guideline for you. Be sure to read these sections
and change language to fit your course needs.
o Don’t forget to rename this document from SyllabusAccessible-Template.docx to something more
appropriate for your course.
Make Your Syllabus Accessible
Using this syllabus template is your first step toward creating an
accessible syllabus. Contact the Office of Learning Technology1 for
additional help and information.
Delete this first page from your
finished syllabus before distribution.
1
http://www.pnc.edu/distance
College Name
Purdue University North Central
[Department]
[ Course Name and Number ]
[ Term ]
Part 1: Course Information & Objectives
Instructor Information
Instructor: [ Name ]
Office: [ Location ]
Office Hours: [ Times & Days
(Note: if online, explain
how to access) ]
Office Telephone: [ Phone Number ]
E-mail: [ E-mail address (Note: specify your preferred
contact) ]
Course Description
[ Enter course description here ]
Prerequisites
[ Enter prerequisite information here, if applicable ]
Course Objectives
[ List the primary learning objectives for this course here. This may
also be the place where you list departmental standards and
accreditation information as required by your department. ]



[ Objective ]
[ Objective ]
[ Objective ]
You will meet the objectives listed above through a combination of the
following activities in this course:
[ Provide instructions to students on how they are expected to meet
the learning objectives for the course here. For example: Will most
objectives be met through examination? Or through participation? Or
through projects? ]



[ Attend ]
[ Complete ]
[ Participate ]
Required Materials
Required Text

[ List required course textbooks here. Include detail such as full name
of textbook, author, edition, ISBN, description (if desired), and where
it can be purchased. If a required text is available online, indicate
where it can be accessed. ]
Recommended Texts & Other Readings

[ List other readings available and how/where to access them. ]
Part 2: Assignments / Schedule
{Note about calendar/schedule. While it is
important to clearly indicate the schedule for your
course, there are many places where you may do
this. You may include a topic outline/schedule (like
the examples shown below) in your syllabus, make a
separate link to a schedule document in your online
course. Regardless of which you choose, be
consistent, and keep your calendar up-to-date to
help students follow along, reduce confusion, and
emphasize time on task. }
[ Important Note: Refer to the course calendar for specific meeting
dates and times. Activity and assignment details will be explained in
detail within each week's corresponding learning module. If you have
any questions, please contact your instructor. ]
Week 1: [ Topic
Details …]
Week 2: [ Topic
Details …]
Week 3: [ Topic
Details …]
Week 4: [ Topic
Details …]
Week 5: [ Topic
Details …]
Alternate Format:
Week
Topic
Readings
Activities
Due Date
Week
1
2
3
4
Topic
Readings
Activities
Due Date
Part 3: Determination of Course Grade
Graded Course Activities
Points
#
#
100
Description
Item 1 (List all activities, tests, etc. that will
determine the students’ final grade)
Item 2
Total Points Possible
Late Work Policy
[Explain your policy here clearly to the student
Example: Be sure to pay close attention to deadlines—there will be no
make up assignments or quizzes, or late work accepted without a
serious and compelling reason and instructor approval. ]
Viewing Grades
[ Include a statement about the timeframe of when to look for
grades. Example: Your instructor will update the online grades each
time a grading session has been complete—typically X days following
the completion of an activity. You will see a visual indication of new
grades posted on your course home page under the link to this course.
You may also with to include a statement about how students view
grades, such as accessing them through the My Grades tool in
BlackBoard.]
Letter Grade Assignment
[ Include an explanation between the relationship of points earned
and final letter grade. Weights and percentages should also be
explained clearly in this section. Example: Final grades assigned for
this course will be based on the percentage of total points earned and
are assigned as follows: ]
Letter Grade
Percentage
A
93-100%
A-
90-92%
B+
87-89%
B
83-86%
Points or percentages
needed (if applicable)
Letter Grade
Percentage
B-
80-82%
C+
77-79%
C
73-76%
C-
70-72%
D+
67-69%
D
60-66%
F
0-59%
Points or percentages
needed (if applicable)
Important note: For more information about grading at Purdue North
Central, visit the academic policies and grading section of the university
catalog.
]
Part 4: Course Policies
Attendance Policies
Assignment and Testing Policies
Technology Policies
Required Software and discussion of BlackBoard requirements. Sample
language below:
Software Required:
Many of the course assignments will be using Microsoft Office (any version 2007 or above
will work).
IMPORTANT: If you do not have Office 2007 or above, you can sign up for Office 365
online at http://products.office.com/en-us/student/office-in-education. Be sure to use
your Purdue “career account” email, which is the your username @purdue.edu instead
of @pnc.edu (i.e., jsmith@purdue.edu) when signing up.
Blackboard Learn:
It is essential that you are comfortable with navigating and using the general tools within a
course in Blackboard (email, discussion post, submitting an assignment, etc.). If you are
new to using Blackboard Learn or need additional support, it is very important that you
proceed through the “Student Help” tab from the main menu in this course. In addition,
you can always access the PNC student website for support with Blackboard, Microsoft
Office, and general distance education success tips at:
http://www.pnc.edu/distance/student-support
Note that this course requires access to the Internet and access to Microsoft Office (or a
reasonable equivalent such as Google Docs) in order to be successful. You may find
everything you need on campus in the student labs that are available, and in the use of the
wi-fi network with your own laptop or other equipment.
If you are unable to access your Blackboard course or have other technical issues
with log-in, etc., contact the PNC helpdesk at (219)785-5511.
Note that any system outage that impacts our ability to meet course deadlines will be dealt
with on a case-by-case basis, and actions may include extension of due dates due to
uncontrollable outage circumstances.
Academic Dishonesty Policy
Classroom Civility Policies
Purdue University Calumet
Page 7
Participation
[ samples listed below: Students are expected to participate in all online
activities as listed on the course calendar. Enter specific points regarding
attendance policy here.
If you monitor, track, and/or score student participation, explain how you will
keep track and how often students should be accessing the course. If
appropriate, mention tracking tools that you will be using such as
discussions, chat sessions, and group work, to monitor their participation in
the course.
Complete Assignments
[ tell students how you will accept assignments, whether through
Blackboard or via email. Explain due dates, deadlines and your policy
on extensions. ]
Commitment to Integrity and PNC Code of
Conduct
“Dishonesty in connection with any University activity; cheating, plagiarism, or
knowingly furnishing false information to the University are examples of
dishonesty. The commitment of the acts of cheating, lying, stealing, and deceit
in any of their diverse forms (such as the use of ghost-written papers, the use of
substitutes for taking examinations, the use of illegal cribs, plagiarism, and
copying during examinations) is dishonest and must not be tolerated.
Moreover, knowingly to aid and abet, directly or indirectly, other parties in
committing dishonest acts is in itself dishonest” (University Senate Document
72-18, December 15, 1972). “
Important Note: Any form of academic dishonesty, including cheating and
plagiarism, may be reported to the Dean of Students Office.
Course policies are subject to change.
Honors Program
Students have the opportunity to earn honors credit in their courses by joining
PNC’s Honors Program, which is dedicated to enhancing the learning experiences of
highly motivated and academically exceptional students. For more information or to
apply, see www.pnc.edu/honors or send an email to honorsprogram@pnc.edu.
Purdue University Calumet
Page 8
Counseling Services:
Short term confidential counseling is available to enrolled students free of charge
through the Student Counseling Services office located in LSF 103. The phone
number is 219-785-5230 or 1-800-872-1231 ext. 5230. Call or stop in to make an
appointment Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Course Evaluations:
Students are highly encouraged to complete the online evaluation for the course at
the end of the semester. These survey results provide valuable information to the
professor. You may also be asked to provide feedback throughout the semester as
well, in order to better serve you and future students. Please feel free to share your
feelings about the course at any time.
Students with Disabilities
[ Recommended Statement: “The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a
federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights
protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation
requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment
that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you have a
disability requiring an accommodation, please inform the instructor. For additional
information, refer to: http://www.pnc.edu/sa/disability-services/
The Disability Services Coordinator, in LSF-103A, extension 5374, provides
information and resources to all students with disabilities, faculty and staff,
ensuring equal access to educational opportunities. The office will provide guidance
regarding appropriate accommodations. Academic accommodations and other
services are provided on an individual basis determined by documented need.
Documentation of the disability completed by a physician or qualified health care
professional must be on file in the office.” ]
Emergency Preparedness
[ Recommended Statement: “Please review
http://www.pnc.edu/pd/emergency-guide/ for information about handling
emergency situations on campus.”]
Purdue University Calumet
Page 9