1. Your Course
Syllabus Is Your
Friend

2. The info is all there
 One of the steps to becoming a successful college
student is to know how to read the syllabus for
important course information; information that
other students might miss
 Unlike high school, the professor is letting you
know ahead of time what topics will be covered
each day and when exams are

3. Anatomy of a Syllabus
The first items on a syllabus
should give course information:
 Course title/number
 Instructor Information
 Materials and Required
Textbook
 Days and hours of the class
 Location of the class
 General information
(professor’s philosophy about
the class)
 Expectations regarding
assignments
 Grading
 Course Schedule

4. Instructor Information
 Full name/title
 Office location
 Where to leave assignments
 Office hours
 Email address
 Office phone number
Pay close attention to any restrictions
 ex. “No calls between 10:30pm and
8:30am.”

5. Textbooks
 Your syllabus will list all required reading
materials for your class.
 Information should include:
 Title
 Author
 Date/Edition
 Publisher

6. Materials
 Although many courses only require print
material, there are also some courses that
require additional materials, such as:
 lab/safety equipment,
 art supplies,
 special calculators, etc.
Be sure you are aware of what special materials
you are required to have for the class, if any.

7. Course Descriptions & Objectives
This info will most likely be similar to
the description in your course
catalog : a paragraph describing the
general content of the course.
Info about instructional methods
may also be included

8. Course Calendar/Schedule
 A daily or weekly schedule of topics to be covered.
 Dates for exams, quizzes, and major assignments
 Required special events may also be included
 ex. a lecture by a visiting speaker, a musical performance, field
trip, etc.
*This schedule can be tentative and subject to
change depending on the progress of the class*

9. Attendance & Tardiness
 A statement regarding attendance should be included
 Professors should state how many absences are allowed
before penalization.
 Usually if you miss any more classes than allowed, it will
reduce your grade.
 Sometimes, too many tardies can equal an absence. If
this is the case, it should be stated in the syllabus.

10. Class Participation
 If active participation is required – especially
if it plays a part in your grade – then the
syllabus will typically say so.
 The syllabus will also usually indicate how
participation will be graded.

11. Missed Exams or Assignments
 The syllabus should give you the following
information about missed exams and
assignments:
 Whether or not they can be made up
 How many points are deducted each day for a late
assignment
 If the professor will take it later than the specified due
date

12. Lab Safety & Health
 If necessary, the syllabus should include a short statement
about the importance of these issues
In some courses, these issues can literally be a matter of life
and death.

13. Academic Dishonesty
 The syllabus should address questions related to
academic dishonesty
 Cheating
 Plagiarism
These matters are very
serious, and the end result of
either could be an Fx in the
class.

14. Grading
Each syllabus should indicate how the
students will be evaluated.
How grades are weighted
Factors included in the grading
process
Information regarding extra credit
opportunities, if they are available.

15. Available Support Services
 The library is probably the oldest resource, and
perhaps still the richest.
 Campbell’s Student Support Services offers:
 One-on-one tutoring
 Tutoring Center
 Writing center
 Group reviews for specific courses
 Disability services
 Career guidance
 Retention assistance

16. Be proactive from the beginning
 After the first day of classes, go through
your syllabi and highlight all the important
information – keep the syllabus for each
class in your notebook for that class.
 An even better way to ensure you know
when assignments are due and exams will
be held is to transfer all due dates onto a
calendar.

17. Last But Not Least
 Whether your professor says it in class or not, if it’s in the
syllabus, you must adhere to it.
Not knowing is not an excuse if it’s in the syllabus.