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Syllabus Template

Fill in a course syllabus page by page: course information, outcomes, a weekly schedule, grading and policies. It saves in your browser. Print it, save it as a PDF, download Word, or copy the text into Google Docs.

Learn how – Templates and planners: watch the 2-minute video · print (PDF)

Type straight onto the page. It saves in this browser only and is never sent anywhere. Don't enter students' personal details.

Syllabus template

Course syllabus

Course title:
Course code / section:
Term:
Credits / units:
Meeting days and times:
Location or online link:
Instructor:
Pronouns (optional):
Email:
Office and office hours:
Teaching assistant (optional):
How to reach me fastest:

Course description

Prerequisites

Learning outcomes

Required texts and materials

Tip: empty boxes print as lines to write on, so you can also print this blank and fill it in by hand.

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What to put in a syllabus

A good syllabus answers the questions students ask in week one: what will I learn, what do I have to do, when is it due, how will it be graded and where do I get help? Everything else is detail.

  • Course information: title, code, term, meeting times, location and how to contact you.
  • Description and outcomes: a short, friendly description and three to six learning outcomes that each start with an action verb. The Bloom's taxonomy verbs list helps here.
  • Materials: what students need, what it costs and any free options.
  • Schedule: a week-by-week table of topics, readings and due dates.
  • Grading: each assessment with its weight, the grading scale and the late work policy. Check that the weights add up to 100%.
  • Policies and support: attendance, academic integrity, AI tools, accessibility and where to find help. Use the exact wording your institution requires for statements such as accessibility.

Tips for a syllabus students actually read

  • Write to students as "you", in plain language, and put the most-used information (contact details, due dates, grading) first.
  • Use headings and tables rather than long paragraphs, so students can find answers quickly.
  • Explain the reason behind a policy in one sentence. Students are more likely to follow a rule they understand.
  • Run a short syllabus quiz or scavenger hunt in the first week, so students find the key information themselves.

Using the template with Word, PDF or Google Docs

  • Word: press Word (.docx) to download every page as one document.
  • PDF: press Print all pages and choose "Save as PDF" as the printer.
  • Google Docs: press Copy all text and paste into a new document, or upload the Word file to Google Drive and open it with Google Docs.

Teaching in a school rather than a college? A unit plan or a scheme of work may suit you better for planning, and you can still use this template as the course overview you give to students and families.

Frequently asked questions

What should a syllabus include?

Course details and contact information, a short description, learning outcomes, required materials, a week-by-week schedule, how work is graded, and policies on attendance, late work, academic integrity and accessibility, plus where students can get help.

How long should a syllabus be?

Long enough to answer students' main questions and no longer. Many instructors keep the core to two to four pages and link to longer institutional policies rather than pasting them in.

Can I make a syllabus in Google Docs with this template?

Yes. Fill it in here, press Copy all text and paste it into a Google Doc, or download the Word file and open it in Google Docs.

Is my syllabus saved?

Yes, in this browser only. Come back on the same device and browser and it will still be there. Download the Word file to keep a copy elsewhere.

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