Creating a Brown University Syllabus

The course syllabus is the primary document through which you communicate to students your course goals, expectations, and assessment/evaluation criteria. Research on teaching and learning has consistently shown that communicating in detail about these aspects of your course -- at the beginning and throughout the term, through both a written syllabus and verbal explanations -- helps students succeed and can help you avoid misunderstandings and grade challenges later in the term. In addition to clarity of expectations, a welcoming tone is important to help communicate the positive learning environment you want to create in your course. For specific suggestions and Brown examples about ways to develop a learner-centered syllabus, please see this Sheridan newsletter on Invitational Syllabi.

Sample Brown University Syllabi

Undergraduate Courses Graduate Courses
ENGL1030A: The Thoughtful Generalist (fully online) POLS 2210: Governing Federated Systems
BIOL 092A/SCSO 0700A: Re-thinking Controversies in Medicine and Public Health PHP 1510/2510: Principles of Biostatistics and Data Analysis
NEUR 1040: Introduction to Neurogenetics ENGN 2991: Characterizing Nanomaterial Structure
MES 1999E: Displacement and Refugees in the Middle East (a GELT Program class) SYR 2710: Babylonian Astronomy
ENGN 1510: Nanoengineering and Nanomedicine  
POLS 1824: The Politics of Race and the Criminal Justice System (a WRIT course)  

Brown University Syllabus Elements

The basic elements of a Brown University syllabus include:

Course and Instructor Information

  • Course title and number
  • Meeting times
  • Classroom location
  • Website URL, use of Canvas
  • Prerequisites
  • First and last name with title
  • Office location and hours
  • Preferred contact (e.g., phone number, email address)

Course Description

Note: Use the course description to provide a brief introduction to the course and clarify the broad appeal of your course to students. Think about why your course might be broadly appealing or relevant to a student's future education, career, goals, or personal growth. Some instructors do this by beginning their course descriptions with major themes or big questions (Bain, 2004).

Learning goals are the intended purposes and desired achievements of a particular course, which generally identify the knowledge, skills, and capacities you hope a student will achieve. All Brown syllabi must identify goals that are in alignment with the in- and out-of-class learning activities required of the class.

All Brown syllabi must identify all work required or recommended of students in class (e.g., lecture, lab, discussion, studio work) and out-of-class (e.g., reading, problem sets, research project, papers, field trip, artistic or creative work), with a reasonable estimation of time needed to complete them. Time estimated to complete activities and assessments should total at least 180 hours over the term for a full-credit course.

Possible approaches to estimating this time include:

  • making a reasonable estimate yourself. Rice University's Center for Teaching Excellence has compiled a research-based estimator for reading- and writing-related assignments, which can serve as a useful starting point for some classes.
  • completing the task (e.g., reading a journal article) yourself and assuming that students will require 3-4 times as long to complete it (Carnegie Mellon's Eberly Center for Teaching and Learning).
  • gathering feedback from students on how long it takes them to complete various components of the course.

Prerequisites will vary from class to class and should be included in the syllabus as applicable.

If a course has been approved to fulfill the writing requirement, the syllabus should indicate a statement such as the following:

Because this is a WRIT-designated course, you will be required to complete a minimum of two written assignments. You will receive substantive feedback on your writing, which you will use to help you revise your work or to complete subsequent writing assignments.

Fully Online courses must meet the following criteria, per the U.S. Department of Education’s guidelines for distance education issued in July 2021:

1. The syllabus should identify regular opportunities during the term for students to engage in two or more substantive interaction activities, initiated by instructors, drawn from this list:

  • Direct instruction (e.g., synchronous Zoom lectures or discussions)
  • Assessment with feedback that is provided by the course instructional team (e.g., papers, projects, tests, quizzes, or homework)
  • Opportunities for students to ask questions (e.g., regularly scheduled office hours, invitation in a syllabus to email questions with noted response time)
  • Group discussions (e.g., Canvas, synchronous)

[For examples, please see Professor Beth Taylor's syllabus for "The Thoughtful Generalist Online" (linked above). This class has 4 essays with required drafts (item 2), several required conferences (item 3), and several scheduled Canvas discussions (item 4).]

2. The syllabus should identify at least one way that instructors are attuned to student participation and performance, and support is offered when needed. Although possible demonstrations could go beyond this list, common examples include:

  • Participation in synchronous class sessions is detailed, including how a student might get midway feedback about their performance
  • Student activity on course websites or materials is noted (e.g., weekly discussion posts), including how a student might get periodic feedback about their performance
  • Instructors evaluate and give feedback on assignments and assessments
  • For fully asynchronous courses, the syllabus would note a schedule where an instructor would check in with a student to discuss progress in the course

[For examples, please see Professor Beth Taylor's syllabus for "The Thoughtful Generalist Online" (linked above). The syllabus notes, “Regular attendance and active contribution to discussions and revision workshops are required, and will count significantly toward a satisfactory final grade.” The course has several required conferences to give feedback (item 2). The course has four essays with required drafts (item 3), and the course has several required conferences (item 4).]

Instructors may also wish to include additional content on syllabi to address emergent issues impacting the Brown classroom. These statements, which may vary term-to-term, can help set expectations for students. Inclusion of any of these statements is completely at the discretion of an individual instructor.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI)

This Sheridan Center newsletter includes sample syllabus statements to guide students in their use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. For additional examples of non-Brown syllabus statements, please also see Classroom Policies for AI Generative Tools. Examples here include statements that restrict students' generative AI use (see, for example, Example 11 from Salem State University), those that allow use of these tools with clear guidelines (e.g., Example 54 from University of Maine), and those that require its use (e.g., Example 16 from Clemson University). 

Class Recording and Distribution of Materials

I would like to record our discussion because some students may be in different time zones, have poor internet connections, or have health issues. This means that we will record all classes to make them available to all students that are enrolled but cannot be present. If you have questions or concerns about this protocol, please contact me so that we can talk through those to also ensure your full participation in this course. Lectures and other course materials are copyrighted. Students are prohibited from reproducing, making copies, publicly displaying, selling, or otherwise distributing the recordings or transcripts of the materials. The only exception is that students with disabilities may have the right to record for their private use if that method is determined to be a reasonable accommodation by Student Accessibility Services. Disregard of the University's copyright policy and federal copyright law is a Student Code of Conduct violation.

Use of Technology to Support Student Learning in Your Course

This course will use the following technological platforms: [e.g., Google Drive, Canvas, Top Hat]. I am committed to ensuring access to online course resources by students. If you have any concerns or questions about access or the privacy of any of these platforms, please reach out to me. The IT Service Center (https://it.brown.edu/get-help) provides many IT Services including remote assistance, phones, tickets, and chat.

In the Event of a Disruption to Class

In the event of a significant disruption,  I will provide instructions about how course elements might change to continue to support the class’s learning objectives. Necessary changes to ensure continuity might include, for instance, assessments, grading, modality of instruction, course personnel, online help, and office hours. In the case of these modifications, I will upload a new syllabus or announcement about the changes on Canvas. Please also check [email/Canvas/other course notification system] for timely notice about necessary changes to course elements. Be assured that these changes are being made to continue your learning as a priority.

Academic Support

All Brown syllabi should include the following statement, to enable all students' full participation in your class:

Accessibility and Accommodations Statement 

Brown University is committed to full inclusion of all students. Please inform me early in the term if you may require accommodations or modification of any of course procedures. You may speak with me after class, during office hours, or by appointment. If you need accommodations around online learning or in classroom accommodations, please be sure to reach out to Student Accessibility Services (SAS) for their assistance ([email protected], 401-863-9588). Undergraduates in need of short-term academic advice or support can contact an academic dean in the College by emailing [email protected]. Graduate students may contact one of the deans in the Graduate School by emailing [email protected].

You may wish to list other Brown learning support resources, to support the diversity of student learners in your class. Student Support Services Deans can be a helpful resource to discuss personal, family or health-related concerns, as well as a potential academic and personal plan.  They are available for same-day consult and/or scheduled appointment. A list of other resources can be found here.

Some instructors add diversity and inclusion statements to create an invitational tone, signal that difference in intellectual exchange is valued, or communicate awareness of current campus conversations surrounding diversity. Multiple examples can be found here, and an optional statement specifically aimed at inclusion for International and Multilingual Students is below:

Multilingual Students

“Brown welcomes students from around the country and the world, and their unique perspectives enrich our learning community.  To support students whose primary language is not English, an array of  English support services are available on campus including language and culture workshops and individual appointments. For more information, contact [email protected] or (401) 863-5672.”

Course Materials

  • Syllabi must list the estimated cost of required learning resources (per the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act).
     
  • For undergraduate course syllabi, optional language to address concerns about expenses is the following:

Books, Supplies, and Materials

If your Brown undergraduate financial aid package includes the Book/Course Material Support Pilot Program (BCMS), concerns or questions about the cost of books and course materials for this or any other Brown course (including RISD courses via cross-registration) can be addressed to [email protected]. For all other concerns related to non-tuition course-related expenses, whether or not your Brown undergraduate financial aid package includes BCMS, please visit the Academic Emergency Fund in E-GAP (within the umbrella of "E-Gap Funds" in UFunds) to determine options for financing these costs, while ensuring your privacy.

Optional syllabus statements include the following: 

Class Recording and Distribution of Course Materials

I would like to record our discussion because some students may be in different time zones, have poor internet connections, or have health issues. This means that we will record all classes to make them available to all students that are enrolled but cannot be present. If you have questions or concerns about this protocol, please contact me so that we can talk through those to also ensure your full participation in this course.

Lectures and other course materials are copyrighted. Students are prohibited from reproducing, making copies, publicly displaying, selling, or otherwise distributing the recordings or transcripts of the materials. The only exception is that students with disabilities may have the right to record for their private use if that method is determined to be a reasonable accommodation by Student Accessibility Services. Disregard of the University's copyright policy and federal copyright law is a Student Code of Conduct violation.

Use of Technology to Support Your Learning in This Course

This course will use the following technological platforms: [Google Drive, Canvas, Ed Discussions, etc.].
I am committed to ensuring access to online course resources by students. If you have any concerns or questions about access or the privacy of any of these platforms, please reach out to me.

The IT Service Center (https://it.brown.edu/get-help) provides many IT Services including remote assistance, phones, tickets, and chat. 

Assessment and Academic Integrity (Required)

Method by which students will be evaluated and receive feedback on their learning.

  • What types of assessment--papers, presentations, problem sets, projects, exams, etc.
  • How will the final grade be determined, and in particular, what will be the weight given to each assessment?
  • If a relatively large percentage of the final grade is devoted to a final "course paper," or project then the syllabus should typically indicate interim assessments or feedback opportunities a student can expect on the paper or project during the course of the semester.
  • Sheridan resources on feedback, grading, and assessments can be found here.

Instructors are expected to make reasonable accommodations for students who cannot take a quiz or exam, including final exams, on the scheduled date due to a religious observance. It is helpful to include notification of this policy on the syllabus because students must inform instructors of any conflicts within the first four weeks of the semester, or as soon as possible after the exam date is announced (whichever is earliest).

Attendance and lateness

Class participation

If participation is greater than 15% of the final grade (20% for graduate-level courses), the syllabus should describe how the assessment is determined. This could be in the form of a rubric or general guidelines for what constitutes exemplary, acceptable, and non-acceptable participation. While desirable in all cases, if participation constitutes 15% or less of the final grade for undergraduates (20% for graduate-level courses), the syllabus need not detail this information. Suggestions for assessment of participation can be found here.

Missed exams or assignments (including late assignments)

Lab safety/health

For undergraduate students, a concise statement to emphasize the importance of academic integrity is a useful addition to the syllabus:

"A student’s name on any exercise (e.g., a theme, report, notebook, performance, computer program, course paper, quiz, or examination) is regarded as assurance that the exercise is the result of the student’s own thoughts and study, stated in his or her own words, and produced without assistance, except as quotation marks, references, and footnotes acknowledge the use of printed sources or other outside help."  (Academic Code, p. 5)

For graduate students, please see the Academic Code, Graduate Student edition.

Guidelines for Discussion (Optional)

Especially in discussion-based classrooms, syllabus statements can be useful to help create an atmosphere of mutual respect and collective inquiry.

Course Calendar/Outline (Required)

  • Daily/weekly schedule
  • Due dates for drafts and major assignments
  • Dates for quizzes, tests, exams, and required special events

These headings have been adapted from Howard B. Altman and William E. Cashin, “Writing a Syllabus,” IDEA Paper No. 27.