Syllabus means a "label" or "table of contents." Dictionaries define syllabus as an outline of a course of study.
Major Content Areas of an Efficient Syllabus
1. Course Participants. This section indicates the recipients of the course. The teacher may include a profile of the students. Sample pertinent questions to answer would be, "What is their average age group? level of education? social background."
2. Course Title (Subtitle). The course title is phrased pragmatically to appeal to those who will attend. The course sub-title is a dependent clause that serves as a general summary of the course. The title is pragmatic and the subtitle is descriptive: for example, "How to Get the Edge in Life: Fresh Standards from an Old Book."
3. Course Rationale. The reasoning or principle that underlies or explains something, or a statement setting out this reasoning or principle IN RELATION to a foundation. Usually a course rationale starts with the words, “This course is consistent with…” The course rationale explains why the course is connected to a bigger goal. In the sample below, notice “This course is consistent with…” and then it mentions the portion of the Mission Statement. Never forget to connect your course to a bigger goal, be it a mission statement, purpose of the program, etc.
4. Course Description. What is the course going to discuss? The description merely explains the nature of the course as might be helpful to the general overall understanding of the student. Indicate also the outcome of the course such as might be motivating to the student as an accomplishment.
5. Course Objective. The course objective states in specific details what the student will accomplish. Many syllabi have the three learning domains of the mind, heart and will. Notice in the samples below that every objective starts with a concept or an idea. After the idea, notice the word “by” to introduce that the idea will be applied through an action. Do not forget that your objective must both reflect the idea and the application. One author calls this the overt and the covert parts of the objective.
6. Course Outline. This is the breakdown of lessons that the student will attend.
7. Course Requirements. This is a more detailed description of the overt part of your objectives plus other areas such as attendance and class participation. It is best also to put here the percentage of every requirement that would add up to 100%.
8. Course Schedule. This concurs with the "Course Outline." This contains a) date, b) time, and c) place.
9. Course Instructor. Students would want to clarify a few things or probably submit their work online. This is the section where the instructors indicates his/her name and then supplies it with communication information such as cell phone number, landline, email, Skype, etc. For the phone lines it would be good to indicate appropriate times to call.
Sample of an Efficient Syllabus
I. Course Participants
- Youth ages 12-16 will attend this Sunday School course.
II. Course Title (Sub-Title)
- How to Get the Edge in Life: Fresh Standards from an Old Book
III. Course Rationale
- This course is consistent with the mission of Boy-T Christian Fellowship Christian Life Grounded on the Word because the course is an application of our mission to “endeavor to teach sound Biblical doctrine as the foundation of our knowledge of fellowship, discipleship and disciple-making.”
IV. Course Description
- The course How to Get the Edge in Life is a course that presents to students some basic teachings concerning Scripture. Knowing this will help give them a foundational knowledge on what standard they will live by.
V. Course Objectives
- By the end of this course, the student will be able
- To familiarize himself with the key biblical passages concerning the Bible as standard by reciting from memory the four memory verses.
- To reflect on the issues discussed every week by writing a weekly journal.
- To make a commitment on making the Bible as the standard of their lives by utilizing the Spiritual Journal.
- Who’s Line Is It Anyway? The Bible as the Word of God
- Breathe In, Breathe Out: The Inspiration of Scripture
- Totoo ka ba? 1: The Truthfulness & Reliability of Scripture
- Totoo ka ba? 2: The Inerrancy of Scripture
VII. Course Requirements
- 4 Memory Verses (40%)
- Weekly Journal (40%)
- Attendance (20%)
VIII. Course Schedule
- Lesson 1 (Jan 1, 9AM-11AM at the Conference Room)
- Lesson 2 (Jan 8, same time and place)
- Lesson 3 (Jan 15, same time and place)
- Lesson 4 (Jan 22, same time and place)
IX. Course Instructor
John Doe
0908-12345678
johndoe@snailmail.com
Summary
A good syllabus gives adequate information about the course to help the student get motivated and approximate the kind of effort to be put in the course. This feature discussed the parts of an efficient syllabus and gave a sample for practical information.
John Phillip Pesebre - John Phillip R. Pesebre is Educational Program Coordinator and Faculty at the Conservative Baptist Seminary - Asia, Philippines.
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