All courses, including dissertations, independent studies, practica, research and readings, special topics, thesis courses, etc., must have a written syllabus. This requirement helps maintain institutional standards while supporting both instructors and students in achieving their academic goals. Accreditation standards and JMU policy require that syllabi include several required elements. These are listed below.
Syllabus Requirements
The information below is required for all JMU syllabi. The four bullets below are minimum requirements; how they are interpreted is determined by the academic unit. All JMU instructors must comply with these requirements for undergraduate and graduate courses.
- Goals of the Course: Course objectives, learning outcomes
- Nature of the Course Content: Catalog description, prerequisites, corequisites, schedule, method of instruction
- Requirements of the Course: Examples include course texts, assignments and due dates, contact information, policies on academic honesty, accommodations, attendance, classroom etiquette, make-ups, participation, professional behavior, etc.
- Methods of Evaluation: Examples include assignments (quizzes, tests, papers, projects, etc.) and their weighting/percentage, homework, how final grades are calculated, etc.
The Division of Academic Affairs requires that the following information be included as part of each course syllabus:
- Course Information (Course number, title, section number and credit hours)
- Instructor Contact Information
- Attendance Policy
- Academic Honesty/Honor Council Statement
- Adding/Dropping Courses Policy
- Disability Accommodations
- Disruptive Behavior Policy
- Inclement Weather Policy
- Religious Observation Accommodations
You may also choose to link to the Student Syllabi Resource Website as part of your syllabus.
Dual-level courses (a course taught jointly at the undergraduate and graduate level) must have a different syllabus for both levels of the course that specify the additional requirements for graduate students along with a detailed syllabus explaining course requirements for each level.
Colleges and academic units may have additional requirements for syllabus content. Contact your unit coordinator or the chair of your C&I committee for specific details.
