Your Syllabus

Your syllabus acts as an informal contract between you and your students, and it should include all of the important information your students need to navigate your course successfully, including course objectives, expectations, requirements, rules and guidelines.  All faculty should submit their syllabus (electronically or by hard copy) with a course outline of assignments to the department within the first week of the semester. 

First Year Writing Courses (ENG 1101, ENG 1121, ML1101, ENG1101CO) ALL USE A REQUIRED SYLLABUS TEMPLATE. FOR INFORMATION ON THESE REQUIRED TEMPLATES GO TO THIS PAGE.

Syllabus Requirements

Here is a list, taken from information provided by the college provost and the department itself, of items that should be included in a syllabus:

  • The course number, title, and section number, course description, number of credits, and any pre/co-requisites 
  • Instructor’s name, email address, and office hours so that students know how and when to reach you.
  • Explicit information about meeting dates and times, or if asynchronous, deadlines for participation. 
  • Information and links for all technology requirements, including any LMS being used, such as Blackboard (or BrightSpace starting in 2024), OpenLab, or a combination thereof, as well as other platforms students will be expected to use, such as Zoom. Please also provide contact information for the Student Help Desk. 
  • Software needed for the course and how to access it.
  • Required text(s) and any other required course materials. 
  • Both Pathways Learning Outcomes and Departmental Learning Outcomes. Please discuss the learning outcomes with your students at the beginning of the semester so students understand the goals for the class. Faculty can copy and paste the outcomes for their courses by going to the departmental website. All course outcomes are listed there. http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/english/course-listing.aspx 
  • A schedule of topics to be covered. 
  • Required and recommended readings and other major assignments. Include explicit information about due dates and times.
  • Details on how to access course materials, discussion boards, etc. and submit assignments. As needed, links to resources such as the library, writing center, tutoring, etc. 
  • Clear statements about grading policies and assessment of student work. 
  • Attendance/class participation policy. With online instruction the focus is on class participation, which depends on the structure of your course. For example, if you are offering synchronous classroom experiences (Zoom, Blackboard Collaborate, etc.), the focus would be participation in these meetings. For asynchronous courses, this would mean participation by the deadlines stated in your syllabus. (Please note that City Tech policy prohibits instructors from using attendance, or lack thereof, as a negative factor in a student’s grade.) Click here for more on City Tech’s attendance policy.
  • The college’s policy on student accessibility, using the college-approved language with no changes or additions.
  • The college’s academic integrity statement/plagiarism policy, using the college-approved language with no changes or additions. 

If you are teaching an online synchronous class, please also include the following statement in your syllabus:

Statement for Syllabi of Online Synchronous Classes 

Synchronous classes resemble traditional on-campus in-person classes in that students must all be (virtually) present at the same time. Though they are conducted virtually, synchronous classes meet in real-time. Students must, therefore, commit to scheduled class times and sign onto their virtual learning platforms on schedule. During these classes, students will engage with the instructor and each other with online lessons, presentations, breakout rooms, and/or discussions. Active participation is an essential part of the learning process and is required of all enrolled students. A student who, for any reason, engages in non-class related activities during scheduled class times forfeits and loses the benefit of the education being provided.

If you expect to use the CUNY Navigate system to issue student alerts and referrals to support services,  click here for text you can add to your syllabus informing students of that service. For questions and concerns about syllabi other than the templates above, please contact Department Chair Suzanne Miller at suzanne.miller06@citytech.cuny.edu