Ohio University Syllabus Guidelines: 4. Course Syllabus
Ohio Revised Code §3345.029 requires all public universities in Ohio to make specific components of undergraduate course syllabi publicly available on a centralized website. The following outlines the required components for a course syllabus.
4.1 Course Information
Each course syllabus must include course identifiers to ensure that students and the public can accurately match the syllabus to official course offerings. These include:
- Course prefix – the two, three, or four-character content area abbreviation (e.g., BA, ENG, ANTH)
- Course catalog number – the four numbers or a “D” followed by three digits following the course prefix (e.g., BA 1000, ENG 1510, ANTH 4250). When necessary, course catalog numbers may also include suffixes (e.g., A, C, H, L, etc.) for specific courses.
- Course section number – the numeric code indicating the section number of the specific course (e.g., 100, 101, 107)
- Descriptive Title – the title of the course as listed in Course Offerings (e.g., BA 1000 – Introduction to the College of Business; ENG 1510 – Writing and Rhetoric I: Foundations; ANTH 4250 - Ethnographies of Global Capitalism)
- Term – the term and year in which the course is offered (e.g., Fall 2026-27; Summer (2nd Session) 2026-27)
4.2 Name of Instructor(s)
Each course syllabus must include the name(s) of the person(s) assigned as instructor(s) of record for the course. Name(s) should duplicate the name(s) as written in Course Offerings.
Only person(s) assigned as the official instructor(s) of record for the course should be listed through the Registrar. Temporary instructor substitutes, guest speakers, teaching assistants, and graders should not be listed.
If the instructor of record is not known before the first day of class, the name of the instructor in the syllabus should remain blank until an instructor is assigned to the course. As soon as an instructor is assigned to the course, the information should be added within three (3) business days of the assignment.
If the instructor of record is officially changed through the Registrar, the instructor's name in the syllabus should be updated accordingly. The change of instructor should be noted on the syllabus within three (3) business days of the official change of the instructor of record.
Note. Instructors should not include additional contact information (e.g., email, home address, phone numbers, etc.) on the syllabus.
4.3 Professional Qualifications of the Instructor(s)
Assuming that the name of the course instructor(s) is known, each course syllabus must include the information through which the instructor(s) of record are qualified to teach the specific section of the course. Per University Policy 18.009, instructors of record may be qualified through academic credentials, equivalent experience, or tested experience.
Academic Credentials. Instructors of record who are qualified through academic credentials should provide their degrees, areas of study, and the institutions that confer those degrees, consistent with ODHE's expectations. As examples:
- Ph.D., Marketing, Ohio State University
- M.F.A, Indiana University
- Ed.D, Ohio University
Equivalent or Tested Experience. Instructors of record qualified through equivalent or tested experience should provide their (a) degrees, areas of study, and institutions, and (b) equivalent or tested experience that establishes instructor qualifications. As examples:
- M.B.A., Loyola University; Vice President of Marketing, Basketweaving Incorporated
- M.A., Marshall University; Journalist, Basketweaving Today
Graduate Student Instructors. Supervised graduate teaching assistants may be minimally qualified if they are enrolled in a graduate program of study, assist the instructor of record, utilize a faculty-approved syllabus, and are subject to regular supervision and assessment by a minimally qualified faculty member. For example:
- M.A., English, University of Cincinnati; Ph.D., English, Ohio University (student, degree in progress)
Unsupervised graduate teaching assistants should be otherwise minimally qualified to teach at the undergraduate level through academic credentials, equivalent experience, or tested experience. For example:
- M.A., English, University of Cincinnati
Suggested language should be provided to ensure consistency for different instructor types (e.g., faculty, graduate instructor, staff).
4.4 Required of Recommended Readings
Each course syllabus must include “a list of any required or recommended readings for the course” (Ohio Revised Code, §3345.029(A)(2)(c).
When required or recommended readings for the course are (a) known before the first day of class and (b) include publicly available published resources (e.g., textbooks, books, articles, etc.), the syllabus information should include the list of required and recommended resources produced.
When required or recommended readings for the course are (a) known before the first day of class and (b) do not include publicly available published resources (e.g., instructor-created content in Canvas), the syllabus information should provide an explanatory statement, such as:
- All required and recommended readings and materials for this course are provided on the Canvas course site. These include instructor-created documents, web-based resources, and other unpublished materials made available to students through Canvas. No commercially published textbooks or external materials are required.
When required or recommended readings for the course are current or emerging information from publications (e.g., newspapers, magazines, etc.), the syllabus information should provide an explanatory statement with a reference to titles of sources, such as:
- Readings will be assigned throughout the semester from current or emerging sources, such as articles or professional reports from [add title(s) of newspaper, magazine, professional association, etc.], to reflect ongoing developments in the field.
When required or recommended readings for the course are developed with the student(s) after the first day of class (e.g., independent study), the syllabus information should provide an explanatory statement, such as:
- Readings will be determined collaboratively with the student based on individualized learning goals, student learning needs, and/or research topics.
When required or recommended readings for the course are developed based on guest speakers or project-based topics after the first day of class, the syllabus information should provide an explanatory statement, such as:
- Readings will be selected in connection with guest speakers, community partners, or evolving project topics as the course progresses.
Note. At their discretion, instructors may include language stating that recommended and required readings may change based on contextual factors, such as student learning needs, student interests, newly published sources, and unforeseen course disruptions, such as:
- The recommended and required reading list may be adjusted during the semester to best support student learning, reflect class interests, include recently published materials not available on the first day, and/or respond to unforeseen schedule disruptions.
4.5 Course Calendar
Each course syllabus must include “a calendar for the course outlining what materials and topics will be covered and when during the course they will be covered” (Ohio Revised Code, §3345.029(A)(2)(b)).
When the course calendar is known before the first day of class, the syllabus should specify an appropriate scheduling unit (i.e., week, day, module) and the corresponding topics for each scheduling unit. For example, a calendar may be presented by week(s) and the topic(s) to be covered each week. The calendar may be produced using a table or in a bullet list. For example:
- Week 1: Introduction to Marketing Concepts
- Weeks 2–3: Consumer Behavior & Market Segmentation
- Weeks 4–5: Product Development & Branding
- Weeks 6–7: Pricing Strategies
- Weeks 8–9: Promotion & Advertising
- Week 10: Distribution Channels
- Week 11: Ethics & Social Responsibility
- Week 12: Final Project Presentations
When the course schedule is developed with the student(s) after the first day of class (e.g., independent study), the syllabus information should provide an explanatory statement, such as:
- The course schedule will be determined collaboratively with the student based on individual learning goals, student learning needs, and/or research topics.
At their discretion, instructors may include language stating that the course may change based on contextual factors, such as student learning needs, student interests, newly published sources, and unforeseen schedule disruptions. For example:
- The course schedule may be adjusted during the semester to best support student learning, reflect class interests, include recently published materials not available on the first day, and/or respond to unforeseen schedule disruptions.
Note. Instructors should not include meeting dates, times, or locations on the syllabus.
4.6 Reasonable Accommodations for Religious or Spiritual Beliefs
Each course syllabus must include language consistent with University Policy 40.003, affirming reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious or spiritual beliefs and practices. An example is provided below:
Per University Policy 40.003, Ohio University reasonably accommodates the sincerely held religious or spiritual beliefs and practices of students. You may be absent for up to three days each academic semester to take holidays for reasons of faith or religious or spiritual belief system or participate in organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or other religious or spiritual organization. You must request any accommodation in writing no later than 14 days after the first day of instruction.
There will be no academic penalty as a result of you being absent for sincerely held religious or spiritual beliefs. If you miss an assignment, quiz, or exam, you are expected to coordinate with the instructor to schedule an alternative. The alternative may be before or after the absence.
If you have questions about this policy, you may contact civil rights compliance at www.ohio.edu/civil-rights.