Note: This template is intended as a guide to the information instructors must include in their syllabus, and it offers supportive suggestions where appropriate.
- Instructors are free to add graphics, revise phrasing and organization, use second person, etc., as they see necessary to create an inclusive and engaging syllabus.
- All text in italics and highlighted on the downloadable Word document should be reviewed by instructors as they use this template and removed/adjusted as appropriate.
Date of most recent edits to CLAS syllabus template: August 15, 2025
Syllabus Requirement
Instructors must create a climate that encourages students’ learning, which includes providing a syllabus for every organized course.
- An "organized course" is one that has meetings at set days and times, for a certain number of credit hours, with more than one person attending. A syllabus is not needed for an independent study, a practicum, a research colloquium, or a similar educational experience.
- The syllabus must be supplied for students on the first day of class. Syllabi may be handed out in class, included in a course packet, or posted on ICON.
- The syllabus must also follow university requirements. The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost provides a list of required syllabus elements and specific language for all required and recommended university-wide policies. Please note: policy language may change over time. Instructors should consult the Provost syllabus information website for the most up to date phrasing of each policy. Instructors may choose to provide students with a link to the Provost's student-facing policy page rather than copying the full text of each policy into their syllabus; doing so would ensure that students always see the most current phrasing for each policy.
CLAS Syllabus Template
CLAS provides a syllabus template for College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Graduate College courses. This template is reviewed and revised annually for compliance with university and college policies, as well as students' and instructors' evolving needs. Nevertheless, instructors are encouraged to confirm the accuracy of links and policy language when using the template.
The most current syllabus template can be downloaded by clicking on the gold "Download AY25-26 Template" button.
Departmental Review of Syllabi
DEOs must review all syllabi to ensure compliance with UI and CLAS policies. This review should be completed before the start of the semester so corrections may be made before the first day of classes.
Additional Syllabus Resources
CLAS has provided two additional documents for instructors' use as they prepare their syllabi: a changelog documenting the revisions to the template since the last version, and a supplemental document containing more information, resources, and sample text. Both can be downloaded by clicking on the corresponding gold buttons on this page.