XXII. Syllabus and Other Course Communications

A. Syllabus

Georgia Tech syllabi must meet both University System of Georgia (USG) requirements and Georgia Tech’s Scholastic Regulations. Faculty retain full academic freedom to design their courses and syllabi, but all syllabi must include the minimum elements listed below. 

The items below indicate whether a requirement comes from USG, Georgia Tech (GT), or both. 

Minimum Required Syllabus Elements

  • Course prefix, number, and name (USG)
  • Semester and academic year (USG)
  • Course description (USG)
  • Course objectives / approved course learning outcomes (USG + GT)
  • Required course materials (e.g., textbooks with ISBNs, articles, lab supplies) (USG + GT)
  • Grading policy and weighting (USG + GT)
  • Attendance policy (USG)
  • Academic honesty / academic integrity statement (Georgia Tech Honor Code) (USG + GT)
  • Statement about acceptable student conduct (Student-Faculty Expectations Agreement) (GT)
  • Statement about services offered through the Office of Disability Services (GT)
  • In all courses of the Institute offered for a letter grade, a statement about the course's final assessment policy.
  • A list of any homework or assignments, lab reports, course projects, demonstrations, studio reviews, and/or presentations that will be due during the final instructional days.
  • The following is required if course has been approved to be included for a Core IMPACTS area or listed in the GT Catalog as an Ethics course (undergraduate courses only):
    • ​Core IMPACTS statement for undergraduate courses (USG, if applicable). Instructors should include the statement only if they are teaching an approved Core IMPACTS course. The approved list of courses for use in the Core IMPACTS areas is in the Catalog. Only those courses that appear on the approved list in the Catalog may provide this information.
    • Learning outcomes for courses approved to be used for the GT Ethics requirement (GT)
  • The following is required if a course is cross listed across academic levels (undergraduate/graduate):
    • Language which demonstrates the difference in rigor between the undergraduate and graduate level (GT)

These elements reflect the combined requirements of USG policy and Regulation VI.I.1 of the Georgia Tech Scholastic Regulations. 

When a new course is proposed it is the requirement of the Institute Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and the Institute Graduate Curriculum Committee that the syllabus presented as part of the proposal packet include all the required elements in this section and all of the additional important information in Section B. The syllabus in the proposal packet is for internal use by the Curriculum Committees in evaluating proposals for new courses. 

B. Important Additional Course Information and Communications

Instructors are encouraged to consider communications regarding the following areas that are not required in the syllabus. Instructors can refer to the resources on the CTL website for developing their syllabi and determining what additional important information should be provided separately from the syllabus.

This information could be provided to students via class announcements, in Canvas, or in another document posted with the syllabus.

  • Additional criteria for successful completion of the course
  • How and when changes can be made to the syllabus
  • Schedule of topics and/or class activities
  • Requirements to attend or participate in activities outside of class time
  • Additional course policies (e.g. late work and extensions; use of mobile devices during class time)
  • Learning tools and resources
  • TA/LA names, contact information and office hours, if this information is available at that time
  • Information on tutoring and academic support options (e.g, PLUS, Tutoring, Learning Assistants)
  • Reminder on policies related to Institute Approved Absences and absences related to religious observances
  • Examinations, quizzes, and other assignments and their due dates (course calendar)

C. USG Policy

The University System of Georgia policy about course syllabi, including the required elements and the timeline for publishing syllabi, may be found in the USG Academic and Student Affairs Handbook 02.08.01: https://usg.policystat.com/policy/19957023/latest