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Phoenix College Sample Syllabus
Phoenix College Sample Syllabus
This document is designed as a sample or template for the development of your syllabus. Some elements are
required, while others are recommended. Your department may have additional components to include.
Please feel free to copy or modify any part of this document.
Introduction
The syllabus is the most direct way to provide information to students on the organization, expectations,
management, attendance and grading policies, and other information relevant to your course. It should be
provided to students (electronically and/or hard copy) at the first meeting of the class, but no later than the
end of the refund period (the last day to withdrawal from a specific course with a full refund can be found in
the Student Center and Faculty Center); for 16-week classes, the full-refund date is within 7 days from the first
day of class), and a copy submitted to the department secretary by the end of the first week of class. Any
changes to the syllabus should be in writing (email, Canvas announcement and/or hard copy).
Required Elements of a Syllabus (Administrative Regulation 3.6.)
Administrative Regulations require the following items to be included in your syllabus:
 College name
 Instructor’s name and contact information for student support
 Course information
 Title, prefix, course number and section number(s)
 Academic term and year, e.g., Spring 2015
 Course description and/or overview
 Course objectives
 Grading standards and practices
 Attendance requirements
 List of required and recommended texts and materials
 Statement of student responsibility for the information in the syllabus
 Statement of student responsibility for the college policies included in the college catalog and the
student handbook
 Information about the availability of services for students that require special accommodations
 Statement indicating that information included in the syllabus may be subject to change such as:
“Students will be notified by the instructor of any changes in course requirements or policies.”
Sample Language for Required Elements
For the items above, sample language and advice is provided in the sections below. There are many ways to
organize and address the required information. You may want to consult your Department Chair or the
relevant support area for additional recommendations on language or organization. Regardless of the
language you use, please be sure to address the above items in some way.
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Phoenix College Sample Syllabus
College name, instructor’s name and contact information
Some recommendations are offered below on methods for students to contact you outside of the classroom.
 Avoid using abbreviations in building names or locations.
 Please note that the Center for Teaching and Learning has shared workspace, as well as a small amount
of private space for meeting with students. The CTL is located on the 2nd floor of the F Building. Please
contact the CTL for more information.
 If possible, avoid providing personal cell phone numbers to students. Try Google Voice or another free
online phone service. You can also forward your office phone to your cell phone (via Google Voice if
your cell phone number is long distance).
 Use Phoenix College email or Canvas messaging to communicate with students. You can forward your
Canvas conversations to your email (work or personal) and responses will be sent via Canvas. Contact
the CTL for more information on Canvas conversations and other tools.
Title, prefix, course number, section number(s), academic term and year
Include the specific course name, number or section number in your syllabus. Students often need (and don’t
know) this information. Putting it in a header or footer so it appears on each page of your syllabus helps
ensure that students have access to this information. You can find your section number in Find-a-Class or SIS.
Course description and course objectives
This provides relevant information to your students about your course, including content, competencies, and
objectives. You can find information at the Center for Curriculum & Transfer Articulation (CCTA).
For example
Students will explore the structure and function of the human body with particular emphasis on
the importance of homeostasis in the functioning of the various organ systems.
 You can cut and paste the specific competencies for your course and/or provide a link to the
CCTA.
 You may want to inform students of any prerequisites.
Grading standards and practices
It is important to inform your students about the expectations related to how grades will be assigned. A
breakdown by percentage or actual points is helpful, but not required.
For example
Your final grade will be based on the percentage of points you earn as follows:
90% - 100%
80% - 89%
70% - 79%
60% - 69%
0% - 59%
A
B or better
C or better
D or better
F
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Phoenix College Sample Syllabus
 This type of grade allocation is fairly standard and can be adjusted as appropriate for your
particular course or discipline.
 While not required, it is wise to include information about your policies related to late or
missing assignments, make-ups, due dates for exams and other assessments, extra credit,
writing and citation format requirements, and other information relevant to your
assessments.
Attendance requirements
It is important to inform your students about your expectations for their attendance and participation,
including for online or hybrid courses. You may also want to include information about arriving late to class
and how you will handle withdrawals. In addition, it is essential that you withdraw students who have not
attended class before the end of the refund period (often the first week of class; check SIS/Faculty Center for
specifics).
MCCCD has adopted Success From Day One/On-Time Registration (Administrative Regulation 2.2.8.), which
means that students are unable to enroll in courses after the initial meeting date, unless they have an
exception. Processes for students seeking an exception vary by department; consult your Department Chair
for details. You should not allow students to attend your class unless they are officially enrolled in the course.
Phoenix College has an application that allows instructors to access a roster of student names and photos (if
the student has a Cub Card). This can help you quickly learn your students’ names and make tracking
attendance easier.
Please note, a withdrawal (W or Y) or an F requires a Last Date of Attendance (LDA) in the grade roster.
For example (face-to-face)
Attendance in lecture is mandatory and necessary for adequate performance in the class.
Instruction begins on the first day of class. An attendance sheet will be circulated at the
beginning of each class. Non-excused absences totaling a week of consecutive lectures or two
or more consecutive lab meetings may result in your withdrawal from the class or a failing
grade for the semester. It is your responsibility to initiate a withdrawal from the class. Failure
to do so may result in a failing grade for the semester.
For example (online)
It is expected that you will complete approximately X hours of online instruction per week,
including, but not limited to, viewing animations, completing assignments, viewing Power
Points, reviewing materials, reading textbook chapters and other associated coursework. Be
sure to schedule regular hours for working on the course. You must log into the course on a
weekly basis throughout the term and respond to messages sent by your instructor or you may
be withdrawn from the course.
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Phoenix College Sample Syllabus
List of required and recommended texts and materials
This would also include required technologies or materials. You can also include information related to cost,
any resource materials available in Canvas, supplemental materials provided by a publisher or other resources.
For example
Required text: Zao et al. PhysioEx 9.0 for A&P: Laboratory Simulations in Anatomy &
Physiology.
Recommended text: Marieb and Hoehn, 9th ed. Human Anatomy & Physiology
Statement of student responsibility for the information in the syllabus
Students are expected to take responsibility for reading and understanding the information presented in the
syllabus.
For example
You are responsible for understanding and adhering to the material presented in this syllabus.
Statement of student responsibility for the college policies included in the college catalog and the student
handbook
Students are expected to be familiar with and understand the policies in the Student Handbook and relevant
Administrative Regulations.
For example
You are responsible for understanding and adhering to the policies in the Student Catalog and
Handbook.
 Consider including a links to the Student Handbook and other Administrative Regulations
relevant to students.
Information about the availability of services for students that require special accommodations
A statement should be placed on your course syllabus indicating your willingness to provide reasonable
accommodations to students with disabilities. This statement acts as an invitation for students with
disabilities to meet with you, in a confidential environment, to review course requirements and to discuss
their disability-related needs. Common accommodations may include note-takers or readers, extra time on
exams, or an interpreter. Students are required to submit appropriate documentation to the Disability
Resources & Services office to request or receive academic accommodations. Students requiring special
accommodations should meet with you to discuss appropriate accommodations. DRS staff can help facilitate
this discussion.
Please note, faculty do NOT have the right to ask students if they have a disability. For those students with
documented disabilities, faculty do NOT have the right to ask about the nature of the disability. However, if
students choose to disclose their disability, this information should be treated as confidential.
You are encouraged to use any one of the following statements in your course syllabus.
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Phoenix College Sample Syllabus
For example
If you have a hidden or visible disability that may require classroom or test accommodations,
please contact the Disability Resources & Services (DRS) office. You can reach the DRS office at
602-285-7477 or in the Hannelly Center (HC) Building.
or
Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are
encouraged to contact the Disability Resources & Services (DRS) office, Hannelly Center (HC)
Building, 602-285-7477.
or
Please contact the Disability Resources & Services (DRS) office immediately if (1) you have or
think you may have a disability or medical condition that may affect your performance,
attendance, or grades in this class and for which you wish to discuss accommodations of class
related activities or schedules; (2) you may require medical attention during class, or; (3) you
may need special emergency evacuation preparations or procedures. For accommodations or
additional assistance please contact the DRS, Hannelly Center (HC) Building, 602-285-7477.
Accommodations are provided on an individualized, as-needed basis after the needs and
circumstances have been evaluated.
or
It is a college policy to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. If you
would like to request accommodations due to a physical, mental, or learning disability, please
contact the Disability Resources & Services (DRS) office, Hannelly Center (HC) Building, 602-2857477.
or
Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is requested to speak
directly to the Disability Resources & Services (DRS) office as early in the semester (preferably
within the first week) as possible. All discussions will remain confidential.
Statement indicating that information included in the syllabus may be subject to change such as: “Students
will be notified by the instructor of any changes in course requirements or policies.”
This statement can be placed anywhere within the syllabus. It is important to allow yourself flexibility to adjust
policies based upon changing circumstances. Communicate any changes to the students in writing, via email,
and/or Canvas announcement.
Optional Elements of a Syllabus
You may choose to include additional information, such as expectations for academic work, required
formatting, due dates, netiquette and disruptive behavior, College assessment information, and other
information. Some examples are provided below.
Student conduct (Administrative Regulation 2.5.2.)
All students have an expectation that they will be provided an appropriate learning environment. Disruptive
behavior means conduct that materially and substantially interferes with or obstructs the teaching or learning
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Phoenix College Sample Syllabus
process in the context of a classroom or educational setting. It should be addressed at the earliest possible
time. It may be prudent to inform students of possible penalties for disruptive behavior.
For example
A disruptive student is any student that interrupts the learning atmosphere. Disruptive
behavior on the Phoenix College campus or in Canvas will not be tolerated and will be dealt
with in accordance with college policy and administrative regulations. Disruptive behavior
includes harassment of other students or instructor and inappropriate or unsafe activities with
respect to other students, instructors, equipment or supplies. Disruptive behavior may also
include inappropriate usage of electronic and mobile devices.
 Disruptive students may be asked to leave the classroom. If the student refuses to leave,
the instructor may notify campus security.
 Disruptive students may be required to meet with the appropriate Dean, before being
allowed to return to the class.
Academic misconduct policy (Administrative Regulation 2.3.11.)
Student should be informed of your academic misconduct policy and potential penalties. Your policy must be
within the parameters described in Administrative Regulation 2.3.11.
Canvas has an integrated plagiarism checker called Turn-It-In. Contact the CTL for help using this tool.
For example
Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, cheating and plagiarism. See the Phoenix
College Student Handbook for additional details. It is expected that every student will produce
his/her original, independent work. Any student cheating on or plagiarizing any assignment will
receive an “F” on that assignment and may be reported for disciplinary action. Any assignment
assigned a failing grade as a result of academic integrity violation MAY NOT be made up at any
time. A second offense will result in failure of the course. All incidents may be reported to the
appropriate administrator. For your protection, please avoid even the appearance of academic
dishonesty.
Other penalties for academic dishonesty might include:
 Lowering of assignment or course grade
 Failure or no credit for plagiarized assignment with no possibility for make up
 Course failure (i.e. an F in the course and written notification or an in-person meeting with the
Dean of Arts and Sciences)
 Written notice to student that s/he has violated the academic code
 Additional academic assignments as determined by the instructor
 Academic probation
 College suspension
 Permanent college expulsion from any MCCCD college
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Phoenix College Sample Syllabus
Netiquette
Netiquette refers to the generally accepted rules of behavior for communicating in the online environment.
For example
1. Be professional and careful with what you say in your posting. Express your thoughts clearly
and concisely.
2. Be careful when using sarcasm and humor. Internet communications are very impersonal
and others may take your words as criticism.
3. Be courteous and respectful of other people. If you use abusive or offensive language, you
will be blocked from the discussion area and potentially removed from your course. If that is
the case, you will not receive a refund for your tuition.
4. Use common sense - is this message something that you want to be sent to you? Will you
understand it in 3 days if you were to go back and read it?
Academic/instructional grievance process (Administrative Regulation 2.3.5. and Appendix S-6)
If a student has a complaint about a faculty member’s instruction, conduct, or grade, there is an established
process and associated timelines for addressing these concerns. The process is described in Administrative
Regulation 2.3.5. and Appendix S-6 and summarized below.
For example
Your instructor attempts to provide excellent instruction in a manner that is fair to all students.
If, however, you feel that you have not been dealt with fairly and/or instruction has been
inadequate, procedures exist for handling such complaints. The complete process and timeline
is described in Administrative Regulation 2.3.5. and Appendix S-6 and is summarized below. It
is your responsibility to understand and comply with established timelines.
1. Speak with your instructor first. Perhaps he/she is unaware that a problem exists.
He/she may be able to resolve the problem.
2. If the problem is not or cannot be resolved, speak with the Department Chair.
3. If the problem is still not resolved, a written complaint should be sent to the
Department Chair and the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Wilbert Nelson, and a meeting
with the Dean will be arranged.
General education assessment statement
Phoenix College has identified five student-learning outcomes and has established a method to assess these
learning outcomes to gather college-wide data. You may wish to inform students of these learning outcomes
and which, if any, you will be focusing on and/or assessing for department or college-wide data collection.
For example
The faculty and staff at Phoenix College believe that your college education should not only
include learning content, but also developing important life-long skills. We call these general
education outcomes. The five (5) general education outcomes we have identified that should
be developed throughout your college career are:
1. Writing - develop effective writing skills to communicate.
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Phoenix College Sample Syllabus
2. Numeracy - learn to use numerical concepts and data effectively.
3. Critical Thinking - learn to apply critical thinking skills to solve problems, make informed
decisions, and interpret events.
4. Oral Presentation - plan and deliver an oral presentation to a target audience.
5. Information Literacy - learn to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively,
ethically, and legally.
In this course, we will be focusing on [list as many from list above as you plan to cover
through course content and/or activities].
Learning College statement
Phoenix College is a Learning College. You may wish to include a statement that defines what this means for
your students.
For example
The Learning College concept engages students as full partners in the learning process.
Students are responsible for their learning and are guided by faculty and staff though four
learning college principles:
 Evaluation
 Communication
 Collaboration
 Responsibility
Recommended Websites
Administrative Regulation 2.2.8.: https://chancellor.maricopa.edu/publicstewardship/governance/administrative-regulations/2-students/2.2-admission-registration-enrollment/2.2.8registration
Administrative Regulation 2.3.5.: https://chancellor.maricopa.edu/publicstewardship/governance/administrative-regulations/2-students/2.3-scholastic-standards/2.3.5-instructionalgrievance-process-appendix-s-6
Administrative Regulation 2.3.11.: https://chancellor.maricopa.edu/publicstewardship/governance/administrative-regulations/2-students/2.3-scholastic-standards/2.3.11-academicmisconduct
Administrative Regulation 2.5.2.: https://chancellor.maricopa.edu/publicstewardship/governance/administrative-regulations/2-students/2.5-student-rights-and-responsibilities/2.5.2student-conduct-code
Administrative Regulation 3.6.: https://chancellor.maricopa.edu/publicstewardship/governance/administrative-regulations/3-instruction/3.6-distribution-of-course-syllabus
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Phoenix College Sample Syllabus
Appendix S-6: https://chancellor.maricopa.edu/public-stewardship/governance/administrativeregulations/appendices/students/s-6-instructional-grievance-process
Center for Curriculum & Transfer Articulation: https://asa.maricopa.edu/departments/center-for-curriculumtransfer-articulation
Find-A-Class: http://classes.sis.maricopa.edu/
Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction: http://mcli.maricopa.edu/syllabus/regulations and
http://mcli.maricopa.edu/syllabus/best-practices
On-Time Registration/Success from Day One: https://chancellor.maricopa.edu/publicstewardship/governance/administrative-regulations/2-students/2.2-admission-registration-enrollment/2.2.8registration and http://www.phoenixcollege.edu/enroll
Phoenix College’s Center for Teaching and Learning: http://www.phoenixcollege.edu/academics/ctl
Phoenix College’s Disability Resources & Services: http://www.phoenixcollege.edu/studentresources/disability
Phoenix College’s Photo Roster: https://apps.pc.maricopa.edu/roster/index.php?r=auth/login
Phoenix College’s Student Catalog and Handbook: http://www.phoenixcollege.edu/academics/course-catalog
Student Information System (SIS): https://staff.sis.maricopa.edu/