Images: Sam Witherow, Afsaneh Aynesazi Doyom, and Laurie Gordon, MFA ’22

The following information should be included in all MassArt syllabi. This information is found on MassArt’s Wiki page Creating a Syllabus. Also review Syllabi and Assessment.

Checklist Items

Identifying Information

Include the following: the course name and code number, the number of credits, the day(s) and time(s) and location of the course, faculty name, office location, office hours, office telephone number, and e-mail address.

Course Description

This is a brief description of the nature of the course; it corresponds with the catalog description of the course. Check the Course Catalog (make sure you are in the catalog for the current year), or Self-Service, or ask the Graduate Programs Office, gradprogram@massart.edu, for this information.

Departmental Goals

These describe the broad learning outcomes and concepts (what you want students to learn) expressed in general terms (e.g. clear communication, problem-solving skills, etc.). Please ask the Program Director if there are specific program goals that they want you to include.

Course Materials

List the required and recommended or supplementary texts and other materials for the course and where they may be obtained (library, handouts, studio managers, bookstore, etc.).

Departmental Academic Progress Statement

The graduate program expectations for progress are discussed in the Graduate Academic Policies. 

Syllabus Attachment with Policy Statements

It is an all-school policy that each syllabus must include an attached sheet with the following statements:

1. Attendance
2. Students with Disabilities
3. Grading System
4. Grade Definitions
5. Plagiarism. 

Rubric for evaluating syllabi items with varying levels of quality Meeting expectations is expected in each category. This metric is also meant to serve as a guide for identifying areas for possible improvement in existing syllabi (The full required Graduate Syllabus Policy Attachment is below).

Course Learning Outcomes 

Describe what students are expected to learn. Outcomes are the specific skills, values and attitudes students should exhibit that reflect the broader goals (See Creating a Syllabus for more information).

Course Content (Assignments)

Describe the activities making up the class, including course requirements. Faculty must delineate exactly what work students will be expected to do, and specify what will or will not count towards their final grade. This includes providing specific instructions regarding papers, projects, presentations, studio work, etc. Assignments must be linked to Course Learning Outcomes. An assignment may address multiple objectives (see Creating a Syllabus for more information).

Course Calendar

This section includes relevant dates for course meetings, assigned projects and due dates, exams and review board dates, etc. (see Creating a Syllabus for more information).

Course Assessment and Grading

Determine what you need to observe, read, hear, etc. to evidence achievement of the learning outcomes. These become either your assessment criteria or a holistic description. Third, determine the form for communicating the assessment (i.e., checklist, narrative feedback, rubric). Indicate how the student’s grade will be determined. It indicates the percentage of their final grade that is assigned to each activity (class participation, exams, reports, homework, class presentation of studio work, reviews, etc.). In addition, grading criteria should be outlined. For example, what constitutes an A as opposed to a B; or what constitutes passing (see Creating a Syllabus for more information).