DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS

SYLLABUS FORMAT

INSTRUCTIONS:

In order to facilitate documentation of our progress on our accreditation plan, it is very important that all syllabi contain the elements listed below in the format requested. Whatever additional features you elect to include in your syllabus is discretionary. In addition, the AACSB DATA SHEET needs to be completed for each course. One copy of the syllabus goes to the DOB office file and the AACSB data sheet and another copy of the course outline are given to the Chair of the DOB Curriculum Committee.

COURSE NUMBER:

COURSE TITLE:

INSTRUCTOR:

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION:

Must be verbatim from the current Skidmore Catalogue include the number of semester hours immediately after the description.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

These should be related to the DOB mission statement and to the terminal objectives of the program (attached). Not every course should meet every objective and progressive courses in a sequence will address the same objectives at different developmental levels, i.e. beginning, intermediate advanced. The number of objectives should be realistic; usually not more than 6-8 per semester can actually be achieved by students. These objectives form a basis for the evaluation of student learning and should be reflected in the criteria for grading. Evaluation of the student achievement on the course objectives forms basic evidence that students who complete the curricula successfully, have, in fact, met our terminal objectives.

Attention to the clarity of the course objectives is important because it is at the level of the course that we measure student attainment of our terminal objectives. Generally, each objective should be a simple declarative sentence with an action verb. Each one should be separately listed, since a student may succeed on one and fail in another. Descriptive narratives should be reserved for course descriptions, introductions or other text you may wish to add.

Well written objectives allow us to use these in our outcome evaluation as well as a basis for approval of transfer credits. Such objectives may be very helpful, for example, in our attempts to collaborate with the UWW program. The point is, the professor and the students in the class will not be the only people who need to refer to the objectives you develop. Further information on objective development is attached.

TEACHING METHODS:

Should be congruent with the objectives and the level of student for whom the course is designed. Can be used to reinforce other departmental or college-wide objectives such as communication, writing and/or computer skills.

REQUIRED and/or RECOMMENDED TEXTS:

Use full APA citation. Copy is available on-line and hard copy is in the DOB office.

EVALUATION METHODS:

Full description of grade components such as projects, presentations, exams, research, etc. and the points allocated to each. Congruence with objectives and appropriateness for level of student are important.

TOPICAL OUTLINE:

Include date, topic and assignments/readings.