Writing a Course Description

The COPH syllabus template contains the following information about the course description. The course description will be populated in the COPH Course catalog in addition to your syllabus. You will want to make sure that the course description clearly explains the goals of the course and the value of the course for students. Below are three prompts with questions to help you start creating a new course description or revise an older course description.

Writing a Course Description

• Ask yourself

  • What is the value of the course?

  • What are the learning outcomes/goals?

  • What is the benefit to the student?

• Your first sentence

  • This course will…

  • In this course…

  • An introduction…

  • At the end of this course, you will…

• Your first draft

  • State clearly and precisely what the course is about.

  • Keep descriptions succinct.

  • Write in the present tense.

  • Use active outcome-based verbs (Bloom Taxonomy)

  • Remember, the first 5-10 words of a course description are the most important.