2024-2025 Law School Catalog > Detailed Syllabus Information > Faculty and Staff Academic Resources > Syllabus Template

Syllabus Template

Model Syllabus Template

Suffolk Law School faculty are welcome to adapt this model syllabus template for their classes. The blue text provides notes of guidance for you (which should be deleted when you finish using the template; including this note to you!). The red text is language that you will fill-in or change based on your own information. The black text should remain as is in your final syllabus. Instructions to use this template and other useful resources are located on the Center for Teaching & Scholarly Excellence website under “Teaching and Learning” (www.suffolk.edu/ctse).

Course Number – Course Title

Semester, Year

Instructor Information

Instructor: name

Email: email

Phone: office phone

Office: office location

Office Hours: office hours Homepage: (optional)

Course Information

Meetings: time/day

Location: building/room

Prerequisites: Add prerequisites here

Credit Hours: Enter number of credit hours here

The Law School adheres to the definition of “credit hour” established in ABA Standard 310(b), as set forth in Law School Rules & Regulations I(B)(2) and I(C)(2).

[Note on Credit Hour guideline: All courses must follow ABA Standard 310(b)’s credit hour definition: (b) A “credit hour” is an amount of work that reasonably approximates:

not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two hours of outof-class student work per week for fifteen weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or

at least an equivalent amount of work as required in subparagraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including simulation, field placement, clinical, co-curricular, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

It is expected that the work required of students may at times exceed the required minimum number of hours per credit per week, as appropriate to the Law School’s standards of academic rigor.]

Textbook/Course Materials

List required texts and materials here (e.g. textbooks, readings, clickers, etc.).

Course Management System Add reference to course management system (Campus Cruiser and/or Blackboard) and any details regarding use of the system to support your course (e.g., checking for relevant news, assignments or updates).

Course Description

Add course description here.

Course Objectives & Learning Outcomes [We are required to list the course learning outcomes in the syllabus per ABA Standard 301. We strongly recommend using this table of goals and objectives in your syllabus, as it provides the students with a clearer view of the items.]

[Faculty: this table assures that your course is “instructionally aligned” – that you measure what students practice/learn and you have students practice/learn what you define as course objectives. Instructional alignment is the single best predictor of both student learning and student ratings. If you come up with an empty cell or leftover course components, then the course is not aligned. For examples of course objectives and learning outcomes and tips for how to write them, see www.suffolk.edu/ctse and click on “Resources” then on “Course Design Materials.” Please note that the CTSE uses the terms “course goals” to refer to “course objectives” and “course objectives” to refer to “learning outcomes.”]

Assignments/Exams/Papers/Projects

Students will be evaluated in the following areas: Briefly describe assignments and assignment weights, if any.

[Faculty: we propose including this phrase if your course collects any assignments.] Select assignments in this course might be used by Suffolk University for accreditation and institutional assessment purposes and will be handled confidentially.

Grading/Evaluation

[Faculty: you need to inform students of the factors that will be considered in determining grades and the specific weight to be assigned. If you have a penalty for late work, include it here. For examples of grading/evaluation descriptions, see www.suffolk.edu/ctse.] Describe grading details here.

Course Policies

[Faculty: Over time a syllabus can become filled with rules and can discourage a positive course environment. Be sure you ask for the behavior you want to see, not just the behavior you don’t want. Don’t create any policies you aren’t willing to implement. Inconsistencies in the following policies lead to student complaints.] Describe any relevant course policies here.

Accommodations

If you anticipate issues related to the format or requirements of this course due to the impact of a disability, it is important that you contact the Law School’s Dean of Student Office for further information and assistance, including information on disability-related accommodations. We can then plan how best to coordinate any accommodations.

Participation/Attendance Policy

The Law School’s student attendance policy is set forth in Section II.B of the Rules and Regulations, which can be found at the following URL: http://www.suffolk.edu/law/studentlife/rulesandregs.php#rule2B.

Each student is expected to perform all class assignments and to attend class meetings regularly and in a punctual manner. Failure to do so may result in exclusion from an examination, which may result in a grade of No Credit, F, probation, suspension, or dismissal. [Please consider including an inclement weather statement like the following:] In the event that the University cancels classes, such as for severe weather, students are expected to continue with readings as originally scheduled. Any assignments scheduled during those missed classes, such as an exam or paper, are due at the next class meeting unless other instructions are posted at the course website or communicated via email.

[The following are policies that you might wish to include in your syllabus – including them is at your option]

Academic Integrity Policy

[Faculty: It is your responsibility to discourage academic dishonesty through word and deed. Academic dishonesty should be reported to the Dean of Students.]

Cheating on examinations, plagiarism and/or improper acknowledgment of sources in essays or research papers, and the use of a single essay or paper in more than one course, without the permission of the instructor, constitute unacceptable academic conduct. Student work may be checked by plagiarism detection software. A student who is suspected of violating this rule will be directed to the Dean of Students, who will arrange a hearing before the Law School’s Administrative/Disciplinary Committee to determine if the charges have merit and consider appropriate sanctions. The sanctions may include a grade of “F” in the course, suspension, enforced withdrawal, dismissal from the Law School, or appropriate lesser penalties if warranted by the circumstances.

Teaching Methods

I will use different teaching methods throughout the course. I will provide guidance on the material we study in each class, engage in a question and answer format with you to highlight and analyze important points in your text and supplementary materials, and have you work on problems. I will expect you to have extracted the law (and any policy motivating the law) in advance of class so that we can use some of our class time applying what you have mastered from the reading to new factual settings. This method gives you an opportunity to engage in a process that attorneys employ every day. At various points in the course, I will have you work with other classmates, just as you will one day regularly discuss legal issues with your colleagues.

Classroom Etiquette

I encourage you to ask questions during class. Your questions are helpful to the learning process for all. However, I may defer answers to questions until after class or to the next class in the interests of time or for other reasons. Learning is a collaborative process. To increase the prospect that all of you will learn in a comfortable environment, I expect you to be in class on time, treat each other with respect, and avoid distractions from the subject matter at hand. To that end, you may bring and use your laptops for class-related purposes only. You may not use the Internet for any purpose without my express permission. All cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off.

Mental health, stress and substance abuse

As a student, you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, health issues, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating, lack of motivation, or feeling ill. These concerns or other stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or may reduce your ability to participate in daily activities. Suffolk University services are available to assist you in addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. You can learn more about the broad range of medical services and confidential mental health services available on campus at the following websites:

Counseling, Health, and Wellness -- http://www.suffolk.edu/offices/989.html,

Law Students may also wish to access the services of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers – www.lclma.org

In addition, the Law School Dean of Students Office is available to discuss resources and possible approaches to address the academic/enrollment impact of the above issues. (The Law Dean of Students Office is on the 4th floor, within the Dean’s Suite – LawDeanOfStudents@suffolk.edu),

Course Schedule

[Faculty: Provide students with a list of dates that the course is meeting and related readings and assignments that you would like students to complete before coming to class. The generic statement in red reminds students about possible changes.]

The schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better student learning.