Once a semester ends, students are expected to immediately begin the stressful process of signing up for their next courses. Between finding the right classes needed for our major, and ensuring the times will work with our schedules – it can be a grueling process. As long as things go smoothly, we have our required courses chosen and ready before the semester begins.
However, there is a glaring issue within the process of choosing classes – the syllabus isn’t made available until after classes begin.
The syllabus holds a plethora of vital information for students to have. The required texts for each class, the attendance policies, and a class overview – to name a few. All of this information is kept from students until the classes begin. Instead, they are given a simple description of what the class will entail.
How can students choose their classes confidently with only one small paragraph stating what the course is about?
Since the syllabus is kept from students until classes start, they may be more likely to drop courses once they begin. Many professors employ a certain teaching method that aligns with what they think works best; however, it may not always work with every student.
If the syllabus were made available before students signed up for courses – they could see what they were in for.
That way, for example, if they were looking through the course catalog knowing they’re a more visual learner, they would be able to choose a professor who offers more visual presentations rather than lecture based.
With this information being held in the syllabus, and the syllabus being withheld until classes begin, it makes for an even more stressful first week.
Dropping a course when the semester is just beginning makes for a nightmarish scenario for many students. Classes will have already filled up so their only options would be to stick with a class that doesn’t work with them, or struggle to find a replacement course.
This cycle continues until students can find a course, sign up for it, find a syllabus with information that aligns to them, and settle into said course. This process could be eliminated completely with the help of adding a syllabus to the course catalog.
Another big reason to add the syllabus to the catalog, as mentioned previously, is to allow students more time to gather textbooks. Many professors require one or more textbooks to begin the semester with – this can leave students scrambling at the beginning of a semester.
As they’re trying to adjust to their new schedule, they’ll also be searching for the textbooks needed right when they need them. This can lead to them missing the first assignments and reading passages if they’re unable to acquire the textbook in time.
Money is also a considerable reason to give the syllabus before signing up for classes. If students are made aware of the textbooks and materials needed months in advance – they can stagger the purchases to not overwhelm their wallets.
As college students, many of us are not rife with cash. Most students take on about four to five courses a semester that will each need their own textbooks. These books are rarely cheap and cost at a minimum over one hundred dollars.
By having the syllabus given before classes are chosen, students will be given the best chance at success. They will be able to find courses that align with their learning capabilities while being able to gather the needed materials for said course in a more appropriate timeframe.
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