Senate Committee on Curricula
Writing Course Descriptions

How to Write a Course Description
The following suggested guidelines are provided by the Publications Office. Please note that exception will sometimes occur because of the particular nature of a course.

• It is not necessary to use complete sentences or predication. Instead list the topics covered in brief descriptive phrases. For example:

Brief Description
Syntax of film time-space. Conditioning agents as factors of human esponse in relation to the needs of self expression.

Identical Longer Description
The student will explore the syntax of film time-space. Conditioning agents as factors of human response will be examined in relation to the needs of self expression.

• Avoid using phrases such as "a study of" or "an examination of" since it is assumed that all courses analyze, examine or study the subject matter. Instead list the topics covered in brief descriptive phrases. If a course has a graduate level number (600 or above) you need not put "graduate" in the title or description.

• Unless the course typically covers more than the topics named because of multiple sections, subjects that vary from year to year, or a list too long to print, don't use phrases like "topics include". Phrases like "with emphasis on" should be used only if it is really significant to point out that one or more among several topics is the primary focus of a course, in which case "emphasizing" is more concise. Separately naming the topic emphasized will usually accomplish the same thing.

Description With Unnecessary Phrases
Survey of the theories of major modern philosophers (Locke, Rousseau, Hume, J.S. Mill, Marx), with particular attention to their views on liberty, justice, and equality. Includes examination of contemporary theories of liberty, justice and equality.