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Policies, Regulations & Rules

REG 02.20.07 – Course Syllabus


Authority: Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

History: First Issued: 1995. Last Revised: February 3, 2026.

Related Policies:

NCSU POL 04.25.05 Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy Statement
NCSU POL11.35.01 – Code of Student Conduct
NCSU REG02.20.03 – Attendance Regulation
NCSU REG02.20.01 – Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
NCSU REG 11.35.05 Code of Student Conduct
NCSU REG 11.35.02 Student Discipline Procedures
NCSU REG 02.20.03 Attendance Regulations
NCSU REG 02.50.03 Grades and Grade Point Average
NCSU REG 02.20.15 Credit-Only Courses
NCSU REG 02.20.04 Audits
NCSU REG 08.00.11 Online Course Material Host Requirements

Contact Info: Vice Chancellor and Dean of Academic and Student Affairs (DASA) (919-515-2446)

1.  INTRODUCTION

All NC State faculty, lecturers, and other instructors (collectively “instructor(s)” herein) are required to provide students with a written or electronic course syllabus which contain the information listed below. Academic experiences occurring outside of organized course sections and providing individual instruction in exchange for course credit, e.g. practicums, internships, independent research and dissertations, may not require a syllabus. Current digital copies of all course syllabi must be maintained at the College or Department annually.

2.  General Syllabus Information

2.1 Syllabus Defined.

2.1.1  “Syllabus” or “Syllabi” is defined in this regulation as an employer-required document to accompany any course offered by NC State for academic credit. Syllabi are developed by the instructor, at the institution’s direction, and are required to include sufficient detail to inform students of the course and instructor’s expectations for the specified class. 

2.1.2  Directed Works. Syllabi are directed works, as distinguished from creative non-directed works, that are developed within the scope of an instructor’s employment and under institutional direction. Under section XII of Section 500.2 of the UNC Policy Manual, Patent and Copyright Policies,  NC State holds the copyright to course syllabi, as a directed work. As such, instructors do not retain personal copyright in these materials. Syllabi owned by NC State are generated in the course of public business and are not copyrightable in a manner that would exempt syllabi from public access to these records, consistent with state and federal public records laws. Syllabi shall be treated as “public records” as that term is used in Chapter 132 of the North Carolina General Statutes.  

2.2  All syllabi must, at a minimum, contain the following information: 

  • Course name and prefix, along with the course description;
  • All goals, objectives, student learning outcomes, and/or student expectations for the course; 
  • An explanation of how student performance will be assessed, including the grading scale, percentage breakdown of major assignments, and how attendance or participation will affect a student’s final grade; 
  • List of all course materials (physical and/or electronic) that students are required to purchase; and 
  • A statement noting that the course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading or media does not imply endorsement. 
  • The following statement: “Students are responsible for reviewing the NC State University Policies, Rules, and Regulations (PRRs), which pertain to their course rights and responsibilities, including, but not limited to:

2.3  Syllabi do not constitute an express or implied contract among the student, faculty, or institution. Rather, syllabi serve as a guide for the course. 

2.4  Beginning Fall 2026, no later than one (1) week prior to the first day of classes for the applicable semester or session, instructors must post course syllabi for each course offered in that semester or session to NC State’s designated, publicly available, online platform for housing such syllabi.  If a syllabus is unavailable for posting by the time listed above due to reasonable university operational limitations, such as when a course is under development or the instructor is not yet assigned, the instructor shall post the syllabus upon its development and completion, which shall occur no later than the first day of classes for that semester or session.