Understand a Class Schedule and Syllabus

Overview

In this section, you will explore how to interpret a college class schedule and use the course syllabus as a roadmap for success. A class schedule outlines when and where your courses meet, while the syllabus provides essential details about what you will learn, how you will be assessed, and the expectations set by your professor. Understanding how to use these tools early on will help you stay organized, manage your time effectively, and approach each course with confidence.

By the end of this section, you will be able to identify the key components of a college class schedule, explain the purpose of a syllabus, and apply it as a guide for navigating assignments, deadlines, and course policies throughout the semester.

Learn

In this activity, you are introduced to the fundamentals of a first semester’s class schedule. The slide deck and video help you understand how to read the “when and where” of your schedule’s courses—think days, times, and locations—and suggest smart ways to organize that information for your own weekly planning. You will also learn how to spot the professor’s contact and office hours, understand the course description and learning objectives, get a grip on attendance rules or grade breakdowns, and build a personal calendar from the course schedule—so you're never caught off guard with due dates or expectations.

You will complete the following tasks:

1. Review the Understanding and Navigating Your First-Year College Class Schedule (Figure A) slide deck linked here and embedded below.

Watch the How to Read a College Syllabus - And Strategize for How to Best Approach the Course | 14 min (Figure B) video linked here and embedded below.

Apply

(Optional) Use the information you learned to complete the activity outlined below.

After reflecting on the Review the Understanding and Navigating Your First-Year College Class Schedule (Figure A) slide deck and the How to Read a College Syllabus - And Strategize for How to Best Approach the Course (Figure B) video above, please complete the following activity:

• • Use the Sample Course Syllabus (Figure C) linked here and embedded below to complete the Course Syllabus Matrix (Figure D). Click the previous link or the image below to make a copy of the Course Syllabus Matrix (Figure D) that you can complete.

Click the link to access Module 6 Section 02 - Explore Campus Resources for Students.