Creating Course Descriptions

Faculty member teaching a class.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

- Will Rogers

An enticing course description can influence a student’s decision to enroll in a course. Even if the course is required, we want students to be intrigued from the very first sentence and be excited for the first day of class. In just a few words, your course description should clearly convey what the course is about and why students should want to take it. The following sections will help you craft an exciting course description for your course outline.

In This Section

How to Write an Excellent Course Description

Course descriptions should meet the following criteria:

Capture Interest

Start with a hook

State something interesting or ask an intriguing question to draw students in and encourage them to read the full description.

Example

You might ask “Ever wonder how four stars form the astrological image of a ram? Explore the most legendary constellations....”

Student Centered

Put students in the course

Write the description in the present tense and help students imagine themselves in the course, making personal or professional connections to the content.

Example

Instead of stating “Students will explore”, simply start with “Explore”.

Clear, concise, and easy to understand

Keep it clear and concise

Avoid using jargon, idioms, complex language, and acronyms that students would not have encountered yet in their program. Avoid redundance, provide the relevant information about your course without statements such as “in this course,” “this course is/will/continues/introduces” or “you will learn.”

Example

Aim for 3 - 5 sentences (~100 words).

Detail significant learning experiences and benefits

Highlight importance

Highlight the relevance of the course to students' academic development and impact on their career paths.

Example

"Using foundational principles of marketing, create a portfolio showcasing your personal marketing strategy to share with prospective employers or clientele."

Align with the Course Learning Outcomes

Ensure alignment

Clearly state what students will learn and be able to do by the end of the course, using verbs that align with the course learning outcomes (CLOs).

Example

Check the verbs used in your CLOs

Note

The most important aspect to include in your course description is to appeal to students’ curiosity and get them excited to learn.

Writing the Course Description

Steps

Structure

The following structure summarizes the key points above and can be used to help build your course description:

First sentence

[verb] + [focus, purpose, scope]

Second sentence

[goal of the course]

Third and fourth sentence

[describe learning method(s) and activities]

Putting it All Together

Using the examples from the Writing the Course Description steps above, a well-structured course description would sound like this:

"Unlock the secrets of digital marketing and transform your online presence in 14 weeks. Engage in a comprehensive overview of social media marketing, content strategy, and data analytics and their impacts on online presence to understand their impact on user engagement. Using foundational principles of marketing, create a portfolio showcasing your personal marketing strategy to share with prospective employers or clientele. Learning is enhanced through engagement with Generative Artificial Intelligence, creative digital activities and in-class discussions."

Summary of Wise Practices for Course Descriptions

  • Use active voice: Write in present tense to encourage the feeling of being in the course and make the description more engaging.
  • Be specific: Provide specific details about the course content and outcomes. Avoid vague statements to prevent reader confusion.
  • Align with CLOs: Use the CLOs to shape the course description, drawing on the same or similar verbs and/or cognitive level (Bloom’s Taxonomy).
  • Short and to the point: Course descriptions should be under 100 words (3-5 sentences) to keep the reader’s attention.
  • Avoid redundant information: Provide the relevant information about your course without statements such as “in this course,” “this course is/will/continues/introduces” or “you will learn.”
  • Keep it student-centered: Focus on what students will gain from the course rather than what you will teach.
  • Review and revise: Proofread the description for clarity, grammar, and spelling errors. Consider sharing it with a colleague for feedback.

References

For more information, explore Toronto Metropolitan University’s resources on writing Course Descriptions: Writing Course Descriptions, licensed under Creative Commons 4.0.