Writing a Course Outline

Posted by Joni Rose Jul 2, 2008

A good course outline will give you a clear idea of what content to include when designing presentations and handouts, make sure you have all of the supplies and equipment you need as well as attract enrollments.

Title

The title needs to be descriptive enough to stand alone and convey the content of the course or workshop. This is especially important if the titles are listed without the course descriptions in any of the promotional materials (web site, brochures, posters etc.). Be careful with cute titles that are not descriptive of the content as they can deter potential enrollments.

Course Description

The course or workshop description is a vital part of promotion of the session. The benefits to the participants will need to be clearly articulated. For participants to enroll, they need to clearly see how this training will improve their performance on the job. The course description also needs to include the main concepts that will be discussed in detail in the workshop or course. The description should be between 80 - 125 words for most web site or brochures, especially when multiple workshops or courses are being promoted. If this outline is to be used as a handout to students on the first class, add a detailed session by session break down and description.

Basic Facts

The basic facts are the important details that participants require apart from the course content. They include:

• Start time
• End time
• Start date
• End date
• Number of sessions
• Location

Instructor Profile

The instructor profile or biography is important to establish the level of expertise of the instructor. A typical profile describes the instructor’s past employment, education, and any relevant special projects or volunteer work.

Optional Sections

• Course ID
• Fees
• Supplies
• AV requirements
• Registration instructions
• Target audience
• Promotional ideas