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Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Course objectives

This section should include the instructors list of course goals or objectives.

This list usually consists of five or six statements covering the main course objectives. In other words, what you want your students to learn about the subject.

Note: Sometimes Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes are one and the same: the latter being a more modern expression of the former. However, you may feel that you need to separate your own goals from student learning outcomes. Read the next section and consider your choices.

Learning Outcomes

This section should include a list of skills or techniques students will develop from the course

This list usually consists of five or six quantifiable statements about what students will be able to do after completing the course.

Examples from Dr. Jane DeWitt:

Example 1:

Course Objective
To introduce students to heat measurement using different temperature tools.

Learning Outcome
Students will learn to measure temperatures with the Fahrenheit and Centigrade scales.

Example 2:

Course Objective
To develop notation techniques for experimental results in graphic and sortable list forms.

Learning Outcome
Students will be able to note experiment results using graphs, spreadsheets, and databases.

Students like to know what skills they will learn as a result of the coursework. Often these are second nature to the expert and seem unnecessary to list.

Consider the target audience of your course:

Is the course for beginning, advanced, or graduate level students?
Is the course a General Education requirement? For example, you may have students taking one physics class in their entire education. You can motivate them by pointing out the skills they will learn.

Decide whether you want to use Course Objectives or Learning Outcomes or both in your syllabus. Consult with faculty and look at syllabi from your own studies.

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