A course outline is an important document
A course outline, sometimes referred to as a syllabus (plural: syllabi), are important for students who transfer as they help institutions determine if there is potential content overlap in prior academic learning. Typically, academic faculty review these to determine if transfer credit can be awarded.
A course outline provides students with a comprehensive overview of a course's aims and objectives. The course outline is considered an academic document that communicates information about a specific course, but also explains the evaluation, rules, responsibilities and expectations associated with attending the course. In general, the outline lists the components of a course including learning outcomes, what topics will be covered, a weekly schedule and a list of tests, assignments and their associated grade weightings. Note: An outline is not a short (three to four sentence) description of the course content that may be found in academic calendars.
How a course outline communicates this information can vary by institution as there are different standards and resources that guide development. For example, all course outlines may have a standard look and feel, may vary by program or they may be developed by individual course instructors.