Have you ever found the perfect quote or crucial information nestled within the pages of your course syllabus? Syllabi are often rich sources of insights into course policies, assignment details, and even instructor perspectives, making them valuable references for academic papers. However, simply knowing where to find the information isn't enough; you need to properly credit your source to avoid plagiarism and give credit where it's due.
Correctly citing a syllabus in APA style demonstrates academic integrity and provides your readers with the necessary information to locate the original source. Clear and consistent citation practices are essential for building trust in your research and showcasing your understanding of academic conventions. Mastering this seemingly small detail contributes to the overall credibility and professionalism of your work.
What are the key elements needed for an APA syllabus citation?
How do I format a syllabus citation in APA 7th edition?
To cite a syllabus in APA 7th edition, provide the instructor's last name and initials, the year, the title of the syllabus (in italics), the course number and name, and the institution offering the course. If the syllabus is available online, include the URL at the end of the citation. The general format is: Instructor, A. A. (Year). Syllabus title (Course number: Course name). Institution. URL
To elaborate, a syllabus is often considered an unpublished resource unless it is formally published on a website or in a repository. Consequently, the citation reflects this. The syllabus title should be specific, and if there's a version or date on the syllabus itself, it's appropriate to include that information within the title parenthetically. For example: Syllabus for Introduction to Psychology (Version 2.1, Fall 2023). The URL is important if the syllabus is retrievable online, allowing others to access the specific version you consulted. Here’s an example citation: Smith, J. D. (2023). Syllabus for Research Methods (PSY 201: Research Methods). University of California, Los Angeles. https://www.example.com/syllabi/psy201. If the syllabus isn't available online, you can omit the URL, and it will be treated as an unpublished resource accessible perhaps only via contacting the instructor directly. In the text, cite the syllabus using the instructor's last name and year, such as (Smith, 2023).What information is needed to cite a syllabus in APA?
To properly cite a syllabus in APA style, you generally need the instructor's name, the year the syllabus was created or the course was taught, the course name and number, the department and university name, and where the syllabus can be retrieved (e.g., a URL or statement that it's available from the instructor).
The specific format will vary slightly depending on whether the syllabus is publicly available online or if you accessed it through a learning management system or directly from the instructor. For publicly accessible syllabi, include the URL. If it's from a learning management system like Blackboard or Canvas, provide the platform name instead of a URL. If the syllabus is only available from the instructor, indicate that in the citation. Here's a general template, adapting as necessary: Instructor, A. A. (Year). *Course name (Course number)*. Department, University. URL or Platform. For example: Smith, J. (2023). *Introduction to Psychology (PSY 101)*. Department of Psychology, Example University. Canvas. If there is no URL or platform, state "Available from instructor."Should I include the syllabus URL in the APA citation?
Yes, if the syllabus is available online, you should absolutely include the URL in your APA citation. This allows readers to directly access the source material you used, enhancing the verifiability and replicability of your work.
Including the URL is a core tenet of APA 7th edition's focus on accessibility and transparency. Since a syllabus often contains specific details about course content, grading policies, or required readings that are not available elsewhere, providing the URL is crucial for readers who wish to verify the information or learn more about the course context. Omitting the URL when the syllabus is online makes it harder for readers to access the source, which defeats the purpose of citation. The URL should be the very last element of your citation, following the title of the syllabus (if available) or the course information. Make sure the URL is live and directly links to the syllabus document. If the syllabus is hosted on a learning management system (LMS) like Blackboard or Canvas that requires login, consider if you can provide a publicly accessible version, or if you need to slightly modify your citation to indicate the document's location (e.g., adding a note like "Available from [LMS name]"). Also, ensure you check the link before submitting your work, and consider using a URL shortener if the original URL is excessively long, but exercise caution with URL shorteners as they can sometimes break.How does citing an online syllabus differ from a printed one?
The primary difference in citing an online syllabus versus a printed one in APA style lies in the inclusion of retrieval information for the online version. While both cite the instructor, course name, institution, and date, the online citation requires a URL (or DOI, if available) indicating where the syllabus can be accessed online.
Specifically, for a printed syllabus, you would typically provide information that helps readers understand the document's provenance – the instructor's name, the course name and number, the institution, and the date. However, because a printed syllabus is typically not directly accessible to the reader unless they were a student in the course, the citation focuses on providing context rather than facilitating retrieval. In contrast, an online syllabus citation focuses on providing the most direct path for the reader to access the source material. This is achieved through the inclusion of a persistent link, such as a URL.
Consider that if the URL is not persistent or is likely to change (e.g., a syllabus posted within a learning management system like Blackboard or Canvas), it’s often recommended to provide the name of the learning management system. If the syllabus is behind a login wall, you can still include the URL with the understanding that direct access may be limited to enrolled students. It is important to include as much information as possible, so your readers can get the syllabus.
What if the syllabus author is not the course instructor?
If the syllabus author is different from the course instructor, cite the person or entity primarily responsible for creating the syllabus, typically found at the top of the syllabus document itself. Use that name in the "Author" position of your APA citation. If the author is an organization (e.g., a department or university), list the organizational author.
When someone other than the instructor is credited as the author of the syllabus, it's crucial to accurately reflect that attribution in your citation. For instance, a syllabus might be developed by a curriculum development team or a specific faculty member who specializes in instructional design. In such cases, using the instructor's name would be inaccurate. Look carefully for explicit authorship information provided on the syllabus, often near the beginning or end of the document. Follow the general APA format for authors, using initials for first and middle names and providing the surname.
If the syllabus clearly states that it was prepared by a specific department or university program, cite the department or program as the author. This is common for standardized courses where the syllabus is a shared resource. For example, you might cite the "Department of Psychology, Anytown University" as the author. The key is to identify who is responsible for the intellectual content and creation of the syllabus, regardless of who is teaching the course. Double-check the syllabus for any specific disclaimers or attribution statements related to authorship.
Where does the syllabus citation go in my paper (in-text and reference list)?
In APA style, a syllabus citation requires both an in-text citation within the body of your paper and a full reference list entry at the end. The in-text citation provides brief information, usually the instructor's last name and year, directing the reader to the complete entry in the reference list. The reference list entry provides all the necessary details for locating the specific syllabus you used.
The in-text citation should be placed immediately after the relevant information from the syllabus, typically enclosed in parentheses. For example: (Smith, 2023). If you are directly quoting the syllabus, include a page number or section number as well, like this: (Smith, 2023, p. 3). If you mention the instructor's name in your sentence, you only need to include the year in parentheses: Smith (2023) outlines the late submission policy... The reference list entry provides a comprehensive description of the syllabus. A typical format is: Instructor, A. A. (Year). *Course title* (Course number). Department, University Name. You should also indicate that it is a syllabus. For example, Smith, J. (2023). *Introduction to Psychology* (PSY 101). Department of Psychology, Example University. Syllabus. If the syllabus is accessed online, include the URL.Is a syllabus considered a gray literature source in APA?
Yes, a syllabus is generally considered gray literature in APA style. Gray literature encompasses materials not formally published or commercially available, and a syllabus fits this definition because it's usually produced and distributed within an educational institution rather than through traditional publishing channels.
The classification of a syllabus as gray literature affects how it's cited. Because gray literature may be less accessible, the citation should provide enough information for the reader to locate the document, if possible. This means including details like the instructor's name, course title, department, university, and date. If the syllabus is available online, a URL should be provided. If it is not available online, consider stating the location where it can be accessed (e.g., "Available from the Department of Psychology office, University of Example").
When citing a syllabus, focus on providing enough contextual information to compensate for its potential lack of formal publication. The goal is to allow readers to understand the source's origin and, ideally, to find it themselves. The specific format will follow APA guidelines for unpublished or informally published works, adapting to the specific details available for the syllabus in question.
And that's the syllabus citation situation in APA! Hopefully, this has cleared up any confusion and you're feeling confident about tackling your reference list. Thanks for reading, and we hope you'll come back for more citation wisdom soon!