You want to increase student enthusiasm and to emphasize the relevance and applicability of the course. You will also want the description to reflect your values and attitudes. Course objectives or goals can sometimes be combined with the course description, depending on their complexity and the nature of the course and discipline. Course objectives, ideally characterized by action verbs, are usually a statement or an outline describing what students should be able to do at the end of the term. Clear objectives can foster a sense of partnership and an awareness that you and your students are working toward the same goals.
Objectives can provide both a focus and a motivation for learning.
The course prerequisites and required skills need to be emphasized in any class discussion to minimize the problem of unqualified students taking the class. They want to know what will be happening and when. As any new lecturer knows, probably the most difficult planning decisions concern the structuring of course material. For the average class, this usually means ten hours of outside work per week. Be certain when setting up assignments that you include writing requirements, particularly for upper-level classes, so that students will learn facility with the English language, skills in organization and support, and research techniques.