Explore Syllabi is currently available for instructors ONLY at bookshelf.vitalsource.com.
Before you start
You need to have a VitalSource Account and be a verified instructor to see syllabus content. You become verified when a publisher approves your first sample request through Search & Sample.
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Step 1: Log in and search for a title
Go to bookshelf.vitalsource.com and log in. Use the Search bar to find the title you want to evaluate.
You can filter results by Free Samples, CoachMe Availability, Day One Access Pricing, and Accessibility Claims.
Step 2: Open the title's detail page
From the search results, click View Details on the title you want to evaluate.
Step 3: Find and Access the Explore Syllabi tab
On the Product Details page, look for two things:
- Explore Syllabi flag — confirms that peer syllabi are available for this title
- Explore Syllabi tab — where you can browse the available syllabi
Click Explore Syllabi tab to browse available syllabi.
Note: The flag and tab only appear when a title has 3 or more qualifying syllabi in Open Syllabus. If you don't see them, there isn't enough peer data for this title yet.
Step 4: Browse peer syllabi
The syllabi list is displayed as cards identifying the course, institution, year, and what is contained in the syllabus. Syllabi are ordered by how much useful course design detail they contain. Those with the most useful information and the most recent appear first.
Up to 60 syllabi are displayed per title.
Click any syllabus card to open the full syllabus. Depending on what's available in Open Syllabus, a syllabus may include:
- Syllabus Information: Course name & course code, university/institution, year posted
- Course description
- Learning outcomes
- Topic outline
- Assignment schedule
- Assessment strategy
- AI policy
Note: Not all syllabi have all fields — what you see reflects what is available in the source data.
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Not verified?
Follow Steps 1–3 above.
If you are not a verified instructor, you will see the Explore Syllabi tab on qualifying titles, but the content will be locked.
Click Unlock Instructor Features to submit a sample request. You will need to include the following information:
- Course Name and Number (Required)
- Course Enrollment (Required)
- Course Start Date (Required)
You will receive a confirmation email that your request has been submitted.
Once a publisher approves it, you're verified and the Explore Syllabi tab will be unlocked.
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See also What is Explore Syllabi?