Homeschool course description examples
What colleges look for in homeschool course descriptions, a simple formula, and example descriptions for English, math, science, history, world languages and electives.
Updated · Yamoreh Co-op
A course description tells a college what a course on the transcript actually was. For homeschoolers it does a lot of the work a school profile does for a traditional school: it shows the level, the content and how work was assessed.
A simple formula
- What was covered: the main topics, in a sentence or two.
- Materials: the main textbook or curriculum, and major books read.
- How work was assessed: tests, papers, labs, projects, presentations.
- Hours and level: roughly how many hours, and what made it honors, AP or dual credit, if it was.
Write in the third person and the past tense, and use the same course title as the transcript.
Examples by subject
English: American Literature (Honors)
1 credit · about 160 hours
A survey of American writing from the Puritans to the twentieth century, read in chronological order alongside its history. Texts included The Scarlet Letter, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Huckleberry Finn, The Great Gatsby and a poetry anthology. Students wrote weekly literary responses, three analytical essays of 1,200–1,500 words with revision, and a research paper with MLA citations. The honors designation reflects two additional novels and a seminar presentation.
Math: Algebra II
1 credit · about 150 hours
Functions and their graphs, linear and quadratic systems, polynomials, rational and radical expressions, exponential and logarithmic functions, sequences and series, probability, and an introduction to trigonometry. Primary text: Saxon Algebra 2 (3rd ed.). Assessed through daily problem sets, weekly tests and a cumulative final exam.
Science: Chemistry with Lab
1 credit · about 170 hours
Atomic structure, the periodic table, bonding, stoichiometry, gases, solutions, acids and bases, thermochemistry and reaction rates. Students completed 14 laboratory investigations at a weekly co-op lab with formal lab reports. Primary text: Exploring Creation with Chemistry. Assessed through module tests, lab reports and a final exam.
Social studies: U.S. Government
0.5 credit · about 75 hours
The founding documents, the structure and powers of the three branches, federalism, civil rights and liberties, elections and political parties, and how a bill becomes law. Students read the Constitution and selected Federalist Papers, followed a current Supreme Court case, attended a city council meeting and wrote a policy brief.
World language: Spanish II
1 credit · about 140 hours
Continued study of Spanish grammar (preterite and imperfect tenses, commands, the subjunctive introduced), expanded vocabulary, and reading of short authentic texts. Weekly conversation sessions with a tutor; assessed through chapter tests, recorded oral presentations and a final exam.
Elective: Personal Finance
0.5 credit · about 70 hours
Budgeting, banking, saving and investing, credit and debt, insurance, taxes and consumer protection. Students built and kept a monthly household budget, compared loan offers and wrote a long-term savings plan.
Faster: draft from a few answers
Yamoreh Co-op's “Help me write this” asks four or five quick questions (topics, materials, assessment, hours) and drafts a description in this style for you to edit. Only the course details are sent, never your student's name. Every description then goes into a Course Description Book that matches the transcript.
Common questions
How long should a homeschool course description be?
One solid paragraph of 80–150 words is enough for most courses. Longer is fine for unusual or self-designed courses.
Do I need a course description for every course?
It's best to write one for every course; at minimum write them for anything with an unusual title, a self-designed course, honors or AP-level work, and anything taught at home.