A great outline is the difference between a course people finish and one they refund. Use this 5-part template — or let AI build it from a single prompt.
The 5-part outline template
- Outcome statement. "After this course, learners can [verb] [object]."
- Modules (4–8). Each module = one milestone toward the outcome.
- Lessons (3–6 per module). Each lesson = one teachable concept.
- Practice + assessment. Quiz or exercise after every module.
- Capstone. One real project that proves the outcome.
Worked example: "Launch a SaaS landing page"
- Module 1 — Positioning & messaging
- Module 2 — Wireframing the page
- Module 3 — Visual design and components
- Module 4 — Copywriting that converts
- Module 5 — Shipping and measuring
- Capstone — A live, deployed landing page for a real product
The AI shortcut
Paste your topic, audience and target length into CourseGenerator AI Pro. You'll get the full module → lesson → outcome tree in under a minute, ready to drag, rename and refine.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create an online course outline?
Start with a one-sentence outcome, then chunk into 4–8 modules, 3–6 lessons each, with a quiz per module and a capstone project.
How many modules should an online course have?
4–8 modules works for most 4–10 hour courses. Fewer feels thin; more feels like a degree program.
Can AI write a course outline for me?
Yes. AI course builders generate a full module → lesson → outcome tree from a topic + audience prompt in under a minute.