ZEN University Syllabus MCP Server
Provides access to ZEN University syllabus data, allowing AI agents to recommend courses and offer enrollment advice based on academic requirements
Click on "Deploy Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@ZEN University Syllabus MCP Server recommend courses for becoming a frontend engineer"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
ZEN University Syllabus MCP Server Implementation
An implementation of MCP that allows access to content from the ZEN University syllabus .
How to use
Install Node.js. Use Node.js version 20 or later.
Clone this repository or download the ZIP file and extract it. Open it in a console and run the following command:
npm install
npx tscBuild with. For Mac, add execution permissions in the console: chmod 755 build/index.js
Related MCP server: University Course Catalog MCP Server
Claude Desktop settings
Install Claude Desktop . The VSCode editor must be installed.
code $env:AppData\Claude\claude_desktop_config.jsonOpen the settings file with. For Mac,
code ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.jsonRewrite it as follows and set it.
{
"mcpServers": {
"get-subjects": {
"command": "node",
"args": [
"C:\\Users\\sifue\\workspace\\zen-syllabus-mcp\\build\\index.js"
]
}
}
}Change the path of build/index.js as appropriate.
On Mac,
{
"mcpServers": {
"get-subjects": {
"command": "node",
"args": [
"/Users/sifue/workspace/zen-syllabus-mcp/build/index.js"
]
}
}
}If you are using a Node.js version control system such as nvm , specify node as follows.
{
"mcpServers": {
"get-subjects": {
"command": "/Users/soichiro_yoshimura/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/bin/node",
"args": [
"/Users/soichiro_yoshimura/workspace/zen-syllabus-mcp/build/index.js"
]
}
}
}It will look like this. Change the path of build/index.js as appropriate.
After setting, restart Claude Desktop.
"Using ZEN University's MCP syllabus, please give us your recommended courses for becoming a front-end engineer."
Verified.


It will look like this. If you set course requirements, you can also discuss course details in detail.
VSCode settings
[Unverified] It will be available when GitHub Copilot will be able to use AI agents (currently only preview version). Search for settings with mcp and set the following to setting.json. Change the path as appropriate. A start button will appear above weather in the json, so start it.
{
"mcpServers": {
"get-subjects": {
"command": "node",
"args": [
"C:\\Users\\sifue\\workspace\\zen-syllabus-mcp\\build\\index.js"
]
}
}
}Once set up, use GitHub Copilot
"Using ZEN University's MCP syllabus, please give us your recommended courses for becoming a front-end engineer."
If you set course requirements, you can also discuss course details in detail.
Operation check when implementing on a server
For more information, see the Client implementation in the TypeScript SDK .
node build/index.jsStart the server with:
node .\build\client.jsStart the client and run it.
The client rewrites the code to be verified, and then
npx tscBuild and run the client again.
reference
Available Tools
2 toolsget-a-subject-with-detailB
Retrieve detailed a course information from the ZEN University syllabus. The numeric intended year of enrollment (enrollment_grade (optional)) and the freeword parameter (freeword) must be specified. The freeword parameter is intended for searching course names and similar keywords.
Inputs: freeword (required), enrollment_grade.
get-list-of-all-subjectsA
Retrieve a simplified list of all courses from the ZEN University syllabus, containing only the essential properties (name, enrollmentGrade, quarters, credit).
Inputs: no named parameters.
Tool Schema Changelog
Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
Loading tool schema changelog…
TDQS
Scored across 2 tools
The two tools have clearly distinct purposes: one retrieves detailed information for a specific course with search parameters, while the other fetches a simplified list of all courses. There is no overlap in functionality, making it easy for an agent to choose the correct tool based on the need for detailed vs. broad data.
Both tools follow a consistent verb_noun pattern with hyphens ('get-a-subject-with-detail' and 'get-list-of-all-subjects'), using clear, descriptive names that indicate their actions and targets. The naming style is uniform across the set, enhancing predictability.
With only 2 tools, the server feels under-scoped for a university syllabus domain, which typically involves operations like searching, filtering, updating, or managing course data. This limited set may force agents to work around gaps, as it lacks comprehensive coverage for common syllabus interactions.
The tool surface is severely incomplete for a syllabus server, covering only retrieval (detailed and list) without essential operations like creating, updating, or deleting courses, or advanced search capabilities. This will likely cause agent failures when full lifecycle management is required.
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