curriculum
kuh-RIHK-yuu-luhm
Curriculum (noun) means the full set of courses and material taught at a school or university. Example: “Music and drama are both part of the school's curriculum this year.”
noun
1
The full set of courses and material taught at a school or university.
"Music and drama are both part of the school's curriculum this year."
"The new curriculum puts more emphasis on practical science."
"She helped design the curriculum for the nursing program."
2
A set of standards or topics schools are required to teach.
"Teachers must follow the curriculum set by the education department."
"Cooking skills are now a required part of the curriculum in many schools."
"Climate science was recently added to the national curriculum."
How to use curriculum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat gets taught — the overall plan of subjects and lessons in a course of study.
Common mistake
The plural is curricula (or curriculums), not "curriculae."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
school curriculum
curriculum design
national curriculum
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Word forms
- Plural
- curricula, curriculums
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Music and drama are both part of the school's _____ this year.
Etymology
From Latin curriculum, "a course" (literally a running or race course), from currere, "to run" — the same root as "current" and "courier."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for curriculum
See all rhymes for curriculum →Frequently asked questions
What does “curriculum” mean?
The word “curriculum” means the full set of courses and material taught at a school or university. In plain terms, what gets taught — the overall plan of subjects and lessons in a course of study.
How do you pronounce “curriculum”?
“Curriculum” is pronounced kuh-RIHK-yuu-luhm (/kəˈɹɪk.jə.ləm/ in IPA).
How do you use “curriculum” in a sentence?
Here is “curriculum” used in a sentence: “The new curriculum puts more emphasis on practical science.”
What part of speech is “curriculum”?
“Curriculum” is a noun.
Where does the word “curriculum” come from?
The word “curriculum” comes from Latin. From Latin curriculum, "a course" (literally a running or race course), from currere, "to run" — the same root as "current" and "courier.".
Is “curriculum” a common word?
“Curriculum” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “curriculum” have?
“Curriculum” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the full set of courses and material taught at a school or university.
What is the difference between curriculum and syllabus?
A curriculum is the full set of courses and material taught at a school or university across a programme. A syllabus is narrower, outlining the specific topics, readings, and schedule for a single course within that curriculum.
What is the plural of curriculum?
The traditional Latin-derived plural is curricula, though curriculums is also accepted in modern English. Curricula is more common in formal and academic writing.
What is the difference between curriculum and course?
A course is a single subject or class of study, such as biology or algebra. A curriculum is the full collection of courses and material taught across a school or university, so it contains many individual courses.
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