1
: the courses offered by an educational institution
the high school curriculum
2
: a set of courses constituting an area of specialization
the engineering curriculum
the biological sciences curriculum
the liberal arts curriculum
Did you know?
Curriculum is from New Latin (a post-medieval form of Latin used mainly in churches and schools and for scientific coinages), in which language it means “a course of study.” It shares its ultimate root in classical Latin, where it meant “running” or “course” (as in “race course”), with words such as corridor, courier, and currency, all of which come from Latin currere “to run.”
As is the case with many nouns borrowed directly from Latin, there is often some confusion as to the proper way to form its plural. Both curricula and curriculums are considered correct.
This word is frequently seen in conjunction with vitae; a curriculum vitae (Latin for “course of (one’s) life”) is “a short account of one’s career and qualifications prepared typically by an applicant for a position” – in other words, a résumé. Curriculum vitae is abbreviated CV, and is pluralized as curricula vitae.
Example Sentences
The college has a liberal arts curriculum.
Recent Examples on the Web
Senate Bill 780 is sponsored by state Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami, and is designed to better integrate computer science into the elementary school curriculum and is currently with the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education.
—
By Andrew Powell | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner, 7 Apr. 2023
Hillsdale has approved eighty schools to use the K-12 curriculum created by the college’s professors.
—Emma Green, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2023
Paul Bruno, another parent who’s publicly spoken against the curriculum, donated $100 to Zollicoffer’s campaign.
—Quinn Clark, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2023
Physical activity is on the curriculum at Meraki High School in Fair Oaks, California.
—Tracy Smith, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2023
Classes that were midway through the year had to abandon the curriculum in January to avoid violating the law.
—Michelle Garcia, NBC News, 22 Mar. 2023
The district worked to develop the curriculum with Jennifer and Jon Epstein, Beaverton residents whose son Cal died of fentanyl poisoning in December 2020, during his first Christmas home from college.
—oregonlive, 20 Mar. 2023
The curriculum, however, is only a recommendation, with districts and teachers following their own path.
—Jill Tucker, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Mar. 2023
At the time, the curriculum was loose.
—Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘curriculum.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin, going back to Latin, «action of running, course of action, race,» from currere «to run» + -i- -i- + -culum, suffix of instrument and place (going back to Indo-European *-tlom) — more at current entry 1
First Known Use
1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of curriculum was
in 1824
Dictionary Entries Near curriculum
Cite this Entry
“Curriculum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curriculum. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
Share
More from Merriam-Webster on curriculum
Last Updated:
13 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences
Subscribe to America’s largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!
Merriam-Webster unabridged
One of the central debates in the world of education involves the materials and overall course of study that schools follow. All schools have the goal of providing the best and most thorough education for students, but how exactly they do so is the subject of fierce disagreement.
The words curricula and curriculum appear frequently in these discussions. These words are clearly related, but what exactly do they mean? Are they different versions of the same word? Continue reading to learn more.
What is the Difference Between Curricula and Curriculum?
In this post, I will compare curriculum vs. curricula. I will use each of these words in several example sentences to give you an idea of how they should appear in context.
Plus, I will show you a helpful memory tool that should make choosing curriculum or curriculums much easier.
When to Use Curriculum
What does curriculum mean? Curriculum is a noun. It means the subjects, materials, and plan of study for an academic course.
In America, public schools have moved toward a “common core” curriculum that attempts to standardize academic content nationwide.
Still, each individual classroom, teacher, and school will have a different curriculum for each subject. This includes books and specific assignments, as well as lesson plans and tests.
Here are a few examples of curriculum in sentences,
- The school board is engaged in a long, in-depth debate regarding whether to switch to a new curriculum next year.
- Albertson is on her school’s planning committee, where she reviews and modifies curriculum and monitors overall academic progress.
- The new curriculum is similar to the so-called patriotic education taught in mainland China. –The New York Times
Merriam-Webster notes that curriculum is a Latin word that is related to the verb currere, which means to run. It has been part of mainstream English since the early 19th century.
When to Use Curricula
What does curricula mean? Curricula is a plural form of curriculum. You could think of it as meaning more than one course of study.
For example,
- The department chair considered several language arts curricula before making a recommendation.
- Ken’s mother is most displeased by the liberal arts curricula in place at most American public colleges and universities.
- Yet in a contest between their undergraduate curricula, Columbia has more than held its own. –The Wall Street Journal
What is the plural of curriculum? Curriculum actually has two plurals: curricula, and curriculums. They are both considered correct, but curricula is vastly more popular.
The below chart graphs curricula vs. curriculums since 1800.
This chart isn’t exhaustive in its scope. It notably excludes other sources where these words might be common, like college syllabuses and personal résumés. Still, we can clearly see that most writers prefer curricula to curriculums.
Trick to Remember the Difference
When you are writing about one course of study, use curriculum, and when you are writing about more than one, use curricula.
- Curriculum is the singular.
- Curricula the plural of this term.
To make it easier to remember the difference, notice that curricula is the shorter of the two words, just as plural is shorter than singular.
Summary
Is it curricula or curriculum? Curriculum and curricula are the singular and plural forms, respectively, of a term that refers to the subjects and materials of a course of study.
To summarize,
- Curriculum is singular.
- Curricula is plural and the preferred plural spelling.
- Curriculums is also plural but is rarely used when compared to curricula.
Contents
- 1 What is the Difference Between Curricula and Curriculum?
- 2 When to Use Curriculum
- 3 When to Use Curricula
- 4 Trick to Remember the Difference
- 5 Summary
Have you ever sat down to type or write the plural of curriculum and realized you didn’t realize what the plural form of curriculum is in English? This article will not only cover the plural form but also cover the definition of curriculum, the history and origin of the word, how to use it correctly, synonyms, and examples of the word in context to help you fully understand the word.
What is the Definition of the Word Curriculum
As Merriam-Webster phrases it:
- The courses offered by an educational institution
- The high school curriculum
- A set of courses constituting an area of specialization
- The engineering curriculum
- The biological sciences curriculum
- The liberal arts curriculum
History and Origin of the Word
You can track the history of the word curriculum all the way back to the 1630s in universities in Scotland. It is a Latin word commonly used in the English language. Currere in Latin means run and currere is the next closest word in Latin which means to run a race, from those root words you have curriculum translated to English means “a running, course, career”. From there we got the current definition for courses at our university. This would be used to explain a course of study, commonly referred to as tracks at some colleges alongside the curriculum used to guide students down what to study.
Can you say curriculums?
When you move a Latin word to the American English language, you sometimes end up with more than one way to move the word to the plural form. Curriculum can either become curricula when you are referring to more than one curriculum. The common American English version is curriculums whereas the Latin plural is curricula. When you are writing an academic paper, the more traditional Latin counterpart is more accepted and traditionally used, however, both would be correct.
What are the three types of curriculum?
When discussing curriculum, you can break it down to three common types of curriculum design – subject-centered, problem-centered, and learner-centered.
There are benefits to each type of curriculum and which is best for each classroom depends on the subject being taught and also the learning style of each student. See below the list of the three types and benefits and drawbacks for each style
- Subject-centered – centered around a subject like math, history, language. Can be easier for the teacher to prepare for this type of curriculum but isn’t as focused on the needs of the students in the classroom.
- Problem-centered – focuses on the problem solving of real-world issues. This is a more practical and genuine style of learning for skills and tasks. This model isn’t for all learners and some subject matters are better than others for this design.
- Learner-centered – in this model the teacher focuses on each individual student and bases the style of teaching on how the student learns. This is great for the students and has lots of promising results but is very labor and potentially resource-intensive for the teachers using this type of curriculum.
Synonyms
- Educational program – a program made by an institution, college, or ministry of education which molds the learning progress of each class or subject in education
- Syllabus – a summary outline of a discourse, treatise, or course of study or of examination requirements
- Module – any in a series of standardized units for use together such as an educational unit which covers a single subject or topic
- Schedule – program, especially a procedural plan that indicates the time and sequence of each operation
- Studies – application of the mental faculties to the acquisition of knowledge, such application in a particular field or to a specific subject (i.e. the study of Latin)
- Subjects – a department of knowledge or learning
- Program of studies – educational planning guide made to help guide students in their plans of studying
Examples of the Word in Context
- History classes should be removed from the Illinois school curriculum and replaced with civics classes until textbooks can provide a more “accurate” picture of minorities’ contributions, Illinois Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago – Fox News
- To prepare for schools to remain closed as the number of coronavirus cases rise, teachers and staff met Monday to design a curriculum on Google Classroom, a platform for teachers to distribute assignments and communicate with students, according to Kimberly Holbrook, whose five children attend public schools in the county. – Fox News
- There is a growing chorus of math experts who recommend ways to bring America’s math curriculum into the 21st century to make it more reflective of what children in higher-performing countries learn. Some schools experiment with ways to make math more exciting, practical and inclusive. – USA Today
- For starters, states fail to set high expectations with their curriculum standards, the SPLC research found. Jeffries’ team reviewed 15 sets of state standards and found most lacked details about slavery or its essential role to the American economy. – USA Today
- The new curriculum, built on about 180 hours of instruction and projects, is designed to stretch out over the course of a school year, teaching app design using Swift, a programming language for Mac and iPhone operating systems, among others. Apple says several key mobile apps, including those for Airbnb, Kayak, Trip Advisor, Venmo and Yelp, were created with Swift. – USA Today
- “You need to look at policies, you need to look at curriculum, you need to look at disciplinary practices, you need to look at simply educating everyone on what’s going on,” Kannan said. “You need to look at hiring. So I would say almost every aspect of what we need.” – USA Today
- But the environmental education, food literacy curriculum, cooking, carpentry and entrepreneurial projects undertaken by Franzen and fellow teacher Brent Peters has transformed the high school experience, the high school senior told an audience of 45 local teachers Saturday. – USA Today
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do’s and don’ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
учебный план, курс обучения
существительное
- курс обучения; учебный план (в школе, университете и т. п.)
- расписание
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
plans to homogenize the science curriculum in public high schools throughout the state — планы по приведению к однообразию учебного плана в государственных средних школах на всей территории штата 
overhaul of the school curriculum — пересмотр школьного учебного плана
planned curriculum — запланированный курс обучения
training curriculum — курс тренировок
head of the curriculum department — заведующий учебной частью
enriched curriculum for brighter students — расширенная программа для способных студентов
try to master a core curriculum — стараться овладеть основным курсом
curriculum development — разработка учебного материала
curriculum of lecture courses — программа курсов лекций
curriculum vitae — сведения о прежних местах работы; биографическая справка; жизненный путь
academical curriculum — курс обучения
Примеры с переводом
Has computer studies been introduced into the school curriculum?
Изучение компьютера уже внесено в учебный план?
The college has a liberal arts curriculum.
В этом колледже есть курс гуманитарных дисциплин.
We have to build computers into the school curriculum.
Мы должны ввести в школьный курс компьютерное обучение.
The sciences are a vital part of the school curriculum.
Естественные науки являются важнейшей частью школьной программы.
Languages are an essential part of the school curriculum.
Языки являются неотъемлемой частью школьной программы.
The curriculum includes courses in computing.
Учебная программа включает в себя курс по вычислительной технике.
The school board strongly endorsed a curriculum that reflected a multicultural education.
Правление школы строго порекомендовало учебный план, включающий мультикультуральное обучение.
ещё 13 примеров свернуть
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
…parental opinion was divided on the school’s moralistic curriculum… 
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
Формы слова
noun
ед. ч.(singular): curriculum
мн. ч.(plural): curricula
Is curriculum a plural form?
The Different Plural Forms of Curriculum Both curricula and curriculums are considered correct.
What is the difference between curriculum and curriculum?
On the other hand, curriculum implies the chapters and academic content taught in school or college. It alludes to the knowledge, skills and competencies students should learn during study….Comparison Chart.
| Basis for Comparison | Syllabus | Curriculum |
|---|---|---|
| Term | For a fixed term, normally a year. | Till the course lasts. |
What is the short form of curriculum?
Summary: Curriculum Abbreviation There is one common abbreviation of curriculum: curr. If you want to make this plural, simply add on an “s.” Note that context will differentiate this abbreviation from that of the word current.
Is curriculum a word?
The word “curriculum” began as a Latin word which means “a race” or “the course of a race” (which in turn derives from the verb currere meaning “to run/to proceed”). By 1824, the word was defined as”a course, especially a fixed course of study at a college, university, or school.”
What are the 5 types of curriculum?
The five basic types of curriculum are Traditional, Thematic, Programmed, Classical, and Technological. The most used curriculum can be found within these broader categories.
What is curriculum example?
The term curriculum refers to the lessons and academic content taught in a school or in a specific course or program. An individual teacher’s curriculum, for example, would be the specific learning standards, lessons, assignments, and materials used to organize and teach a particular course. …
What is the example of recommended curriculum?
For example, in the Philippines, the curriculum being implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) or the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) is an example of a recommended curriculum.
What are the 3 types of curriculum?
Curriculum is defined: planned learning experiences with intended outcomes while recognizing the importance of possible unintended outcomes. There are three types of curriculum: (1) explicit (stated curriculum), (2) hidden (unofficial curriculum), and (3) absent or null ( excluded curriculum).
What is your own definition of curriculum?
Curriculum is what is taught in a given course or subject. Curriculum refers to an interactive system of instruction and learning with specific goals, contents, strategies, measurement, and resources. The desired outcome of curriculum is successful transfer and/or development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
What is the meaning and importance of curriculum?
A curriculum refers to a defined and prescribed course of studies, which students must fulfill in order to pass a certain level of education. It gives a reason why such learning is considered necessary and what educational aims it would serve.
What is curriculum and syllabus?
Curriculum contains the overall content as provided by an education board for a particular course spanning across a stipulated time period. Whereas syllabus explains the summary of different topics covered or units that will be taught in a specific subject or discipline under that particular course.
What is the purpose of a curriculum?
At a national level, the purpose of a curriculum is to set out an entitlement for all pupils to the knowledge and learning that our society determines is the most powerful and important for a well-rounded education.
What is an effective curriculum?
In our view, an effective curriculum increases students’ understanding about the world around them and prepares them to live in the 21st century. It enlarges students’ experience and sharpens their awareness.
What is a good curriculum?
A curriculum should gradually build the learning experience. A good curriculum is not rigid- it allows room for flexibility, monitoring and evaluation by administration. It should provide sufficient scope for the cultivation of unique skills, interest, attitudes and appreciations. It should be psychologically sound.
What is the role of teachers in curriculum?
With their knowledge , experience and competencies teachers are central to any curriculum improvement effort, they are responsible for introducing the curriculum in the classroom and outside the classroom as well. After all, they work directly with the students who are meant to benefit from the curriculum.
What are the benefits of having an official curriculum?
It gives teachers tangible resources and goals, stimulates creativity, and enables self-reflection. And, most importantly, documenting curriculum improves student outcomes. All the advantages described by respondents culminated in this shared goal. Students benefit from organized curriculum held to a high expectation.
How do you use curriculum in the classroom?
Learning to Build Your Curriculum
- Describe your vision, focus, objectives, and student needs.
- Identify resources.
- Develop experiences that meet your objectives.
- Collect and devise materials.
- Lock down the specifics of your task.
- Develop plans, methods, and processes.
- Create your students’ experience.
- Go!
How do you implement curriculum?
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CURRICULUM
- 4.1.1 LEARNING TARGETS. Each subject can be broken down into a number of modules.
- 4.1.2 STEPS FOR PLANNING LEARNING TARGETS. The teacher can plan the learning targets that make up the modules in the following four basic steps: (1) Specifying Learning Targets in.
- 4.1.3 TEACHING APPROACHES.
What is the purpose of hidden curriculum?
The hidden-curriculum concept is based on the recognition that students absorb lessons in school that may or may not be part of the formal course of study—for example, how they should interact with peers, teachers, and other adults; how they should perceive different races, groups, or classes of people; or what ideas …
How do you implement change in curriculum?
Eight Steps to Curricular Change
- Analyze current teaching practices and learning goals.
- Re-examine the links between goals and course design.
- Reconsider the role of assessment in the course.
- Develop teaching strategies and approach.
- Explore Curricular Questions.
- Gather Data.
- Brainstorm the Ideal Major.
What are the roles of parents in curriculum implementation?
Parents are in the role of passive recipients of notices concerning learning and behavior of their child. Schools and teachers do not have strategies to attract parents into work and decision-making and implementation of curriculum.
Are parents really important in the curriculum?
It is important for achieving a parent’s goal to create youth with knowledge and behavior. To achieve these learning experiences is nothing but a curriculum. Parent’s involvement will enrich the curriculum with opportunities for hands-on learning outside the classroom.
Can a curriculum map help explain to parents?
When individual teachers or teaching teams share curriculum maps with parents, they keep parents informed about their expectations for student work. Maps help them become better informed about what is expected of them in the classroom.
Why do we need curriculum in education?
Without a proper curriculum, a school cannot run smoothly. As there would be no defined idea of what the plan is to teach students studying at the institution. Through thorough management of the curriculum, we can move towards a more effective academic environment with skilled and hard-working students.
How do you involve parents in curriculum?
You can become more involved by:
- Joining local school/parent organizations (PTA/ PTO).
- Supporting school extra-curricular activities.
- Volunteering at the school.
- Attending parent –teacher conferences.
- Communication with your child’s teacher regularly, by writing notes, telephoning the school, using email, etc.
What should a curriculum map include?
The most robust type of curriculum map includes a complete description of how the curriculum standards will be converted into lesson plans. However, a basic curriculum map can simply include the scope of the class and the sequence in which topics will be taught.
What is an essential curriculum map?
Curriculum mapping is a term for many approaches and products that document instructional standards and outcomes across a course or program. Essential/Consensus/Projection Maps – Maps created by a team before instruction of what should be taught/learned and when/how across the program, discipline, or course.
How do you map a curriculum?
To start, you need the right software!
- Choose Your Software.
- Make Your Curriculum Map Accessible.
- Choose a Class to Start.
- Get State Standards for That Class.
- Incorporate Student Needs, Your Experience, & School Standards.
- Factor Off-Time (Holidays, Conferences, etc.)
- Review & Revise.
Is a curriculum map a permanent document?
The ansser is No. Curriculum mapping is a proactive method that helps teachers understand what has been learned, how it has been learned, and how learning outcomes have been measured. The method of curriculum mapping results in a paper known as the curriculum map.
What are the different types of curriculum maps?
Types of curriculum maps
- The Basic Map/Matrix: Required for curriculum proposals.
- The “Level of Learning” Map/Matrix.
- The Course-to-Program Outcome Alignment Map/Matrix.