curriculum

[ kuh-rik-yuh-luhm ]

noun

, plural cur·ric·u·la [k, uh, -, rik, -y, uh, -l, uh], cur·ric·u·lums.

1. the aggregate of courses of study given in a school, college, university, etc.:

   The school is adding more science courses to its curriculum.

2. the regular or a particular course of study in a school, college, etc.

curriculum

/ kəˈrɪkjʊləm /

noun

1. a course of study in one subject at a school or college
2. a list of all the courses of study offered by a school or college
3. any programme or plan of activities

Derived Forms

• curˈricular, adjective

Other Words From

• cur·ric·u·lar adjective
• pre·cur·ric·u·lum noun plural precurriculums precurricula

Word History and Origins

Origin of curriculum¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin: “action of running, course of action, race, chariot,” equivalent to curr(ere) “to run” + -i- -i- + -culum -cule ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of curriculum¹

C19: from Latin: course, from currere to run

Example Sentences

I didn’t come to my L.A. school’s campus in August to set up my classroom, or spend my last days of summer mapping the upcoming curriculum.

From Los Angeles Times

Adam Felber recalls that his son was “literally bored to tears” in school until he enrolled in Reed’s IHP program and began learning three years of math curriculum in one year.

From Los Angeles Times

He advocates for exposing all students to more challenging curriculum while providing additional support as needed, saying: “I think the student performance will surprise traditional expectations.”

From Los Angeles Times

Ofsted found pupils "thrive" at the "transformative" school, which inspectors said had a "highly ambitious and broad" curriculum, at an inspection in September.

From BBC

To Rick Hess of the conservative American Enterprise Institute, however, a Trump administration would seek long-needed measures to hold educational institutions more accountable for student success in graduating and getting jobs, providing more ideological diversity in curriculum and faculty and justifying the billions in taxpayer dollars they receive.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• educational program
• syllabus