Definition

1. Noun:
   • A structured series of planned educational experiences: A curriculum refers to the complete set of courses, content, and learning activities offered by an educational institution or within a specific program.
   • The prescribed course of study: It encompasses the subjects, materials, and standards that students are expected to learn within a particular field or level of education.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The school is revising its science curriculum to include more laboratory work.
  • The university's engineering curriculum is known for its rigor and practical focus.

Advanced Usage

• "Hidden curriculum": The unofficial, implicit lessons, values, and perspectives that students learn in school, beyond the formal academic content.
  • Part of the hidden curriculum involves teaching students about punctuality and social norms.
• "Core curriculum": The central, fundamental courses that are required of all students in a program.
  • All freshmen must complete the core curriculum in humanities and sciences.

Variants and Related Words

• Curricular (adj): Relating to the curriculum.
  • The teachers discussed various curricular changes.
• Extracurricular (adj): Activities falling outside the scope of the regular curriculum.
  • She participates in several extracurricular clubs.

Synonyms

• Syllabus: An outline of the subjects in a course of study. (Note: A syllabus is typically for a single course, while a curriculum is for an entire program.)
• Program of study: A planned sequence of courses.
• Course of study: The path of academic learning.

Related Phrases

• "Curriculum vitae" (often abbreviated as CV): A detailed written account of one's educational and professional history, used primarily in academic and research contexts. (This is a distinct, fixed phrase from Latin.)
  • She submitted her curriculum vitae when applying for the professorship.

Noun

1. an integrated course of academic studies
   • he was admitted to a new program at the university