curriculum

[kuh-rik-yuh-luh m]

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noun, plural cur·ric·u·la [kuh-rik-yuh-luh] /kəˈrɪk yə lə/, cur·ric·u·lums.

the aggregate of courses of study given in a school, college, university, etc.: The school is adding more science courses to its curriculum.

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

RELATED WORDS

syllabus, schedule, modules, subjects

Origin of curriculum

1625–35; < Latin: action of running, course of action, race, chariot, equivalent to curr(ere) to run + -i- -i- + -culum -cule²

Related formscur·ric·u·lar, adjectivepre·cur·ric·u·lar, adjectivepre·cur·ric·u·lum, noun, plural pre·cur·ric·u·lums, pre·cur·ric·u·la.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for curricula

Contemporary Examples of curricula

The Common Core standards are not a panacea; much depends on the curricula that states and districts select to implement them.
The Incredibly Stupid War on the Common Core
Charles Upton Sahm
April 21, 2014
Should Israeli and Palestinian educators wait for a peace agreement to improve their curricula?
Why Textbooks Don't Matter That Much
Ori Nir
February 26, 2013
And organizations like ADL have developed training programs, curricula and model legislation to combat bullying.
Abraham H. Foxman: Why the Documentary ‘Bully’ Hits Home
Abraham H. Foxman
April 12, 2012

Historical Examples of curricula

But should they dominate the curricula of the twentieth century?
A Broader Mission for Liberal Education
John Henry Worst
What then are the courses included in the curricula of these institutions?
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 5, 1920
Various
Their curricula are similar to those used in the secondary schools.
The School System of Norway
David Allen Anderson
Latin is included in the curricula of only about one-half of the gymnasia of Norway.
The School System of Norway
David Allen Anderson
Education in citizenship and technical instruction are part of the curricula.
The New Germany
George Young

British Dictionary definitions for curricula

curriculum

noun plural -la (-lə) or -lums

a course of study in one subject at a school or college

a list of all the courses of study offered by a school or college

any programme or plan of activities

Derived Formscurricular, adjective

Word Origin for curriculum

C19: from Latin: course, from currere to run

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for curricula

curriculum

1824, from Modern Latin transferred use of classical Latin curriculum "a running, course, career" (also "a fast chariot, racing car"), from currere (see current (adj.)). Used in English as a Latin word since 1630s at Scottish universities.