curriculum

[kuh-rik-yuh-luhm]

noun

plural

curricula, curriculums 

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

Other Word Forms

• curricular adjective
• precurriculum noun

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

A review of the school curriculum - what is taught in schools in Northern Ireland - was recently completed.

From BBC

It comes as Alliance MLA Nick Mathison submitted questions to the education minister calling for grief education to become a formal part of the school curriculum.

From BBC

The court asked the government to include handwriting lessons in the medical school curriculum and set a two-year timeline for rolling out digitised prescriptions.

From BBC

The lawsuit claims the administration is violating federal law by attempting to pressure states into changing curricula based on “political and ideological grounds.”

From Salon

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said reading "holds the key to the rest of the curriculum, with pupils who struggle to read so often struggling across the board".

From BBC

Related Words

• educational program www.thesaurus.com
• syllabus 

When To Use

Plural word for curriculum

The plural form of curriculum can be either curricula or curriculums, although curricula is more commonly used. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -um are also formed in the same way, including memorandum/memoranda, and bacterium/bacteria. Irregular plurals that are formed like curricula derive directly from their original pluralization in Latin. However, the usual plural -s ending is often also acceptable for many of these terms, as in curriculums and memorandums.