Academic / B2

k-uh-RIK-y-uh-l-uh-m/kəˈrɪkjələm/

A curriculum is the subjects a school or course officially teaches: the national curriculum, a packed curriculum. Syllabus is often one subject’s outline; timetable is when lessons happen. Curricula or curriculums are both used as plurals. In speech, what the course officially covers is enough. Do not call a reading list a whole curriculum, and do not confuse it with extracurricular (outside the official course).

Meaning

The subjects that a school or course officially teaches.

Examples

• “Coding was added to the national curriculum.”
• “Citizenship was added to the curriculum, which meant something else had to shrink.”
• “The curriculum says “spoken assessment”; the syllabus for this class lists the topics week by week.”

Good to know

What a school/course officially teaches. Contrast: syllabus (one subject’s outline), timetable (when). Plural: curricula/curriculums. Not a reading list alone.

Near in meaning

syllabus

Topics

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