cur ‧ ric ‧ u ‧ lum /kəˈrɪkjələm, kəˈrɪkjʊləm/ BrE AmE noun ( plural curricula /-lə/ or curriculums ) [countable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: Modern Latin ; Origin: Latin , 'running, course' , from currere ; ⇨ ↑ current 1 ]
the subjects that are taught by a school, college etc, or the things that are studied in a particular subject:
Languages are an essential part of the school curriculum.
curriculum planning
on the curriculum British English :
IT is now on the curriculum in most schools.
in the curriculum American English :
Students are exempt from some classes in the curriculum for religious reasons.
⇨ syllabus
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + curriculum
▪ the school curriculum
The children carried out the project as part of the school curriculum.
▪ the National Curriculum (=the curriculum set by the government for schools in England and Wales)
▪ the primary/secondary/high school etc curriculum (=for particular ages at school)
▪ the undergraduate curriculum (=for a first degree at university or college)
▪ the science/maths/history etc curriculum
The English curriculum is divided into Language and Literature.
▪ a core/common curriculum (=the subjects that everyone must study because they are considered very important)
There has been a lot of debate on the content of the core curriculum.
▪ an academic curriculum (=involving studying from books, not practical subjects)
They unquestioningly accept the traditional academic curriculum.
▪ a broad/broad-based/wide curriculum (=involving a wide range of different types of subjects)
The school provides a broad curriculum with a rich choice of learning opportunities.
▪ balanced (=with a mix of academic and practical subjects)
We want to ensure a balanced curriculum for all pupils.
▪ narrow (=not broad enough)
Many teachers complained that the new curriculum was too narrow.
■ verbs
▪ plan/develop/design a curriculum
Fifty academics have been involved in developing the new school curriculum.
▪ follow a curriculum (=study the subjects that are in a curriculum)
Five-year-olds now follow the National Curriculum.