A curriculum (plural: curricula) is a program of study. It is used to plan teaching or training. It spells out the details so others can know what is going to happen:
- what topics will be taught
- in which order they will be taught
- often, how much time will be spent on each topic
- it is often linked to a timetable, and other details of an organisation where it will take place
- it is often authorised by a public or private examination board, and used as the basis for setting exams
Today it usually means the courses, their content, and the coursework offered at a school or university. Often, curricula are backed by some kind of theory, or by intending to change what was done before. Curricula may be backed by textbooks and by courses to train teachers. The study of curricula is part of most qualifications for teachers.
A similar word is syllabus, which means a summary of topics which will be covered during an academic course, or book or lecture. Another term is discipline, which in this sense means an academic subject-matter.