Course vs. Curriculum: What's the Difference?
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on September 18, 2023
A structured program of study on a specific subject, often a part of a broader curriculum. An organized plan of educational courses and content intended to fulfill specific academic goals.
Key Differences
A Course is a single, specific educational program that focuses on a subject or a set of related subjects. It generally includes lectures, assignments, and assessments designed to impart knowledge and skills. A Curriculum, in contrast, is a comprehensive framework that encompasses multiple courses, aiming to provide a well-rounded education in a specific field or across disciplines.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
While a Course is a building block in the educational journey, a Curriculum is like the blueprint of that journey. A Course could be something as simple as "Introduction to Chemistry," which might have weekly lessons, labs, and exams. On the other hand, a Curriculum in a science degree would include multiple courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and perhaps even some courses in ethics and communications.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Both terms, Course and Curriculum, can be used in varying educational contexts. For instance, high schools, colleges, and even online educational platforms offer courses. Curriculums are similarly diverse, ranging from early education plans to graduate study programs. However, you're likely to encounter multiple courses within any given curriculum.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
From a grammatical standpoint, the word Course usually serves as a noun but can be used adjectivally in phrases like "course material" or "course outline." Similarly, Curriculum is generally a noun, but adjectival forms like "curricular activities" exist. In both cases, these terms serve as the focus of educational discussions, but their scale and scope differ considerably.
Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
The success of a Course is often evaluated through grades or feedback on specific assignments and exams. A Curriculum, however, is usually assessed more holistically—looking at student outcomes, skill acquisition, and even job placement rates. Therefore, the evaluation metrics differ for a Course and a Curriculum.
Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Scope
Single, specific program of study
Comprehensive plan covering multiple courses
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Components
Lectures, assignments, assessments
Multiple courses, extracurriculars, general education
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Assessment
Grades, assignments, exams
Holistic: student outcomes, skill acquisition
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Grammatical Use
Mainly a noun, can be used adjectivally
Mainly a noun, can be used adjectivally
Aimie Carlson
Sep 18, 2023
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Course and Curriculum Definitions
Course
A unit of educational instruction.
He took a Course in advanced calculus.
Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
Curriculum
A planned set of courses in education.
The school’s Curriculum was updated this year.
Sara Rehman
Sep 18, 2023
Curriculum
A guide for educational policies.
The Curriculum sets the guidelines for teaching methods.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
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Curriculum
A scope and sequence of learning.
The Curriculum outlined the skills to be acquired.
Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
Curriculum
A comprehensive educational plan.
The Curriculum covered both arts and sciences.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 18, 2023
Curriculum
A specific study program in a subject.
The Curriculum in biology was quite challenging.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Course
The route or path taken by something that moves, such as a stream or vehicle.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Curriculum
A group of related courses, often in a special field of study
The engineering curriculum.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A designated route or area on which a race is held
The course of a marathon.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Curriculum
The set of courses, coursework, and their content, offered at a school or university.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A mode of action or behavior
Followed the best course and invested her money.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A typical, natural, or customary manner of proceeding or developing
A fad that ran its course.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Curriculum
A course; particularly, a specified fixed course of study, as in a university.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A systematic or orderly succession; a sequence
A course of medical treatments.
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Oct 18, 2022
Curriculum
An integrated course of academic studies;
He was admitted to a new program at the university
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A continuous layer of building material, such as brick or tile, on a wall or roof of a building.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A complete body of prescribed studies constituting a curriculum
A four-year course in engineering.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A unit of such a curriculum
Took an introductory course in chemistry.
Passed her calculus course.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A part of a meal served as a unit at one time
The first course was a delicious soup.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A point on the compass, especially the one toward which a vehicle, such as a ship, is moving.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
(Music) A string or set of two or more closely-spaced and usually identically-tuned strings, as on a lute.
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Oct 18, 2022
Course
To proceed or move swiftly in a certain direction or along a course
"Big tears now coursed down her face" (Iris Murdoch).
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A sequence of events.
The normal course of events seems to be just one damned thing after another.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A learning programme, whether a single class or (UK) a major area of study.
I need to take a French course.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A path that something or someone moves along.
His illness ran its course.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
(nautical) The direction of movement of a vessel at any given moment.
The ship changed its course 15 degrees towards south.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
(navigation) The intended passage of voyage, such as a boat, ship, airplane, spaceship, etc.
A course was plotted to traverse the ocean.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
(nautical) The lowest square sail in a fully rigged mast, often named according to the mast.
Main course and mainsail are the same thing in a sailing ship.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
(masonry) A row of bricks or blocks.
On a building that size, two crews could only lay two courses in a day.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
(roofing) A row of material that forms the roofing, waterproofing or flashing system.
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Oct 18, 2022
Course
(textiles) In weft knitting, a single row of loops connecting the loops of the preceding and following rows.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
(music) One or more strings on some musical instruments (such as the guitar, lute or vihuela): if multiple, then closely spaced, tuned in unison or octaves and intended to played together.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
To run or flow (especially of liquids and more particularly blood).
The oil coursed through the engine.
Blood pumped around the human body courses throughout all its veins and arteries.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
(transitive) To pursue by tracking or estimating the course taken by one's prey; to follow or chase after.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
(transitive) To cause to chase after or pursue game.
To course greyhounds after deer
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
The act of moving from one point to another; progress; passage.
And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
The ground or path traversed; track; way.
The same horse also run the round course at Newmarket.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
Motion, considered as to its general or resultant direction or to its goal; line progress or advance.
A light by which the Argive squadron steersTheir silent course to Ilium's well known shore.
Westward the course of empire takes its way.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
Progress from point to point without change of direction; any part of a progress from one place to another, which is in a straight line, or on one direction; as, a ship in a long voyage makes many courses; a course measured by a surveyor between two stations; also, a progress without interruption or rest; a heat; as, one course of a race.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
Motion considered with reference to manner; or derly progress; procedure in a certain line of thought or action; as, the course of an argument.
The course of true love never did run smooth.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
Customary or established sequence of events; recurrence of events according to natural laws.
By course of nature and of law.
Day and night,Seedtime and harvest, heat and hoary frost,Shall hold their course.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
Method of procedure; manner or way of conducting; conduct; behavior.
My lord of York commends the plot and the general course of the action.
By perseverance in the course prescribed.
You hold your course without remorse.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A series of motions or acts arranged in order; a succession of acts or practices connectedly followed; as, a course of medicine; a course of lectures on chemistry.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
The succession of one to another in office or duty; order; turn.
He appointed . . . the courses of the priests
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
That part of a meal served at one time, with its accompaniments.
He [Goldsmith] wore fine clothes, gave dinners of several courses, paid court to venal beauties.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A continuous level range of brick or stones of the same height throughout the face or faces of a building.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
The lowest sail on any mast of a square-rigged vessel; as, the fore course, main course, etc.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
To run, hunt, or chase after; to follow hard upon; to pursue.
We coursed him at the heels.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
To cause to chase after or pursue game; as, to course greyhounds after deer.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
To run as in a race, or in hunting; to pursue the sport of coursing; as, the sportsmen coursed over the flats of Lancashire.
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Oct 18, 2022
Course
Education imparted in a series of lessons or class meetings;
He took a course in basket weaving
Flirting is not unknown in college classes
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Oct 18, 2022
Course
A connected series of events or actions or developments;
The government took a firm course
Historians can only point out those lines for which evidence is available
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Oct 18, 2022
Course
Facility consisting of a circumscribed area of land or water laid out for a sport;
The course had only nine holes
The course was less than a mile
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Course
A mode of action;
If you persist in that course you will surely fail
Once a nation is embarked on a course of action it becomes extremely difficult for any retraction to take place
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Oct 18, 2022
Course
A line or route along which something travels or moves;
The hurricane demolished houses in its path
The track of an animal
The course of the river
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Course
General line of orientation;
The river takes a southern course
The northeastern trend of the coast
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Oct 18, 2022
Course
Move along, of liquids;
Water flowed into the cave
The Missouri feeds into the Mississippi
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Oct 18, 2022
Course
A set progression or sequence.
The medicine needs to complete its Course.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 18, 2023
FAQs
What is a Curriculum?
A Curriculum is an organized set of educational courses and content.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Does a Curriculum include only academic courses?
No, a Curriculum can also include extracurricular activities and general education.
Harlon Moss
Sep 18, 2023
How is a Course assessed?
Courses are often assessed through grades, assignments, and exams.
Sara Rehman
Sep 18, 2023
What is a Course?
A Course is a specific program of study focused on a subject or related subjects.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Can a Course stand alone?
Yes, a Course can be standalone or part of a Curriculum.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Can you give an example of a Course?
"Introduction to Philosophy" is an example of a Course.
Sara Rehman
Sep 18, 2023
Can you give an example of a Curriculum?
A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science is an example of a Curriculum.
Harlon Moss
Sep 18, 2023
Are both terms nouns?
Primarily, yes, but they can also be used adjectivally.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 18, 2023
Can a Curriculum change over time?
Yes, curriculums can be updated or modified.
Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
How long does a Curriculum usually span?
A Curriculum often spans multiple years of education.
Harlon Moss
Sep 18, 2023
How is a Curriculum evaluated?
Curriculums are evaluated holistically, looking at student outcomes and skills.
Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
How long does a Course typically last?
A Course often lasts a semester or an academic term.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Can both terms be used outside of education?
Yes, both can have broader meanings, like "course of action" or "curriculum vitae."
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
What’s the primary difference between a Course and a Curriculum?
A Course is a specific study program, while a Curriculum is a comprehensive educational plan.
Sara Rehman
Sep 18, 2023
Do all schools have the same Curriculum?
No, curriculums can vary greatly among schools and educational systems.
Sara Rehman
Sep 18, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
