Curriculum vs. Program — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 30, 2023
A curriculum is a structured set of educational courses or topics, while a program is an organized set of activities or a plan of study. Both guide the content and sequence of learning or action.
Difference Between Curriculum and Program
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A curriculum serves as a roadmap for educators, detailing what should be taught and when. It outlines the content, skills, and standards that students need to master. In contrast, a program can be broader, encompassing a specific course of study in a school or university, or even a television show schedule.
When discussing education, the curriculum often refers to the content covered in a specific course or grade level. It encompasses the subjects, topics, and subtopics to be taught. A program, on the other hand, might refer to a specific academic course, such as a Bachelor's or Master's program, detailing the sequence and requirements of courses.
Beyond the educational context, the term program has diverse applications. It can refer to software applications on a computer, a scheduled sequence of events, or even a specific plan or procedure. The curriculum remains more fixed in its meaning, predominantly tied to educational content.
Comparison Chart
Primary Definition
Structured set of educational courses or topics
Organized set of activities or plan of study
Contextual Usage
Education
Can be used in various contexts, including education and media
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Scope
Specific to course content
Broader, could be a course or sequence of events
Flexibility
Generally consistent and standardized
Can be tailored to specific needs
Purpose
Guide for what should be taught
Guide for a sequence of learning or action
Compare with Definitions
Curriculum
A detailed plan for a course of study.
The school follows a rigorous curriculum in science.
Program
A set of related measures or activities with a specific long-term aim.
The NGO launched a program to promote literacy.
Curriculum
The subjects comprising a course of study in school or college.
Mathematics is part of the school's curriculum.
Program
A planned series of events or performances.
The program for the evening includes a dance performance and a play.
Curriculum
An aggregation of courses that students need to complete to fulfill requirements.
The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning.
Program
A set of instructions for a computer.
She wrote a program to sort the data alphabetically.
Curriculum
In education, a curriculum (; plural curricula or curriculums) is broadly defined as the totality of student experiences that occur in the educational process. The term often refers specifically to a planned sequence of instruction, or to a view of the student's experiences in terms of the educator's or school's instructional goals.
Program
A series of actions conducted in a certain order or manner.
The morning program includes yoga followed by meditation.
Curriculum
All the courses of study offered by an educational institution.
Program
A listing of the order of events and other pertinent information for a public presentation.
Curriculum
A group of related courses, often in a special field of study
The engineering curriculum.
Program
The presentation itself
A program of piano pieces.
Curriculum
The set of courses, coursework, and their content, offered at a school or university.
Program
A scheduled radio or television show.
Curriculum
(obsolete) A racecourse; a place for running.
Program
An ordered list of events to take place or procedures to be followed; a schedule
A program of physical therapy for a convalescent.
Curriculum
A race course; a place for running.
Program
A system of services, opportunities, or projects, usually designed to meet a social need
"Working parents rely on the center's after-school latchkey program" (New York Times).
Curriculum
A course; particularly, a specified fixed course of study, as in a university.
Program
A course of academic study; a curriculum.
Curriculum
An integrated course of academic studies;
He was admitted to a new program at the university
Program
A plan or system of academic and related or ancillary activities
A work-study program.
Curriculum
A set of courses offered by an educational institution.
The university introduced a new curriculum for environmental studies.
Program
A plan or system of nonacademic extracurricular activities
The football program.
Curriculum
The entirety of student experiences in the educational process.
The curriculum includes both in-class sessions and field trips.
Program
A set of coded instructions that enables a machine, especially a computer, to perform a desired sequence of operations.
Program
An instruction sequence in programmed instruction.
Program
All or part of the genetic code of a cell or organism.
Program
A characteristic sequence of developmental or behavioral events in a cell or organism, often considered to result from the expression of genes.
Program
A stimulus or training sequence that causes an organism to exhibit a behavior, as by conditioning.
Program
To include or schedule in a program
Program a new musical composition.
Program
To design a program for; schedule the activities of.
Program
To provide (a machine) with a set of coded working instructions.
Program
To stimulate or train to perform automatically in a specified way
Consumers who have been programmed to buy brand names.
Program
To prepare an instructional sequence for (material to be taught) in programmed instruction.
Program
To provide (a cell or organism, for example) with a genetic program
Cells that are programmed to produce insulin.
Program
To cause (an effect or action) by means of a genetic program; determine genetically
"The basic housekeeping duties that a human and a yeast cell must perform are the same and are programmed by recognizably similar genes inherited from a common, single-celled ancestor" (Nicholas Wade).
Program
A set of structured activities.
Our program for today’s exercise class includes swimming and jogging.
Program
A leaflet listing information about a play, game or other activity.
The program consisted of ads for restaurants and the credits of everyone connected with the play.
Program
(politics) A set of principle goals which are supported by a political party or individual candidate
Program
(broadcasting) A performance of a show or other broadcast on radio or television.
Tonight’s program was hosted by Johnny Carson.
Program
(computing) A software application, or a collection of software applications, designed to perform a specific task.
The program runs on both Linux and Microsoft Windows.
Program
A particular mindset or method of doing things.
Program
(transitive) To enter a program or other instructions into (a computer or other electronic device) to instruct it to do a particular task.
He programmed the DVR to record his favorite show.
Program
(transitive) To develop (software) by writing program code.
I programmed a small game as a demonstration.
Program
(transitive) To put together the schedule of an event.
Mary will program Tuesday’s festivities.
Program
(broadcasting) To schedule the programming; to determine what will be broadcast.
Program
(transitive) To cause to automatically behave in a particular way.
The lab rat was programmed to press the lever when the bell rang.
Program
Same as Programme.
Program
A system of projects or services intended to meet a public need;
He proposed an elaborate program of public works
Working mothers rely on the day care program
Program
A series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished;
They drew up a six-step plan
They discussed plans for a new bond issue
Program
(computer science) a sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute;
The program required several hundred lines of code
Program
An integrated course of academic studies;
He was admitted to a new program at the university
Program
A radio or television show;
Did you see his program last night?
Program
A performance (or series of performances) at a public presentation;
The program lasted more than two hours
Program
A document stating the aims and principles of a political party;
Their candidate simply ignored the party platform
They won the election even though they offered no positive program
Program
An announcement of the events that will occur as part of a theatrical or sporting event;
You can't tell the players without a program
Program
Arrange a program of or for;
Program the 80th birthday party
Program
Write a computer program
Program
A sheet or booklet giving details of items or performers at an event.
Guests received a program at the entrance of the theater.
Common Curiosities
Is a curriculum the same as a syllabus?
Not exactly. A curriculum is broader, covering a course's entire content, while a syllabus is a detailed outline for a specific course.
Can a program refer to a computer application?
Yes, a program can refer to a set of instructions for a computer, known as software.
Can a program be a single event?
Yes, the term "program" can refer to a scheduled event, like a concert program.
What's more specific, a curriculum or a program?
A curriculum is more specific, detailing educational content, while a program is a broader plan or sequence.
Do all schools follow the same curriculum?
No, curricula can vary by school, district, state, or country.
Can a university have multiple programs?
Yes, a university can offer multiple academic programs, each with its curriculum.
Can one program have multiple curricula?
Yes, especially in large educational programs, there may be different curricula for various specializations or tracks.
Is every program educational?
No, programs can be used in various contexts, including entertainment, training, or software.
How often is a curriculum updated?
It varies, but educational institutions periodically review and update curricula to stay relevant.
Can a program be informal?
Yes, programs can be informal, like a community gathering or an impromptu series of events.
Does a curriculum always involve exams?
Not necessarily. While many curricula include assessments, some might focus on projects or other forms of evaluation.
What's a key goal of both curriculum and program?
Both aim to provide a structured approach to learning or achieving a specific outcome.
Who usually designs a curriculum?
Educators, experts, and sometimes governing bodies collaborate to design a curriculum.
Can curricula differ within the same program?
Yes, within a larger program, different tracks or specializations might have distinct curricula.
Is a TV show a program?
Yes, a TV show is often referred to as a television program.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
