What Is the Plural of Curriculum?
The plural of curriculum is curricula (the traditional Latin plural) or curriculums (the standard English plural). Both forms are correct, but they are used in different contexts. Curricula is more common in academic and formal writing, while curriculums appears frequently in everyday conversation and less formal documents. Your choice depends on your audience and the tone you want to set.
Quick Answer
- Curricula – Formal, academic, traditional (Latin plural).
- Curriculums – Informal, conversational, modern English plural.
- Both are accepted in dictionaries and real-world use.
Understanding the Two Plurals
Curriculum comes from Latin, where nouns ending in -um often change to -a in the plural. This is the same pattern you see with datum (data), medium (media), and bacterium (bacteria). Over time, English speakers have also adopted the regular -s plural, creating curriculums. Today, both forms are standard, but they carry different stylistic weights.
When to Use Curricula
Use curricula when you are writing for an academic audience, a university setting, or a formal publication. It signals that you are familiar with traditional terminology and that your writing is precise. For example, a research paper on education policy would almost always use curricula.
When to Use Curriculums
Use curriculums in emails, blog posts, casual conversation, or any situation where you want to sound natural and approachable. It is never wrong, but it may feel less formal to readers who are used to academic language. Many native speakers use curriculums without thinking twice.
Comparison Table: Curricula vs. Curriculums
| Feature | Curricula | Curriculums |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Latin plural | English plural |
| Formality | Formal, academic | Informal, neutral |
| Common in | Research papers, policy documents, university websites | Emails, blogs, everyday speech |
| Dictionary status | Standard | Standard |
| Typical audience | Educators, administrators, scholars | General readers, colleagues, friends |
| Example sentence | The university revised its curricula for all departments. | We are updating our curriculums for next semester. |
Natural Examples
Here are examples that show how both forms appear in real writing and speech.
- Formal email: “Please find attached the proposed changes to the undergraduate curricula for the College of Arts and Sciences.”
- Casual conversation: “Our school has three different curriculums for the science track.”
- Academic article: “The study compared curricula across ten countries to identify best practices in mathematics education.”
- Business memo: “We need to align our training curriculums with the new industry standards.”
- University catalog: “The department offers curricula leading to both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.”
Common Mistakes
Even advanced learners sometimes make errors with this word. Here are the most frequent ones.
- Mistake 1: Using curriculums in a formal academic paper where curricula is expected. While not grammatically wrong, it can look less polished to a scholarly reader.
- Mistake 2: Writing curricula as a singular noun. Curricula is always plural. The singular is curriculum. For example, “This curricula is outdated” is incorrect; it should be “This curriculum is outdated.”
- Mistake 3: Overcorrecting to curriculae or curriculi. These forms do not exist in English or Latin. Stick to curricula or curriculums.
- Mistake 4: Using curriculum as a plural. For example, “We have several curriculum to choose from” is wrong. Use curricula or curriculums instead.
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
Sometimes you may want to avoid the choice altogether. Here are alternatives that work in different contexts.
- Course of study – Use this in formal writing when you want to be clear and avoid Latin plurals. Example: “The university offers three courses of study in engineering.”
- Program – Common in both formal and informal settings. Example: “Our graduate program has been redesigned.”
- Syllabus – Refers to the outline of a single course, not the entire curriculum. Do not confuse the two.
- Lesson plan – More specific; refers to a single class session or unit.
When you are writing an email to a colleague, curriculums is perfectly fine. When you are submitting a report to a school board, curricula may be a better fit. If you are unsure, curricula is the safer choice for formal writing.
Mini Practice: Test Yourself
Choose the correct plural form for each sentence. Answers are below.
- The school board approved new _______ for the elementary grades. (curricula / curriculums / both are acceptable)
- In her research, Dr. Patel compared the _______ of three different countries. (curricula / curriculums / both are acceptable)
- Please send me the updated _______ for the training program. (curricula / curriculums / both are acceptable)
- This _______ covers too much material for one semester. (curricula / curriculum / curriculums)
Answers:
- Both are acceptable. In a formal context, curricula is more common.
- Both are acceptable, but curricula is typical in academic writing.
- Both are acceptable. Curriculums sounds more natural in an email.
- Curriculum (singular). The sentence refers to one course of study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is curricula singular or plural?
Curricula is always plural. The singular form is curriculum. Do not use curricula to refer to one program.
Can I use curriculums in a university essay?
Yes, but curricula is more common in academic writing. If your instructor has no preference, either is acceptable. Check your style guide if you have one.
What is the difference between curriculum and syllabus?
A curriculum is the overall set of courses or content for a program of study. A syllabus is the outline for a single course. For example, a school’s math curriculum includes many courses, each with its own syllabus.
Why do some people say curricula is the only correct plural?
Some traditionalists prefer the Latin plural because it follows the original grammar. However, modern dictionaries accept both curricula and curriculums. The choice is a matter of style, not correctness.
Final Note
When you write about education, training, or course design, you will encounter curriculum often. Knowing both plurals gives you flexibility. Use curricula for formal, academic, or traditional contexts. Use curriculums for everyday writing and conversation. Either way, you are correct.
For more help with tricky plural forms, visit our Common Plural Forms section. If you have questions about other words, check our FAQ page or contact us. You can also review our editorial policy to understand how we create these guides.
