A curriculum is the complete plan for what students should learn across a whole program, grade or school system, including the goals, subjects, teaching approach and assessment. A syllabus is a shorter document for one course that lists the topics, schedule, assignments and grading for that course.
People often use the two words as if they mean the same thing, especially in countries where exam boards publish a “syllabus” for every subject.
What is a Syllabus?
A syllabus is long documentation of a particular subject or topic. It includes everything the teacher will teach students on a particular subject. Also, it gets the guideline from the institutional or national curriculum authority.
Teachers will prepare the syllabus based on the curriculum to match exam topics. A syllabus contains multiple chapters of a subject, its timeline, and teaching pattern. Many say that a syllabus is the practical implementation of a curriculum that is much more conceptual.
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What is a Curriculum?
A curriculum refers to a guideline of the entire academic content. It is the guideline for teachers of all the subjects. All teachers follow the curriculum and its guideline to prepare the syllabus for teaching in their class.
Curriculum also sets goals for each academic year that students should earn after completing their syllabus. So, it includes a theoretical and conceptual framework. Plus, the curriculum also controls how the teacher will deliver his lectures.
A curriculum mainly includes detailed teaching plans, methods, assessment systems, guidelines, etc. It even discusses the physical and mental activities of the students to propel their mental and physical health. So, the curriculum offers a more holistic approach than the syllabus.
Top Difference between Curriculum and Syllabus
When you look at any educational institution, you will see the two most talked about topics, syllabus and curriculum. While most people think that these are similar, that’s not true. The next few key points will show the differences between syllabus and curriculum.
Holistic vs. Specific:
The curriculum is a holistic and general approach. On the contrary, the syllabus offers a specific approach. When you look at any syllabus, you will only see its focus on a specific subject, content, and topic.
The syllabus will instruct the teacher on what topic they will teach from the entire subject.
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For instance, if a course has 19 chapters, the syllabus will say which chapters the teacher will teach in the class. It will also divide the chapters into multiple sub-sections, and teachers may omit minor topics and sub-sections within a subject. The teacher prepares the syllabus to meet the goal of the class curriculum.
A curriculum is a broader and more general guideline in contrast to the syllabus. It doesn’t cover what teachers will teach in the classroom only.
It will regulate the entire teaching system of the institution. For instance, a curriculum will guide the teachers and authorities simultaneously.
Mandatory vs. Optional:
Another key difference between syllabus and curriculum is seen in their implementation. The curriculum is mandatory for all educational institutions. Also, it is accepted globally and nationally. However, the syllabus isn’t mandatory for all institutes and courses.
A teacher may or may not provide the syllabus for the students. Nonetheless, the teacher must follow the curriculum to meet its goals.
You will see governments in most countries regulate the curriculum at different stages of the educational system.
Expertise vs. General:
The curriculum is often prepared by experts in educational sectors and specific courses. Thus, you will see the governing body prepare the curriculum. In universities, a curriculum results from a deeper discussion, long-term analysis, and future goals.
On the contrary, a teacher will prepare the syllabus following the instructions of their institutional curriculum.
So, it takes a general approach and guidelines. Preparing a syllabus doesn’t need deeper discussion and analysis.
Flexibility vs. Rigidity:
A syllabus offers more flexibility than a curriculum. The teacher has the luxury to add or subtract anything in his course.
He may change the lesson plans, increase or decrease the chapters, or add another point. Henceforth, he enjoys excellent flexibility in designing the syllabus.
The curriculum is rigid. When the government on the national stage or institution in their region wants to change the curriculum, it takes a longer time.
It needs approval from experts in the sectors, discussion with many teachers, practical implementation, etc.
For whom is it built?
A curriculum focuses on both students and teachers. It will tell the teachers how to prepare the lessons and what to include and exclude. Plus, it also guides the teachers to achieve different learning goals for the students at a particular level.
The syllabus, on the other end, is designed for students. The teachers follow their curriculum to design the syllabus. Also, they have full control over it and aim it for students.
Long-term vs. Short-term goals:
The syllabus is designed to achieve short-term goals for the students. But, the curriculum looks for long-term goals and is divided into many short-term achievements.
For instance, a syllabus will decide what chapters a student will learn in its first or second semester. On the contrary, the curriculum will control the entire outcome of the degree program.
For instance, the preschool curriculum focuses on the student’s ability to communicate after the course completion. But syllabus will tell what teachers should include in the subject to achieve the communicational competency of the students.
Syllabus Vs Curriculum: Comparison Chart
| Syllabus | Curriculum |
| It defines particular goals, lesson plans, class schedules, activities, etc. | Curriculum refers to teaching and learning methodology, complete study material, program design, etc. |
| The syllabus focuses on narrower points and short-term goals. | A curriculum is a general, holistic and long-term approach. |
| Teachers will prepare the specific syllabus for their subjects. | A curriculum is prepared by the higher authority of a university or educational wing of the government. |
| The syllabus will differ from one teacher to another, from one subject to another, and even regions. | The curriculum remains the same for all subjects within an institution or a country. |
| Teachers can easily alter or change the subjects. | The curriculum is almost fixed, with little scope for changes through long-term implementation. |
| The syllabus offers a practical approach to the conceptual framework of the curriculum. | The curriculum is more of a theoretical approach compared to the syllabus. |
| Originated from a 15th-century misreading of the Greek word sittyba, which referred to a parchment label or title slip attached to a book or scroll. | Comes from the Latin word currere, meaning “to run.” A curriculum was originally a racecourse, the path a learner follows from start to finish. |
How Curriculum, Syllabus and Lesson Plans Work Together
Think of three levels, from the widest to the most detailed:
- Curriculum: the full plan for a program or grade level, set by an education authority, district or university. Example: the high school science curriculum.
- Syllabus: the plan for one course within that curriculum, written by the teacher or department. Example: 9th-grade Biology, fall and spring terms.
- Lesson plan: the plan for a single class period or week. The IBE describes it as “an outline of a topic to be taught in a given period.” Example: Tuesday’s 50-minute lesson on cell membranes.
Each level follows the one above it. A good syllabus covers the goals of the curriculum, and good lesson plans cover the topics on the syllabus. The teaching methods inside each lesson are a separate question.
Curriculum vs Syllabus in the US and UK
The words are used a little differently around the world, which is a big reason people get confused.
United States: each state sets learning standards (many states base their science standards on the Next Generation Science Standards).
School districts then choose or build a curriculum that meets those standards, and teachers write a syllabus for each course. In colleges, the syllabus is a formal document every student receives on the first day.
United Kingdom (England): the government publishes the national curriculum for key stages 1–4 (ages 5–16). State-maintained schools must follow it, while academies must offer a “broad and balanced” curriculum.
The government itself says the national curriculum “is just one element in the education of every child”: each school designs its wider school curriculum around it.
For GCSEs and A levels, exam boards publish a “specification” for each subject, which works much like a syllabus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between curriculum and syllabus?
A curriculum is the overall learning plan for a program or grade level, while a syllabus is the detailed plan for one course within that curriculum.
Is a syllabus part of the curriculum?
Yes. A syllabus is a smaller, course-level part of the curriculum. It takes the curriculum’s goals for one subject and turns them into topics, dates and assignments.
Who prepares the syllabus and the curriculum?
The curriculum is usually set by a government, education board, school district or university. The syllabus is usually written by the course teacher or department, following that curriculum. Exam boards in some countries also publish subject syllabuses or specifications.
What comes first, curriculum or syllabus?
The curriculum comes first. Teachers write their syllabus to fit the curriculum’s goals.
Can a syllabus change during the year?
Yes. Teachers often adjust dates, readings or assignments during a term, and they should tell students about any changes. A curriculum changes much less often.
What is the difference between a syllabus and a lesson plan?
A syllabus covers a whole course for a term or year. A lesson plan covers one class period or a few days.
In Conclusion
There’re many differences between curriculum and syllabus. Usually, teachers and the exam board will prepare the syllabus, which is easily changeable. But, the curriculum is prepared by the governing body of a school, college, or university. It isn’t easily changeable.
The curriculum aims to improve the students over a specific period. But the syllabus is short-term. The combination of both syllabus and curriculum will help achieve the educational goal.
