Oftentimes, curriculum and syllabus are used in place of each other. However, there is a great deal of difference between curriculum and syllabus. This write up will introduce you to the depths of syllabus and curriculum. Moreover, you will learn about how these two are designed by institutions. In addition to this, you will know what it means to judge a course by its syllabus and an institute by its curriculum. The blog will also discuss the various curriculum designs in various countries like the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia. Lastly, we will explore the curriculum and syllabus difference and their relation.
Table of Contents
Firstly, let us discuss the difference between syllabus and curriculum. The table below will mention the details of the same:
CURRICULUM |
SYLLABUS |
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A curriculum states which contents and courses will an educational institute will offer. |
Syllabus specifies which all subjects can a particular course can include or can be taught in a class. |
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Curriculum is a broader term which includes several courses, subjects for different education levels. |
Syllabus is rather a smaller term which is used in context of either a single subject, course or class. |
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It requires a lot of consideration of various factors. |
It can be adjusted easily as it is done on a smaller level. |
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The curriculum contains course content, objectives, and resources available. |
The syllabus has details on topics to be covered in the class and the way students will be assessed. |
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Academic goals and expected outcomes in terms of learning. |
It is about yearly or semester wise plans which are short term. |
This is the difference between curriculum and syllabus. Now, let us dive in deeper into each of these terms. With a diagram curriculum and syllabus, firstly, let us talk about the curriculum.
It is a set of instructions and rules for deciding on the content and the course. These guidelines are for the educators and other stakeholders responsible. These people choose and select which content and methodology should be used to teach students. In addition to this, the curriculum facilitates the teachers and the institutes to assess the effectiveness of their teaching through tests.
Now that you are aware of what is curriculum in education then take a look at the diagram below to get an idea of what the curriculum of an institute covers:
CURRICULUM |
|||
|
PSYCHOLOGY |
LINGUISTIC |
EDUCATION |
MANAGEMENT |
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All the mental processes involved The time table according to the studying hours set as per level of study. |
The mode of teaching and the language chosen also comes under this. |
The type of content and materials used to teach including lab requirements etc. |
The available resources in terms of man power (teachers, lecturers, assistants etc) and material. |
Take a look at the diagram above and notice the elements responsible in designing a successful curriculum. It is not fixed and can change to define educational goals that the institution needs to strive to achieve.
Now, let us learn the details of how the syllabus is different and what designing one requires.
Now, you may wonder what is syllabus in education if the curriculum is about the programs. Syllabus in the context of education, includes how different topics or lessons will be covered in a particular subject. Several professors contribute to the designing of this syllabus and format with the respective board of examination. It is something that the institute provides the students and teachers at the beginning of the academic session. Hence, the difference between syllabus and curriculum is clear.
Take a look at the following diagram to learn more about how they design this syllabus:
SYLLLABUS |
||||
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COURSE PURPOSE |
APPROACH |
CONTENT |
CALENDAR |
EVALUATION |
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What is it that we want the students to learn after completing this course? |
Which activities, classroom dynamics, and sequencing we can use? |
What content should we include in the syllabus which will fulfill the course objective? |
Which lesson is to be taught when so that the assessment becomes feasible according to the university calendar? |
On what basis will the students assessed and graded? |
The diagram shows all the things the authorities consider before creating a suitable syllabus. It also has details on what happens to students who fail that certain course or subject. In addition to this, you can find the general guidelines to be followed by teachers and students with topics, assignments, projects, and more.
Moreover, you can access the syllabus online for any course of any university. They tend to mention the details to tell students what they can expect to learn. Furthermore, it also enables them to learn what the institute expects them to do.
Now, let us know how various countries design their curriculum.
Countries all around the world spend a lot of resources to choose the curriculum as a standard. Thus, this section will discuss the various countries and their curriculum design methods.
In the United Kingdom, the main elements are teaching strategies. Moreover, they also include the methods used by students for learning while they study in UK. In addition to this, the main focus is on maintaining the quality of education.
Also Read: Best UK Universities!!
In the USA, the school curriculum follows the standards of the American Common Core State. These are for the languages, History, Geography, and Maths. Moreover, the curriculum also considers the individual needs of the institutes. Thus, students prefer to study in USA more than any other nation.
Furthermore, the universities choose to start the academic journey of students with the basics. The institute shifts the students to specialized courses after a year or so.
Also Read: Best Courses and Universities in USA!
Canada has 10 provinces. Hence, the responsibility of education is on their respective territorial governments. The students who study in Canada experience one of the world’s best education facilities no matter which province they are in. Besides, Mathematics and literacy are where all provinces have a common ground.
The Australian curriculum focuses on quality education. They ensure this by clarifying what young people will learn from this curriculum. Moreover, they commit to developing a national curriculum for the entire Australia.
Also Read: Study in Australia!
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As noted before, the curriculum covers all the subjects and their teaching methods. However, the syllabus includes which chapters and topics should the course cover. Keeping aside the debate of curriculum vs syllabus, did you know that they are a part of each other?
The syllabus is like a micro version of the entire curriculum. As you can see that the syllabus is within the curriculum and the curriculum is what decides what the syllabus doesn't cover and syllabus as well. Therefore, the syllabus is a part of thecurriculum.
To conclude, the difference between curriculum and syllabus is subtle but of great significance. The students must take a look at the university's curriculum before choosing one. Besides, you should also take a look at the syllabus of the courses you like before opting for one. Gradding study abroad consultants in Kochi can be of help in that. You can book a free session for free on the official website now and share your requirements!
Without any relevant textbooks, which contain information, a course would be nothing. Thus, textbooks are the ones that help in defining the syllabus of every program.
The 5 types of curriculum are:
The syllabus has the following types:
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