Curriculum template for courses and programmes
Plan a whole programme before writing lessons: who it is for, what learners will be able to do, which units come in which order, and how learning will be assessed.
Free to use, edit and share. Opens in Microsoft Office, Google Docs and Sheets, and LibreOffice.
Sections in the template
- Purpose and audience: who the programme is for, entry requirements and the outcome for learners.
- Programme learning outcomes: five statements of what learners will be able to do at the end.
- Scope and sequence: a table of units with weeks, key topics, unit outcomes and assessment.
- Teaching approach: methods (live, recorded, projects), resources and support for different learners.
- Assessment plan: each assessment with type, timing, weighting and outcomes covered.
- Review: how feedback is collected, the next review date and a change log.
How to design a curriculum
The template follows backward design: start from the result and work back to the activities.
- Define the outcomes. What should a learner be able to do at the end that they cannot do now? Use observable verbs.
- Decide the evidence. Which tests, projects or tasks will show each outcome has been met?
- Break it into units. Group related topics. Each unit should build on the last.
- Sequence and time the units. Put foundations first, and leave room for revision and assessment.
- Map outcomes to units. Every programme outcome should appear in at least one unit and one assessment. Gaps show up quickly.
- Plan lessons last. Once units are fixed, write lesson plans for each, or build them with the free lesson plan generator.
Curriculum, syllabus and course outline: the difference
| Document | Covers | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | A whole programme: outcomes, units, sequence, assessment, teaching approach | Teachers, programme designers, reviewers |
| Syllabus | The topics and schedule of one subject or course | Teachers and learners |
| Course outline | A short summary of one course: description, modules, assessment, policies | Learners, often before enrolling |
| Lesson plan | One session | The teacher |
Curriculum for different settings
- Schools: align units with your board's syllabus and term calendar.
- Coaching institutes: map units to exam sections and plan test series at the end of each unit.
- Corporate academies: start from job roles and the skills in your training matrix.
- Course creators: start from the result a buyer is paying for, and cut anything that does not serve it.
Delivering the curriculum online
Once units and lessons are set, each unit can become a module in an online course platform, with live classes, recordings, notes and tests. Learners follow the same sequence, and you see progress by unit.
Common questions
Is this curriculum template free?
Yes. The Word file is free to download, edit and share.
What is the difference between a curriculum and a syllabus?
A curriculum covers a whole programme: outcomes, units, sequence, teaching and assessment. A syllabus lists the topics and schedule of one subject or course.
How many learning outcomes should a programme have?
Usually five to eight. Fewer, clearer outcomes are easier to teach and assess than a long list.
How often should a curriculum be reviewed?
Once a year is common, with smaller updates when learner feedback or results show a problem.
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