There is no one agreed upon definition for the term "curriculum." However, as
professionals operating within this field, it is essential that we understand the
meaning or meanings of the term. Unfortunately, there is very little consensus in the
literature. Portelli (1987) uncovered more than 120 definitions of the term in the
professional literature from authors attempting to delimit the term or establish new
meanings that have become associated with it.
Notwithstanding the incompleteness of any definition, certain common meanings
have arisen that provide us with some direction for understanding the term
"curriculum." In the following section, some of these meanings are outlined: