What Is a Formal Curriculum?

The formal curriculum, or official curriculum, relating to an institution of higher learning, refers to the outlined objectives, content, learning experiences, resources and assessment required in order to earn a specific academic degree.

For example, an Associates degree earned in Applied Science, or an A.A.S., is primarily designed as a means to prepare a student for immediate employment in the workforce or for career advancement through academic achievement. These programs are usually workforce or paraprofessional in core content, and they are easily identified by a specialty designed acronym. Regardless of the chosen degree type, students of all backgrounds benefit from improving their basic math, English, and history skills, as per the general education requirements.