But since you get to choose which elective courses you take, some interesting questions may arise. What are some strategies you can employ to help you decide which electives are right for you? Take advantage of a guidance counselor or another adviser to help you make sure you are on the best trajectory to graduation.
Reassess your plan as needed. Improve this page Learn More. Skip to main content. Understand the difference so you can avoid taking a course that does not apply to your degree, or even worse, taking the same course twice.
Any course can fulfill your free elective requirements, but not every course can fulfill your area of study and general education requirements. So create a degree plan that ensures you will meet the required courses you need to graduate before you take any electives.
After consulting your A cademic Evaluation to determine the courses you still need, use this method to tackle your remaining courses:. First, complete your general education requirements, and then your general education electives. If you have transferred in a significant amount of credits or taken any exams for credit, think English and math a majority of those credits will most likely fall into the first and second tier general education courses and electives. Once these have been satisfied, subsequent credits will attempt to fit into the next possible slot in your degree program.
Then, complete your area of study requirements, followed by your area of study electives. Again, if you have transfer credits that satisfy these requirements, they will apply accordingly to your degree. Lastly, if any of your transfer credits do not fit into your general education and area of study requirements, they will apply as free electives.
If your free electives have been filled, then credits will apply as other courses. Once all your degree requirements have been met, then you can take the electives you want, if you still have room to do so. When you take a class that appeals to your interests and strengths, it typically contributes to a better learning experience. Also consider electives that will build or increase a specific skill set. For example, if you are pursuing a business degree , why not take a public speaking course?
Developing your presentation skills would be a smart career move if you are pursing a leadership role in business. Free electives are courses that typically fall outside of your required courses and area of study, or are not needed under any other section of your academic evaluation. Any credits that are not required for your degree program will apply as free electives. Review your academic evaluation to find out how many more free electives if any you may still need to complete your degree.
An academic advisor can help you figure out the best electives to take for your particular educational journey and career goals. For example, an advisor can identify a minor that may complement your career path and electives that can double as prerequisites for that minor. Your advisor may also help you find courses that could improve your weaker academic areas.
For example, a business major may want to take a writing elective to learn how to craft proposals and communicate business ideas. The format of your class can impact your schedule, workload, and experience.
Consider whether the elective is a lecture or a seminar — that will impact your interaction with fellow classmates and professors, as well as the participation expectations. If your elective is a laboratory class, that could mean an extra class each week for lab work. You can also choose to take electives that use an online or hybrid format, which may allow for more flexibility in your schedule. Electives are a great opportunity to learn new things and try something you've always wanted to do.
Many students use electives to take fun and unique courses like dance, glassblowing, game theory, photography, and the infamous underwater basket weaving. If there's a hobby or a skill you're curious about, use elective credits to add something fun to your schedule. It's best to take elective courses that you're interested in and that you may be able to apply to your future career.
Classes that teach personal finance, business writing, public speaking, and foreign languages can provide real-world skills useful in any career. For students with particularly challenging course loads, the best elective may be an easier course that will guarantee a GPA boost. For undecided students, the best electives will help you explore your strengths and interests. The number of electives you take will depend on your university and program.
General education requirements typically include three to five elective classes. Each degree will also have an elective portion, usually two to four classes. Technically, you can take as many electives as you'd like, but after a certain number of elective credits the classes no longer count toward your degree. Each university and degree maintains different requirements.
Most colleges have general education requirements that include electives. If you've previously earned college credit, you may be able to transfer those in place of electives. It's best to disperse your electives throughout your time in college.
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