Optional courses that students can choose to take beyond their required curriculum. These classes allow students to explore personal interests or specialized subjects outside their major field of study.
From Latin 'eligere' meaning 'to choose, select,' via the adjective 'elective' (chosen by election/choice). The educational sense developed in American universities in the late 19th century as curricula became more flexible.
The concept of electives revolutionized education by shifting from a one-size-fits-all approach to personalized learning! Harvard was one of the first universities to embrace this system in the 1870s, causing quite a controversy among traditionalists who believed all students should study identical subjects.
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