Compulsory courses are opposite to "elective courses". Refers to the courses that school students will study. It usually includes public courses, basic courses and professional courses.
Elective courses mainly refer to courses that students who study a certain major in colleges and universities can choose selectively. Some elective courses introduce advanced science and technology and the latest scientific achievements; Some elective courses are designed to expand students' knowledge (for example, students majoring in language and literature in China take general history, students majoring in chemistry take biology, and students majoring in accounting take introduction to law, etc.). ); There are also some elective courses to satisfy students' interests and develop their talents (such as literature, music, painting, drama and other courses for professional students). Elective courses can be divided into restricted elective courses and unrestricted elective courses. Restricted elective courses, also known as designated elective courses, mean that students must take a certain subject or a certain group of courses; If some professional teaching plans stipulate that senior students must take several courses in a special group or elective group. Foreign institutions of higher learning often require students to take several credit courses in the fields of natural science and social science. In China, most college students only care about whether to give high marks for elective courses. Unlimited elective courses, also known as arbitrary elective courses, are not restricted by the above provisions. In order to adapt to individual differences, teach students in accordance with their aptitude and give full play to their specialties, students should take a certain proportion of courses in the professional teaching plan. But not too much, so as not to affect the basic norms of training specialized personnel. In the teaching plans of secondary specialized schools and ordinary middle schools, a small number of elective courses can be offered if conditions permit.