Electives are courses that students take by choice. While electives are required for graduation, the specific elective courses a student takes are chosen by the student. Electives can be:

• Subjects that are always elective courses, such as Home Economics
• Subjects that are required electives for graduation, such as Fine Arts (Art, Music, or Drama) or Foreign Language
• Academic subjects that a student takes beyond the graduation requirement such as a fourth year of Mathematics or a third or fourth year of Science
• Advanced courses in an elective, Studio Art following Art or Advanced Guitar following Guitar as examples

Electives provide flexibility in a students schedule and allow them to explore new fields of study. They can also be used to broaden skill sets and support the activities in a students degree program. Electives are usually required for high school graduation, but students can take whatever classes interest them. For those students planning to go directly into the University of California system or the California State University system (UC/CSU), the choice of electives must meet the UC/CSU A to G requirements for admission.