1. Introduction
Choosing the right elective course units can be confusing. Not just for you, but also for many other students. I've been there too.
This is because you want to pick course units to maximize your chances of passing and raise your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). This can be particularly complicated with the various alternatives presented to you.
While there is no single approach for choosing electives, I will provide practical insights to help you make an informed decision in this guide.
Utilizing the tips in this guide, (with the help of God of course), I scored straight A’s in all the collective seven electives I chose in the first and second semesters of my fourth year except for one in which I scored a B+.
So, pick up a pen and a notebook and get ready to decide.
Let’s dive right in!
2. What Are Elective Course Units?
Before proceeding further, we need to understand what elective course units are.
Elective course units are optional classes that students can choose to take in their third or fourth year of study.
These electives cover a range of subjects, such as Intellectual Property, Public International Law, International Humanitarian Law, Insurance Law, Taxation Law, International and Regional Human Rights, Gender and the Law, Labour Law, and Islamic Banking among others.
As a rule of thumb, you need to understand what each elective involves. This means reviewing the course topics and reading lists to get a clear idea of what you’ll be studying before you make your decision.
Elective course units can be easy to pass but also easy to fail if you don't make the right choices.
3. Practical Tips and Key Factors to Consider When Selecting Electives
As stated earlier, there is no single formula for choosing electives. Any person who says so would be lying. As a result, I came up with various frameworks that personally aided me in making a decision, and felt I should share the same with you.
3.1. Convenience Framework
The Convenience Framework focuses on selecting course units based on how manageable and convenient they are for you. Not all course units are the same. Some involve a lot of content and require significant time and effort to cover, while others are more straightforward and can be completed in a shorter period such as Intellectual Property Law I, and Insurance Law.
Another aspect to consider under this framework is the interconnectedness of some course units. Some subjects such as Public International Law, International and Regional Human Rights, and International Humanitarian Law are similar in one way or another. The underlying concepts are alike and pairing these course units in your choice of elective can improve your understanding of them.
Consider also the interconnectedness of some courses. For instance, subjects like Public International Law, International and Regional Human Rights, and International Humanitarian Law share similar underlying concepts. Understanding these connections can enhance your grasp of the material across these courses.
If you’re balancing your studies with work, especially if you're in an evening program, time might not be your best ally. In this case, choosing electives that fit well with your schedule is crucial.
The Convenience Framework aims to reduce stress by recommending that you select only the required minimum number of electives—typically three for the first semester and two for the second semester. This approach helps ensure that your course load remains manageable.
3.2. Career Goals Framework
This framework helps you choose electives that align with your career aspirations and interests. Your career goals and interests should heavily influence the electives to do. By now, you likely have a clear idea of your intended career path, or at least some fields of law that you’re passionate about.
Choosing course units that align with your career path helps you build foundational knowledge in your chosen field and strategically establish your position in your future career path.
For instance, if you intend to pursue a career in tech law, you would certainly consider course units such as Intellectual Property, and Competition Law electives would be valuable, as they cover essential aspects of the field. If you’re drawn to human rights activism, courses such as Regional and International Human Rights Law, Gender and the Law would be more relevant.
Similarly, if you’re interested in commercial law then course units such as Taxation law and Insurance law are some of the electives that should highly make it to your list of electives.
Aligning your course choices with your career goals will help you gain expertise in the areas that matter most for your future profession.
2.3. Passability (Practicability Approach)
Let’s face it. Some lecturers are known for being particularly demanding or strict in grading, while others may be more lenient.
Based on your academic strengths and past experiences, choose electives where you feel confident in achieving good grades. This is particularly crucial if maintaining a high CGPA is important to you.
3.4. Try everything, choose later (Exploratory Framework)
This framework involves exploring various electives before making a final decision.
You take your time before making a choice.
This involves attending all lectures, attempting assignments, and coursework for all electives. Await the preliminary marks that you will be awarded in both the coursework and tests to gauge your typical understanding.
If the coursework marks are good, then it is a sign that you should take up the subject and sit for its final exam. If the coursework marks are low, you know what to do. It is better to drop the course unit if you already have a load of other available course units on you. Remember that this is your last year and maintaining or raising your CGPA is key.
Another aspect to consider in this framework is doing more course units above the minimum required number. In semester, one you are required to do a minimum of three course units.
However, you cannot be so sure that you will score excellent marks or straight A’s in your chosen three. That is why I advise that you add an extra course unit on top of the required minimum. This will help you maximize your chances of excelling and not putting all your eggs in one basket.
This approach is also particularly helpful as it gives you a comprehensive overview of all available options before you finally decide to commit. Its downside is that it is demanding and time-consuming. It keeps you in uncertainty for so long detracting from the time you could have used to focus and concentrate on a few course units.
So, it is best suited for those who have the flexibility and time to explore.
NB: If you're an IUIU student, you can only drop or delete a course unit before the final exam. Once you take the final exam, you can't drop the course, even if you don’t do well. So, decide to drop any course unit you don't want to keep after your tests or coursework, but before the final exam.
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3.5. Lessening the load at LDC (Forward Looking Approach)
For those who intend to pursue a Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Law Development Centre (LDC), it is important to consider the future workload when making your elective choices.
Some electives such as Employment/Labour Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Taxation are offered at LDC as modules within the larger thematic areas of Corporate and Commercial law among others. Choosing these electives early enough at undergraduate can ease your workload in the subsequent year at the LDC.
It is better to have a foundational grasp and understanding of them instead of starting from scratch at LDC. This forward-looking approach allows you to manage your overall academic journey more effectively by spreading out challenging subjects over time.
However, this does not mean that if you do not choose electives offered at LDC, you cannot later catchup.
4. What next?
Based on this, you may choose course units depending on only one framework or choose from the various frameworks as discussed above.
In case you wish to choose from various frameworks, you must lay out a table placing various course units into different categories as listed in the frameworks above. You now have an idea of what course units are passable, convenient, or even those that align with your career goals. You may choose a minimum of one subject from each framework with a significant number from the framework you are most inclined to.
5. How many electives should I opt for?
Besides the minimum three course units required, there is no limit to how many course units you can offer. My advice is that do at least one extra unit beyond the minimum. But if you have the capacity and the academic strengths to do so, opt for as many electives as you can. However, don’t forget that taking on too many units can lessen the time you would have dedicated to a select few to maximize and pass them.
Read more: Top 7 Ways You Can Use ChatGPT as a Law Student
6. Conclusion
Don’t choose course units because your friends have decided to do them. This is a personal journey and remember that the ultimate choice lies in your hands. Consider your schedule, academic strengths and weaknesses, time, and course content before you conclusively decide
In case you have found this post helpful, please share it with a colleague who might need it.
You can always contact me in case of any further help:
Email: Kityomartins@gmail.com
Good luck with your choice.