1. A course or subject offered by an educational institution that students may choose to take but are not required to complete
Students can select from several optional courses in their final year of high school.
Os alunos podem escolher entre várias disciplinas optativas no seu último ano do ensino médio.
2. A subject that is not part of the mandatory curriculum
Philosophy is an optional course in many universities.
Filosofia é uma disciplina optativa em muitas universidades.