Learn Hardcore Turkish: Okul müfredatı temel derslere ek olarak seçmeli kursları da içerir. - The school curriculum includes elective courses in addition to core subjects.

Okul müfredatı literally means school curriculum. In Turkish you can form noun–noun compounds by placing one noun directly before another without adding the genitive or possessive suffix. It functions like the English compound school curriculum. Saying Okulun müfredatı (“the curriculum of the school”) is also correct but sounds like you’re talking about the particular curriculum belonging to one specific school.

Why is temel derslere in the dative case (-e suffix)?

Because ek olarak (“in addition to”) requires its complement in the dative. You add something to something else, so temel dersler (“core subjects”) becomes temel derslere when used with ek olarak.

What does ek olarak mean, and how is it formed?

Ek is a noun meaning addition or supplement, and -olarak is an adverbial suffix meaning as or in the capacity of. Together, ek olarak means “as an addition” or “in addition to.” It’s a fixed phrase used to introduce what you’re adding on.

Why is there a da after seçmeli kursları?

That da is the enclitic meaning “also” (not the conjunction and). It shows that elective courses are also included, besides the core subjects. In Turkish, this da attaches directly to the word it modifies.

Why is kursları marked with the definite accusative -ı?

İçerir (“includes”) is a transitive verb, and when its object is definite or specific—as in the elective courses—it takes the accusative suffix -ı (kurslar → kursları). This tells you we’re talking about those specific courses.

What is içerir, and what tense or mood does it express?

İçerir is the aorist (simple present/general factual) form of içermek, meaning to include or to contain. Here it states a general fact: “it includes.”

What’s the difference between ders and kurs? Why are core subjects called ders but electives kurs?

Ders usually means lesson or academic subject (e.g. math, history) taught regularly in school. Kurs means course in the sense of a program or set of lessons—often extra, specialized, or elective. So temel dersler are the required subjects, while seçmeli kurslar are the optional courses you choose.