Designed to provide a broad introduction to the subject of educational objectives, this booklet discusses an objectives-based approach to course design, highlights the key role played by educational objectives in any systematic approach to course or curriculum design, distinguishes between the terms "aims" and "objectives," and presents basic guidelines for writing objectives, including a consideration of the Magerian approach (behavioral objectives). In addition, three categories of educational objectives are defined as those obtainable in the cognitive domain, the affective domain, and the psychomotor domain, and Benjamin Bloom's taxonomies of educational objectives are examined. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of an objectives-based approach to course design are reviewed, and suggestions are presented for establishing criteria for choosing valid objectives in a given instructional situation. A schematic representation of the systems approach to course or curriculum design is provided, and a listing of four sources for further reading is included. (KM)