Bob DBF
Contributor
In the PADI online AOW course that you do prior to the course there are 10 possible areas of interest that can be included in the course plus 2 mandatory items. The shop I took it from did the mandatory Navigation and Deep along with Night, Peak Buoyancy and Wreck which are optional. There are 10 possible optional components that you will only do three of.
I would like to add that some areas of interest may not be available in AOW depending on where OP takes the class, drift dive won't be available in a lake for instance. My instructor had Peak Performance Buoyance required in his class, so one less choice.
However there is nothing stopping you from reading up on all of the 10 optional components, taking the online quizzes and giving yourself a broad introduction to diving. That's what I did and found it very helpful.
I would encourage the OP to do all the components, even though they are not needed at the time, it may come in handy later. In addition, off the top of my head, Boat and Altitude have all the information you need and the dives don't need an instructor, always make the most of underwater instruction.