Higher Education in the USA

Higher education in America is provided by colleges and universities. The main difference between a college and a university is that the latter is a collection of colleges each of which specializes in a different field.

American colleges and universities are either private or public. There are nearly1900 institutes of higher learning in America. Roughly one-third are state institutions, 1,200 are private ones. Only about half of the school children graduate from the university in America and receive a university diploma. College is getting more expensive every year. Not all American families can afford universities education.

The American universities offers a wide variety of courses. In the same school a student can specialize in economics, chemistry and physics, Latin and humanities, or in automobile mechanics. During the four-year university program, the student studies four or five major subjects per year. In addition the students usually have classes in physical education, music and art. The first two years are a continuation of secondary education; then a student begins an intensive study of his special field. If a student fails a course, he repeats only that course and not the work of the entire year.

Students are classified as freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. A freshman is a first year student; a sophomore – a second year student; a junior – a third year student and a senior – a fourth year student. All students who have graduated from the senior class and who continue studies at a university are classified as advanced students or graduate students.

At the conclusion of studies a college or university grants a Bachelor’s degree. After one or two additional years of studies — a Master’s degree. The highest academic degree is the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). It may take a number of years to complete the original research work necessary to obtain this degree.

College prepares the student for two things: either graduate studies, leading to a master’s or doctor’s degree, or a job immediately after graduation. The majority of college graduates have to apply to public and private employment agencies to get any job, which is not an easy thing.

Task 2. Answer the questions:

1. How many institutes of higher learning are there in America?

2. Are there private and state colleges in the USA?

3. Is education getting more expensive every year?

4. When does a student begin an intensive study of hisspecialfield?

5. The highest academic degree is Ph.D, isn’t it?