Higher education in the United States is quite multi-faceted and decentralized.
It is characterized by competition and autonomous institutions of higher
learning. Presently, there are around 4,180 colleges and universities in the US.
Of these, over 1,700 are so-called "two-year institutions," and 2,450 are
"four-year institutions". In addition to the roughly 1,700 public institutions
(which are operated by the states, cities, or counties in which they are
located), there are also more than 2,480 private colleges and universities.
"Community colleges" make up the bulk of the American two-year institutions and
are quite practical for beginning students wishing to take introductory or
general language courses. There are currently over 14 million students
registered at US institutions of higher learning, and the vast majority of these
students – some 11 million – study at public universities and colleges. Women
make up the majority (over 56%) of American university students. Also of
interest is the high percentage (nearly 40%) of part-time students, who attend
university while employed full-time.
Undergraduate and Graduate Studies
Besides academic courses of study, institutions of higher learning in the U.S.
also offer praxis-oriented programs for advanced vocational
training. Such programs are found mostly at two-year "community
colleges." In addition to certificates and diplomas,
a student can earn an "associate degree" after two
years of study.
The typical academic degree earned by American students is
the "Bachelor of Arts" (BA) or respectively the
"Bachelor of Science" (BS). These degrees are awarded
following the completion of four years of studies. In the
first two years of their studies, American students take a
number of required courses in general subject areas. After
the second year, American students take a major (or two),
and spend the remaining two years taking courses in these
academic disciplines (although they are not limited to them).
After having earned the "bachelors," most Americans
end their "academic careers" and look for jobs.
One calls the four-year course of study for the BA/BS the
"undergraduate studies."
Those who decide to pursue their education further can earn
a Master of Arts or Master of Science, respectively, in one
to two years. These so-called "Master's Degrees"
are offered only at universities, and not at colleges. Likewise,
only universities offer professional degrees, as for example
the Juris Doctor (for law), the Doctor of Medicine (for medicine),
and the well-known Master of Business Administration, or MBA.
It usually takes two to four years to complete these professional
degrees.
Earning a doctorate (Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D.) in the
United States takes between four and six years. The first
phase of one's doctoral studies usually lasts two years and
is concluded with an extensive examination in all the subject
areas studied until that point. This examination is known
as the "preliminary examination" or alternatively
as the "qualifying examination." Following the successful
completion of this examination, the student may begin his
research for his doctoral dissertation.
Continuative studies which lead to the M.A./M.S., professional
degrees, or the Ph.D., are known as "graduate studies."
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