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发信人: gourmand (大食客), 信区: AdvancedEdu
标  题: Understanding American Education
发信站: BBS 水木清华站 (Mon May  4 19:12:31 1998)

Understanding American Education

U.S. education offers a rich field of choices for the international
student. From abroad, and even from within the U.S.A., there is such an
array of institutions, programs and locations that the choices may
overwhelm the student. To simplify the choices, a student must carefully
study how each program and location can fulfill the student's goals. In
order to make informed decisions, a student will need to know how the U.S.
education system is organized.

Let's start with an examination of the educational structure.

Most Americans attend twelve years of primary and secondary school. With a
secondary school ("high school") diploma or certificate, a student can
enter college, university, vocational (job training) school, secretarial
school, and other professional schools.

Primary and Secondary School: School begins around age six for U.S.
children. They attend five or six years of primary school. Next they go to
secondary school, which consists of either two three- year programs or a
three-year and a four-year program. These are called "middle school" or
"junior high school" and "senior high school" (often just called "high
school"). Americans call these twelve years of primary and secondary school
the first through twelfth "grades."

Higher Education: After finishing high school (twelfth grade), U.S.
students may go on to college or university. College or university study is
known as "higher education." You should find out which level of education
in your country corresponds to the twelfth grade in the U.S.A. You also
should ask your educational advisor or guidance counselor whether you must
spend an extra year or two preparing for U.S. admission. In some countries,
employers and the government do not recognize a U.S. education if a student
entered a U.S. college or university before he or she could enter
university at home.

Study at a college or university leading to the Bachelor's Degree is known
as "undergraduate" education. Study beyond the Bachelor's Degree is known
as "graduate" school, or "post-graduate" education. Advanced or graduate
degrees include law, medicine, the M.B.A., and the Ph.D. (doctorate).

Where you can get a U.S. higher education

  1. State College or University: A state school is supported and run by a
     state or local government. Each of the 50 U.S. states operates at
     least one state university and possibly several state colleges. Some
     state schools have the word "State" in their names.

  2. Private College or University: These schools are operated privately,
     not by a branch of the government. Tuition will usually be higher than
     at state schools. Often, private colleges and universities are smaller
     in size than state schools.

  3. Two-Year College: A two-year college admits high school graduates and
     awards an Associate's Degree. Some two-year colleges are
     state-supported, or public; others are private. You should find out if
     the Associate's Degree will qualify you for a job in your country. In
     some countries, students need a Bachelor's Degree to get a good job.
     Two-year college or "junior" college graduates usually transfer to
     four-year colleges or universities, where they complete the Bachelor's
     Degree in two or more additional years.

  4. Community College: This is a two-year state, or public college.
     Community colleges serve a local community, usually a city or county.
     Many of the students are commuters who live at home, or evening
     students who work during the day.

     Often, community colleges welcome international students. Many of
     these schools offer special services to international students such as
     free tutoring. Many community colleges also offer ESL or intensive
     English programs. Classes are often small and less competitive than at
     larger state universities.

     Many community colleges provide "college transfer" programs. Students
     who complete these courses can transfer their credits when they enter
     a four-year college or university and use these credits to earn an
     undergraduate degree. These transfer programs can be helpful to
     international students. Two years at a community college can help a
     student improve English language and study skills as the student grows
     accustomed to the U.S. educational system and way of life.

     In addition to college transfer programs, community colleges offer a
     wide range of vocational (job-training) programs. These train students
     in hundreds of careers from business administration and computer
     programming to nursing, fashion design and hotel/restaurant
     management. Students who complete these courses get degrees or
     certificates.

     Some community colleges provide housing and advising services that an
     international student might need.

     Again, find out if a community college degree will be enough for you
     to get a job when you return home. Most, but not all governments,
     recognize degrees from junior and community colleges.

  5. Professional School: A professional school trains students in fields
     such as art, music, engineering, business, and other professions. Some
     are part of universities. Others are separate schools. Some offer
     graduate degrees.

  6. Institute of Technology: This is a school which offers at least four
     years of study in science and technology. Some institutes of
     technology have graduate programs. Others are similar to community and
     junior colleges and offer shorter courses in less advanced
     specialties.

  7. Technical Institute: A technical institute trains students in fields
     such as medical technology or industrial engineering. Although the
     course may prepare you for the career you want, the degree may or may
     not be equivalent to a college or university degree. Some colleges and
     universities do not accept credits from students who have attended
     technical institutes and want to transfer. If you are considering a
     technical institute, find out if your government, and U.S. colleges
     and universities, accept the school's degree.

  8. Church-related School: Many U.S. colleges and universities were
     founded by religious groups. The relationship, however, between the
     school and the religious organization may be very flexible. Sometimes,
     these schools prefer to admit students who are members of the
     sponsoring religious group. Nearly all these schools welcome students
     of all religions and beliefs.

     Traditionally, many church-related schools have required that students
     take Bible courses and attend chapel services. But these practices are
     becoming less common.

Undergraduate (College) Years

Course of study: U.S. students usually study a wide variety of subjects
while in college. Many students do not specialize exclusively in one field
until graduate school.

The first two years of college are called the "freshman" and "sophomore"
years. Students in the first year are called "freshmen," and they are
"sophomores" in the second year. Some schools require freshmen and
sophomores to take courses in different areas of learning: literature,
science, the social sciences, the arts, history, and so forth. Freshmen and
sophomores are known as "underclassmen."

The "junior" and "senior," or third and fourth years, are the "upper
classes." Students in these years are known as "juniors" and "seniors"-
"upperclassmen." When they enter their junior year, they must choose a
"major" field of study. They must take a certain number of courses in this
department, or field. In some schools, students also choose a "minor"
field. There is usually time for students to choose several other
"elective" (extra) courses in other subjects.

Each student is assigned a "faculty advisor" who teaches courses in the
student's major field. This advisor helps the student select a program of
study.

An international student will also have an "International Student Advisor."
This person helps the international students adjust to U.S. life, handles
visa and other paper-work problems, and organizes activities for
international students.

Classroom learning: Classes range from large lectures for several hundred
students to smaller classes and "seminars" (discussion classes) with only a
few students. Students enrolled in lecture courses are often divided into
smaller groups, or "sections." The sections meet separately to discuss the
lecture topics and other material.

Professors usually assign textbook and other readings each week. They also
require several written reports each semester (term). You will be expected
to keep up to date with the required readings in order to join in class
discussions and to understand the lectures. Science students are also
expected to spend time in the laboratory.

Academic year: The school calendar usually begins in August or September
and continues through May or June. It is a good idea for international
students to enter U.S. universities in autumn. Most new students enter at
this time, so they can adjust together. Also, many courses are designed so
students will take them in sequence, starting in autumn and continuing
through the year.

The academic year at many schools is composed of two terms or semesters.
Other schools use a three-term calendar known as the "trimester" system.
Still others divide the year into the "quarter" system of four terms,
including a summer session which is optional.

Credits: Each course is considered to be worth a number of "credits" or
"credit hours." This number is roughly the same as the number of hours a
student spends in class for that course each week. A course is typically
worth three to five credits.

A full program at most schools is twelve or fifteen credit-hours (four or
five courses per term). International students are expected to enroll in a
full program during each term.

Transfers: If a student enrolls in a new university before finishing a
degree, usually most credits earned at the first school can be used to
complete a degree at the new university. This means a student can transfer
to another university and still graduate within a reasonable time.

Marks: Professors give each student a mark or "grade" for each course. The
marks are based upon:

  1. Classroom participation. Discussion, questions, conversation, during
     discussion time, especially in seminar classes. This is often a very
     important factor in determining a student's grade.

  2. A midterm examination. Usually given during class time.

  3. One or more research or term papers, or laboratory reports.

  4. Possible short exams or "quizzes." Sometimes the professor will give
     an unannounced "surprise quiz." This doesn't count heavily toward the
     grade but is intended to inspire students to keep up with their
     assignments and attendance.

  5. Final examination. Held some time after the final class meeting.

Advanced placement: Some colleges and universities give college credit to
students for work they have done in high school. Some schools also give
advanced standing to students who prove that they have achieved college
level proficiency in a certain subject.

This means that a student who is just entering college, a freshman, can
take courses normally only open to sophomores.

The school will probably ask the student to take a test to prove that he or
she can do sophomore-level work, or the school will give advanced placement
to a student who has scored exceptionally high on college admission exams.
Students who have completed "A" levels at home often receive advanced
placement standing.

Postgraduate (Graduate) Education

In order to find a professional job, a college graduate with a Bachelor's
Degree today usually will want to consider graduate study.

Students from some countries are only permitted to study overseas at the
graduate level. Because requirements are different in many countries, you
should inquire about the credentials you will need to get a job in your
country before you apply to a post-graduate school in the U.S.A.

Master's Degree: Many international students are able to qualify for the
jobs they want after they have earned a Master's Degree. This degree is
usually required in fields such as library science, engineering, or social
work. The M.B.A., or Master of Business Administration, is an extremely
popular degree that usually takes two years. Some Master's programs, such
as journalism, only take one year.

In an academic Master's program, students study such fields as history and
philosophy. These degrees are considered stepping-stones toward a doctorate
(Ph.D.).

Most time in a Master's program is spent in classroom study. A Master's
Degree candidate usually must prepare a long research paper called a
"master's thesis." But some master's programs involve a great deal of
independent study and individual research.

Doctorate (Ph.D.): Many graduate schools consider the Master's Degree as
the first step towards attaining the Ph.D. (doctorate). But at other
schools, students may prepare directly for the doctorate without also
earning a Master's Degree.

If you can afford it and are confident you will finish the doctorate, you
may prefer the second type of program because you can begin work
immediately on your doctoral degree. However, you should be aware that in
this type of program, if you do not complete the Ph.D., you may not receive
any degree at all.

Therefore, if you are unsure about being able to finish the Ph.D. Degree,
you may wish to earn a Master's Degree. Then you will have one graduate
degree before you proceed to doctoral study.

Students who are enrolled in a doctoral program are known as Ph.D.
"candidates." They will spend some time in class, but the most important
work that earns the Ph.D. is spent in original research.

It may take three years or more to earn the Ph.D. Degree. For international
students, this time may be as long as five or six years.

For the first two years, most doctoral candidates enroll in classes and
seminars. For at least another year, students will conduct first-hand
research and write a thesis or dissertation. This paper must contain views,
designs, or research that have not been previously published.

A doctoral dissertation is a discussion and summary of the current
scholarship on a given topic. Most universities awarding doctorates also
require their candidates to have a reading knowledge of two foreign
languages, to spend some required length of time "in residence" attending
class regularly, to pass a qualifying examination that officially admits
candidates to the Ph.D. program, and to pass an oral examination on the
same topic as the dissertation.

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