The American education system as a whole can be divided into four stages, namely: (1) preschool education; (ii) Basic education; (iii) Secondary education; (iv) Higher education. Preschool education, primary education and secondary education all belong to pre-university education, including nurseries and kindergartens, primary schools, junior high schools and senior high schools.
According to American law, all school-age children should go to school and provide compulsory (free) primary and secondary education. Of course, if they go to private schools, they have to pay very expensive tuition fees. Some public secondary schools also admit foreign students and issue them visas, but these foreign students have to pay tuition fees, which is basically the same as other students entering private secondary schools. As for the educational system of primary schools and secondary schools, there are several different forms of cooperation, which are different according to the different conditions of each state, city and township (for example, some are six-year primary schools and six-year secondary schools, some are junior high schools and four-year high schools, and two or three-year credits, etc.). ), but in any case, in principle, children should finish secondary education before 18 years old. Due to the popularity of parenting education in the United States, about 93% of school-age children receive secondary education and 70% can complete their studies. Most of them go to universities or colleges to continue their studies and start their higher (junior college) education.
The cultivation of' professional talents' in American higher education is mainly in the education and training of graduate schools and colleges. It is at this level that it attracts more than 1000 million international students to study in the United States every year, including many China students from Chinese mainland, Hongkong and Taiwan Province Province. In fact, since the beginning of the 20th century, the upsurge of China students studying in the United States has never stopped.
1. Institutes and colleges offer a wide range of courses and disciplines, from nuclear engineering to China literature, from business administration to law and medicine. Students who have completed the postgraduate courses will be awarded the following degrees after being approved by the university:
(1) master's degree: depending on the nature of the subject, it usually takes two years to decide whether it is a master of arts (M.A.) or a master of science (M.S.); There are also some schools that offer degree courses such as master of public administration, master of law and master of theology. Usually, students need to pass the G.R.E exam to be admitted.
(2) MBA: Due to the rapid development of industry and commerce in recent years, there is an urgent need for business management talents. In order to meet the needs of the market, the number of people studying for the degree of M.B.A is increasing, and even the number of international students studying this course is rising rapidly to meet the needs of the development of market economy in Chinese mainland, Hongkong and Taiwan Province Province.
The courses of M.B.A can be further divided into accounting, management, marketing and other majors. However, one of the conditions for admission is that students must pass GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) and get good grades before admission. The examination content is divided into two parts: speech ability and mathematical thinking ability. Of course, international students will be considered only if they pass the TOEFL English test.
(3) Doctoral degree: Doctoral degree courses usually require a master's degree, but there are exceptions. The most common doctor's degree is doctor of philosophy (Ph.D), but most doctors of arts and sciences award doctors, not just doctors of philosophy. Usually, the doctoral degree course takes three years or more, the science time is shorter, and the liberal arts time is mostly longer. As for education, the doctorate is called ed. Doctor of Education. Doctor's degree is the highest degree in American higher education system.
(4) Doctor of Law (J.D.) and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.): These are professional degrees that lawyers and doctors in American society must have. Because the social status of practitioners in these two industries is highly respected, it is quite difficult for many college graduates to apply for study and admission. But after graduation, students can apply what they have learned and directly serve the society, which is also one of the main purposes of higher education, that is, to cultivate talents who serve the society.
2. Types of American universities
American higher education has always been a leader in the world, and the popularity of university education is rarely compared with other countries.
According to the authoritative statistics of Chronicle of Higher Education (1995, published in September of 1), there are 3,632 universities in the United States. Undergraduate enrollment is as high as1more than 2 million, and graduate students are almost1700,000. Together with 300,000 students from various majors (such as medical schools and law schools), we can prove and see the popularity of American higher education.
Among these more than 3,600 universities, how are they classified? What's the difference? How important is it?
Junior (or Community) College (Junior Community College)
There are 1422 public and private colleges (also called community colleges or short-term universities) in the United States. Studying in a two-year college, students can get a junior college diploma after graduation and then transfer to a four-year university? /font & gt； The primary community college is mainly supported by the community, and its goal is to promote universal education. Therefore, the requirements for students to enter school are lower and the tuition fees are cheaper, so as to encourage more students to study. Many students use these advantages to save money on this book, which is adopted by many students and their parents.
(2) College of Arts and Sciences or referred to as College of Arts and Sciences.
This is a four-year university, but the emphasis is on undergraduate education rather than postgraduate education, although a small number of arts and sciences colleges also award master's and doctoral degrees. This kind of college was first established in American higher education institutions and is still very popular today. Some colleges of arts and sciences have been upgraded to comprehensive universities because their courses are not only liberal arts, but also graduate schools of humanities, pure science and specialized vocational education. Harvard, Yale, Columbia and other famous schools.
(3) comprehensive universities (or universities for short)
Comprehensive universities must be affiliated with research institutes and engage in in in-depth academic research. It is the most remarkable difference between universities and colleges to award advanced degrees such as master's degree and doctor's degree and cultivate various professional talents. Comprehensive universities are often divided into several colleges, and each college is divided into several departments. With the different sources of education funds, comprehensive universities are divided into public universities and private universities.
On the whole, the reputation of private universities is slightly better than that of public universities. Famous Ivy League schools (such as Harvard and Yale, which are often the top universities in the United States) are private universities with a long history, and because they are private universities, their tuition fees are more expensive than those of public universities.
Among the public universities, the state system (funded by the state government) is relatively perfect (such as the University of California and California State University, the former pays more attention to academic research), the University of Michigan, new york State University, some municipal universities, such as new york University, and some municipal universities, such as the City University of new york. There is also a public university (land-grant universities), whose income is subsidized by the federal government at first, and then it is subsidized by funds. Its main feature is to attach importance to agriculture and family education, so as to promote rural education and train middle school families and agricultural teachers.
(4) Graduate school
Graduate schools and colleges are the highest steps and peaks of American education system. As the name implies, the focus of graduate school is research, and the courses pursued by graduate students are all advanced education degrees such as doctor of philosophy (Ph.D, covering many departments rather than just philosophy) and master's degree (M.A. or M.S.). Many international students go overseas to the United States for advanced postgraduate training. Some famous research institutes are engaged in advanced knowledge and cutting-edge scientific training, and even scholars who have won the Nobel Prize are famous.
The Carnegie Foundation, headquartered in new york, once published a survey announcement called "Classification of Higher Education Institutions". Universities with research institutes are further divided into research universities and universities conferring doctorates, and their categories are determined according to the number of doctorates awarded each year.
(5) Senior vocational schools (or vocational schools for short)
College is a higher education institution aiming at training medical, legal, theological, artistic and normal professionals. In the historical tradition of the United States, these subjects are not included in the curriculum of universities, which is not necessarily the same as in other countries.
College, whether it is a part of a university or established separately, its educational activities are limited to a single major. According to the regulations, students who plan to enter a college usually have to receive two, three or even four years of preparatory education for arts and sciences. All kinds of junior colleges, such as doctor of medicine and doctor of law, must receive special training for three to five years before they are eligible for such degrees. Some universities restrict the admission of non-American residents or citizens so as not to train professionals for other countries.
(6) technical colleges (also known as technical colleges or technical and vocational colleges)
The so-called technical college, according to the interpretation of the national defense education act of the United States, is a post-secondary institution that provides two-year higher education for high school graduates and aims to train technicians in engineering, mathematics, physics or biological sciences. These professionals are professionals who are familiar with the basic knowledge of engineering, science or other technical related departments and are good at applying what they have learned.
Technical college is another type of junior college. As the name implies, it is characterized by paying more attention to technology and semi-specialized process training. Technical colleges are mostly public, but there are also different differences, such as private, local, regional and state.
(7) Military academies.
Institutions of higher learning funded by the federal government include various military schools, such as new york West Point Military Academy, which was founded in 1802. Annapolis Naval Academy, Maryland, founded in1845; The Air Force Academy in colorado springs, Colorado was established at 1955. These military schools aim to train military talents.
(eight) adult universities (or off-campus courses; ; Or adult education; ; Distance education distance education; Continuing education and other different types)
With the progress of society, the development of science and technology, and the different needs and changes of occupations, since the 1960s, university education has not been limited to young people and the traditional mode of taking classes on campus. In fact, the development of adult education has become more and more necessary to satisfy some people who want to continue their studies, either for entertainment, for professional needs, or for the dream of getting a university degree.
Adult universities are either affiliated to a university called the Department of Adult Education or affiliated to a branch of the university. For example, the University of Pittsburgh has an "off-campus study program" and Princeton University has a "continuing education program", which has become a fashion and need.
In addition, there are some distance education institutions and institutions registered as universities, which teach by correspondence, computer network, telephone and audio-visual tapes. After students have accumulated enough credits, they can graduate and get a degree. This is an open university without walls. Because there is no restriction on the time and place of class, it is very suitable for the needs of working people and is becoming more and more popular.